2 problems - Slow windscreen wipers and broken door lock!

[mattupnorth]

I've got a couple of queries. Some nice kids broke into my 01 Leon SE TDI a couple of nights ago and pinched my £1.5k mountain bike They somehow managed to get the driver's door undone without the alarm going off and also unlocked the boot and put all the windows down! I can't recreate doing either of the last two without the key!? So firstly I'm wondering if this possible?

They clearly rammed something into the driver's lock as its all mangled so I'm going to need a replacement. It stills locks fine with the key fob, but the barrel's knackered. Is this something only a dealer can do? assuming it will need to be a specific lock for my key?

Secondly, my windscreen wipers now only move really slowly/weakly. Not sure if this is a consequence of the break-in, but regardless of what speed you set them they go up and down really slowly. On the motorway they wouldn't even go all the way back down to the start position. Wondered if they might have done something to the electrics as part of breaking in?

Your suggestions please

 

[NickT]

Tough luck on the break-in, that's gotta smart.

As for the wipers, going by the age of your motor I would guess it's either the wiper linkage seizing up (well known prob on Mk4 Golf and subsequently the Leon, could try copious WD40 on the joints or buy new linkage assembly for not too much) or the motor might be on it's way out.

 

[mattupnorth]

Cheers Nick - WD40 time tomorrow. Is the motor easy to get to? is it one motor for both? I had a quick look in the half dark today, but couldn't see much.

 

[vwbassett]

I doubt WD40 will work the spidle rusts internally and is probably locked worth just replacing about £20-30 for a linkage. if you DIY make sure you use tape to mark where your wipers were to get them nicely alligned after. To fit - remove wiper arms - cap, nut and lots of wiggling and brute force(but be careful) then remove scuttle panel, motor and linkage on drivers side. Has a few retaining bolts and then you can pull it out. If in doubt a mk4 golf haynes manual helps
Adam

 

[ArosaRacer]

window wipers check the mechanisim, it falled on our x plate doing the same thing

 

[MrBen2k7]

I think that’s a safety feature on VAG cars for security, that has been exploited....

My dads Passat, got broken into.... The door handle was missing, all the windows were down, and no alarm. The police said something about, if you put a Golf key in the lock, after doing something to the door handle, turn it the wrong way for a few seconds, the safety/stupid feature puts all the windows down, and turns the alarm off.

They caught the people that did it in the end, they got caught doing the same thing to a Polo, and they matched up the foot print they left on my dads suede seat.... Forensics at its best...

I don't know how true that feature is... pretty flawed though. Almost as bad as the rubber mallet on the Mondeo front bumper one....

 

[mattupnorth]

Ben, that sounds like what I can imagine they did to mine. The driver's door lock has clearly been forced as it won't turn fully back to the locked position.

I do have a vague recollection of reading something about this before back when I had a Passat B5 (so probably on ukpassats!). I'll ask at the Stealers when I get the lock replaced.

Adam - cheers for the advice, I'll have a tinker tomorrow.

 

[mattupnorth]

For anyone interested, did a quick search and found someone else has had the same problem....seems most Mk4 Golf and presumably Leon equivelants have this problem. Its quite a worrying thought!



This guy wrote to VW about it - from here ww.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=133:

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to ask both yourselves and your readers of their experiences with
VW car security.

I own a 1999 VW Golf GT Tdi. Recently someone attempted to break into the car
by forcing the drivers door handle/lock. This failed, but resulted in a cost
of £200 to replace the door handle. This was the only item damaged, there was
no body or paintwork damage.

4 days after this was repaired, and at another location, I awoke to find all
the 4 windows on my car lowered. Again somebody had attacked the drivers door
handle and lock barrel and had somehow managed to operate the electric windows
and not set off the alarm. All doors were still locked however but with the
windows open they were able to gain access to the car Fortunately there was no
other damage, and as I leave nothing in the car, nothing was taken.

I went back to my VW dealer and asked how they were able to get into my car so
easily, and without setting off the alarm. They told me that the thieves have
found an easy way to operate the "convenience" system fitted to VW cars with
central locking and electric windows. This system allows you (or anyone!!) to
open or close all electric windows from outside the car using the key (or in
this case a screwdriver).

The dealer told me that this was now resolved in later VW models, but VW
cannot, or will not, apply this fix to older models of the same car. I have
asked them if they can disable this feature, again VW have no official
solution, but aftermarket alarm fitters are able to do so (but at a cost).

VW customer services are looking into the matter for me, to date I have had no
response.

I find it strange that VW advertise this vehicle as very secure, but the
reality is somewhat different. Having realised there is a problem, they have
(or so they tell me) fixed it but now refuse to help existing customers.

 

[mattupnorth]

A google of "vw lock convenience" brings back several other examples.

 

[33754k]

To remove the wipers should they be in their normal resting position or fixed in the vertical position (ie turn the motor off when it is halfway through the cycle, and the wipers are pointing up?

 

[mattupnorth]

I've removed mine today and it makes no difference. I had to move mine to get them off along with a lot of wd40 and elbow grease, unfortunately breaking one of the arms in the process.

Looks like the motors on the way out as the linkages generally seem ok (and are now soaked in wd40), well they all move ok, just won't go any faster than a slow pace - any advice on how to tell otherwise appreciated.

 

[NickT]

If you've got the time and inclination you could try stripping the motor and giving it a clean as per the following thread:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46079&highlight=wiper+motor

 

[Big Ejit]

To sort the door lock out, use PABS guides Here:-

http://www.seatcupra.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=524&Itemid=6

http://www.seatcupra.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=6

Parts are less than a tenner and Easy to fit yourself. Just need to paint the lock cap to match the car.

 

[mattupnorth]

Cheers guys, looks like I'll have to take the motor out and clean the brushes.

Might do the lock blanking, except my keyfob seems to kill batteries after about 3 days!

 

[33754k]

Tried to remove the wiper arms this morning. Both are seized even after wd40. I tried using a screw driver type device with an adaptor on the end but Couldnt get much leverage, what tool does the board recommend to do the job? Thanks

 

[LEE69]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SYKES-PICKAVA...ment?hash=item1c0bd078e8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

or find a local windscreen fitter to take the wiper off.

 

[mattupnorth]

Looked in my old Octavia hayens manual and they recommend a special clamp, similar to above. You need even pressure from all angles to ensure you pull it straight up from the spindle, I didn't the first time and it broke.

Removed the whole mechanism today and wd40'd the joints and motor brushes, seems a fair bit better now (although only moving 1 wiper), but might do it again when I've got some proper contact cleaner (these were a bit blackened).

 

[NickT]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SYKES-PICKAVA...ment?hash=item1c0bd078e8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

or find a local windscreen fitter to take the wiper off.

...or this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-Wipe...FC52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250368873&sr=8-1

 

[33754k]

My problem is i cant shift the nut! I managed to remove the rear wiper nut easily though when i put the fabia rear wiper on last year

 

[mattupnorth]

...or this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-Wipe...FC52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250368873&sr=8-1

That's what they recommend in the octavia haynes manual. Get yourself one of those!