Is there a single relay that controls the rear wiper and washer? They both crapped out at exactly the same moment - I was driving along, used the washer and wiper (both worked fine) then went to them it again and... nothing. I can hear a "click" when i press a button but nothing happens. Is there a single relay that could have tanked and is causing both to not work? If so, does that relay control anything else?

Thanks in advance -
Paul Morgan

Paul,

There is a relay plug in the hatch which has probably undone itself. Open the hatch, unscrew the plastic at the base of the window, then unscrew the carpeted panel. You shouldn't need to take the whole cardboard carpeted panel off, just enough to be able to see the wiper motor in the middle of the hatch and get your hands in to plug the plug back together. I'm pretty sure the plug is about 1 1/2" square. Once done and tested, tie the two halves of the plug together with one of those plastic garbage bag fasteners with the teeth(not a twist tie), so it stays.
I need to do the same thing this weekend, since I didn't fasten it last time. Is your wife keeping the car clean?

-Chris in FP with the Gold TD

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Chris,

Thanks for the pointer - i will definitely try it this weekend. Would be nce if that is the issue and save me some $. I'll let you know. And no, my wife is not keeping the car clean, but that is the way it is w/ 2 little kiddies.

Dear Paul,

I don't know the arrangement in the W 123 T but in the W124T
ther is a huge bundle with 12 elec. wires going along the left hinge of the rear door. Aging and opening and closing the rear door can, after 10, 15, 20 years of use, cause a lot of spooky electric problems.
On the W 124 T, the rear window washerpump is controlled by the rear window wiper motor. So if this is the same on a W 123,
don't forget to check this wiring and don't be surprised to find some broken wires inthere!
Just before the l/h hinge, under the plastic cover (easy to remove), there is a large connector with 24 screws connecting the hatch wire harness to the car's harness. When you check this out do the right side too! Often the tube of the washer fluid got broken or dammaged as do the wiring for the rear window heating.
Good luck,

Danny

I got the gate open and found the relay. When the wiper/washer button is depressed the relay 'clicks' but nothing happens. I opened up the relay and it seems to be working mechanically but I do not know if something is wrong electronically.

If the relay is getting power and working correctly, and the washer motor is good, but the wiper motor is bad - would the washer work? I have narrowed the problem down to the wiper motor or the relay. Any thoughts?

Hello again, Paul,

I do believe the relais is connected to the motor otherwise ther would be no reason to put it on the motor and ending up to all that extra wiring and plugging. In fact, the washer is only working in certain positions of the whiper simply to be effectif.
If not the whiper should throw the washing fluid away from the window.
At the time the W 124's saw live, back in September 1985, engineers looked still for mechanical and electrical solutions rather than electronics and elecronical feedback.
Untill now I didn't opened up the whiper motor or relais as my only problem was the wirng harnes as told earlier.
Good luck anyway!

Danny

okay - the click is loud enough that i think it is the wiper motor "wanting" to go but unable to do so - any pointers on repair? i would like to avoid buying a new one at $200

You said you checked the relay in the hatch. I ASSUME you found the square plug near the wiper motor to make sure it's together. Sometimes it looks together, but isn't. There's one other thing. In the storage area for the First Aid kit, in the corner near the taillight, there's a little plastic plug, like a miniature version of what you'd find on a backpack. I unplugged that and plugged it back into itself once and the wiper/washer was working fine. Made NO sense to me, but it worked. The next time the thing stopped, it was indeed that square plug in the hatch that I keep raving about. In your first post, you mentioned that it was working fine and suddenly stopped. I keep thinking it's a connection issue.
Nice day for the 300TD sunroof to be open

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

You mentioned that the fluid squirter stopped as well. If it were the wiper motor that went, my thought is that the squirter would still work, since the pump for that is in the first aid storage area on the right your rear washer fluid tank is, near the vacuum fuel door lock.

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Okay - decided to open up the rear wiper and see if i could ascertain what was the issue and found that the screw that holds the casing to the body had come loose and had jammed up the works. Once I had it back in its rightful place th wiper worked and so did the washer. Lesson learned: the washer will only work when wiper is working.

Thanks
Paul

Stuff like that will drive you nuts when deep down you know it's probably a simple thing. On a different note...a while ago you posted that you're wife was thinking that selling the car would be a good idea. Hopefully that thought has gone. There's nothing like a 300TD on a road trip for the holidays. Though last year, I did see one stranded on the Major Deegan going back toward the GW on the right. I was in the left lane passing it in holiday traffic, seeing it too late to offer any help. It was dark blue or black, too dark outside to tell.

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Fortunately no more talk of selling, in fact she now wants to keep it forever. Women. Anyway, you are right - it is a great car for long holiday drives - especially since we had the front end totally redone by a great mechanic in Short Hills - Independent Auto Repair. Rides like a rock solid european sedan.

Thanks for the tip about the Short Hills place. I'm using Bevaqua's in Boonton. He's been working on these things forever. Take 287 N to the Intervale Rd. Exit. Make a right. On the right is a Texaco. That's him. Joe Bevaqua. Great guy, car runs great.

I brought my smoking car to a guy in W. Orange with a great reputation, since I was close and it started smoking suddenly one day. After a day, he said I had a cracked block and needed a new engine. I smoked it back to Boonton and Joe fixed it. Wasn't a cracked block. It was an expensive repair, but it wasn't the block. Point is, on something major, in our area, it pays to get a second opinion with someone trusted if it's something to big to tackle.

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."