Electrics: 06 V70 D5 REAR wiper inoperative

[irondonkey]

Evening folks, Today I tried to find the source of a problem I have had for the best part of a year...the rear window wiper not working. All other electrics at the rear of the car and tailgate work fine, including the rear wiper washer. Prior to stripping the cables I put in a fuse and the wiper worked briefly for about 15 seconds, then the fuse blew, I replaced it 5 or 6 times and each time it blew without even needing to turn on the wiper, they kept blowing the second the ignition was turned on.
I stripped off the inner coverings and withdrew the cables from the rear cargo area and through the rear hatch to inspect the wiring......after stripping back the electrical tape and mesh protection at the hinge area I could find no problem with the wiring. I carried out resistance measurements on all three wires from the connecting plug at the motor to the plug at the fuse box in the cargo area.....all showed 0 ohms on the 2000k scale. I manipulated the cables at the hinge area whilst taking the measurements to see if the resistance changed but it remained at 0 ohms on all three cables.
I am tearing my hair out as I can see no obvious wear on the cables, but when I disconnect the three connector blocks at the rear cargo area that feed the rear hatch electrics and replace the fuse, then turn on the ignition, the fuse remains intact, even when operating the wiper switch....as soon as the cables connectors are reattached and the ignition turned on the fuse blows.......HELP please !

[XC70Bob]

I suggest you look at the wiper motor assembly in the tail gate,
It's not uncommon for the output shaft to corrode and so jam in the housing , this results in the motor having to work a lot harder and so draw a much higher current which results in the fuse blowing.

I have had this happen not only on my own XC70 but a friend's V70, in both cases stripping the assembly and cleaning the shaft and housing and applying grease restored the wiper operation.

[Longhouse21]

Originally Posted by XC70Bob

...stripping the assembly and cleaning the shaft and housing and applying grease restored the wiper operation.

A very good probability that it's a corroded spindle.
When stripping the assembly take care not to lose or damage the very small O rings. I've used both silicone grease and Teflon based grease when I've repaired mine and others (Audi/VW on the A3/A4 and variants can have similar issues)

[jnmonaghan]

Would this kit from Volvo solve your problem
Volvo part No 30649037 - Volvo check valve kit

Jude

[LeoK]

I had similar issue. I took the assembly apart and it was completely seized. I bought an assembly off eBay for £35 and it’s fine. Not a Volvo part but exactly the same

[irondonkey]

Update.....As mentioned I have had this problem for a year, so thinking the motor was dead I bought one of the new cheap motors off ebay....it didnt work either, so I bought another from a different seller.....still no joy.
So today I stripped cleaned and regreased the gearing and spindle using silicon grease...upon reassembly and connection to the socket in the hatch, it worked for about 15 seconds again, then blew the fuse when turning it off at the switch. I replaced the fuse and once again I didnt need to turn the wiper on before the fuse blew....literally as I turned on the ignition..CRACK....another fuse hits the dust. I'm tearing my hair out,,,, the wiring all checks out, I know the motors work, so why else would it continually blow fuses ???

[XC70Bob]

One option is to remove the motor/wiper assembly from the can and connect it directly to a car battery , via the same size fuse as used in the car,

If the fuse blows then its the motor/wiper assembly that's the problem,
what size fuse do you have powering the rear wiper ?
it should be 15A.

As you have already said it does not blow fuses with the motor disconnected but the circuit turned on I don't see it being a wiring short circuit.