O/T 2cv electrickery

[Trotsky]

Ive recently had a problem I have never come across before in 20+ years of 2cv ownership. last month the wipers went iffy then stopped working altogether, no amount of reaching out the side flap window to nudge em into action would work any more 😬 so whipped off the wiper motor cover and the motor was hot, too hot to touch in fact so I promptly disconnected the wiring and later removed and replaced the wiper motor for a brand new one. All seemed fine with the new one until today when the wipers went iffy and no amount of ........you get the picture, same story, red hot wiper motor and no action. smell of hot electrics. the only thing I have touched recently that involves electrics was a headlight swap, the car originally had the rectangular type and as one fell out last month under heavy braking it seemed a good time to get some nice chrome round ones from SVC , same as the ones on the 7. when I rewired the connectors to the lights and fitted them I get sidelights , and high beam, but normal main beam is no brighter than the sidelights, main bulb is lit but dim( bit like me when it comes to auto electrics it seems ), all the wires are in there correct places I believe. could it be that the 2 problems are linked some how, Bulbs are the same h4 type as were in the previous headlights. If I have some how got a wire mixed up to the bulb how could this possibly have anything to do with the problems with the wipers? Could the bullet connectors I used to join the headlights to 2cv old wiring be the wrong amp rating? I used blue ones from halfords as they were what I had in my tool box .

I'm not expecting many replies but Blat chat has surprised me before

[Grim Reaper]

Could it be the wiper gearbox/spindles are seizing up and working the motor too hard? Can you move the wiper arms easily when the motor is removed? spray all moving bits with WD40/other maintenance spray to see if they free up.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

If the lights are dim - you either have a supply cable that is too small, a dirty connection in the supply or earth or 12V bulbs on a 6V supply ?

 

Do the lights and wipers share a common supply or earth ?

 

Try connecting the lights directly to a charged battery. Are they brighter ? If yes - start working through the wiring.

[Jonathan Kay]

YHBM

 

Jonathan

[myothercarsa2cv]

It's the spindles. They get a little rusty and then seize up. Mine lasted 22 years before smoke started pouring out from behind the dash. The motor is usually fine after you replace them.

 

Check your wiring for the headlamps

[Trotsky]

The spindles if anything are a bit wobbly 😬 I cleaned and lubed everything up when I refit the new motor , however I should have replaced em when I did the motor I suppose so ill do that next cheers John, yes i must check the wiring to headlights, earths etc, had a voltage regulator fail in the middle of nowhere years ago that resulted in a complete failure of the on board computer and engine management system 😬

Thanks all and Jonathan thanks for the email.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

Computer ...... 2CV ........... do these words belong in the same sentence

[myothercarsa2cv]

Engine management?! What are you managing? My engine management is my right foot