Vectra Wiper Linkages Gone

tedted

why are they flapping about then unless still connected but loose on the spindle?

Spicy_McHaggis

tedted wrote: »

why are they flapping about then unless still connected but loose on the spindle?

Look at the ball joint.

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

colino

OP, my reply seems to have disappeared. You'll feel where the socket has came off the ball (its like a hip joint), just squeeze it back on and use the jeans/rope or whatever to prevent further extra movement.

pennypincher3562

Thanks Colino

Where in the above photo is the socket? Can you give me a rough idea. Also you will see from the photos that the wipers are stuck half way up the windscreen - do I manually have to force them back down, or will this break something?

Also, is there any danger if I do things wrong of scratching the windscreen?

Thanks Again
PennyPincher3562

pody

I had the same issue, there is a metal clip you can buy on ebay rhe clip in and holds the linkage together, sure it was around £8?

pody

Ebay item 261665663115. Item is great and lasts, I tried the cord and it always came loose.
The clip slots in between the ball joint and the rod so holds them together

Strider590

Before you do anything drastic, take the cap off the spindle and tighten it.

Vectra does not have a traditional spindle, it uses a rubber washer to generate the grip to hold the wiper arm...... This typically lets go before any damage occurs to the mechanism. All you may need to do is tighten the nut.

colino

The ball and socket are at the extreme left and low on your picture. You can see the lighter circle which is the "dome" of the top socket, the other one is underneath this and the one likely to have popped off. Don't forget to check as above that the wiper itself isn't loose on its spindle (mounting), that'll be an even easier and zero cost fix.

Inner_Zone

pody wrote: »

Ebay item 261665663115. Item is great and lasts, I tried the cord and it always came loose.
The clip slots in between the ball joint and the rod so holds them together

"It will fit most Vauxhalls up to 2005 with brown sockets as in top picture."

So not suitable for the OPs car!

But their "Vauxhall Vectra C Signum Windscreen Wiper Linkage Repair Channel (2005-2009)" may work.

Joe_Horner

Hi Penny,

The ball joints are in the area I've circled in red. The quality sketch (!!!) shows how they fit together.

The black part in the sketch is the part that the motor moves, and it has two "balls" on short stalks attached to it. The wiper linkage rods (the blue parts) have a socket on te end which clips onto the balls.

When they're new the socket is a good, tight, fit and they hold themselves in place but, as they wear, they can come loose.

The idea of tying them is just to give something to help the sockets stay in place.

So, check that the actual wiper arms are tight on their spindles first. If both of the wipers are moving (or trying to move) when you turn them on then it's quite likely they've just come loose. In that case, let them park where they want to, then gently move them by hand to where they should be and tigten the nut that holds each arm.

If they're already tight then check that both of the sockets are properly in place on their balls. because of the angle between your rods you'd be better using something like elastic (a small bungee cord) rather than a "solid" tie like cloth or tie-wrap because it'll allow a little more "give" as they move. Tie them quite tightly, but so that there's still a little stretch left in the bungee cord to allow for movement.