Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - harbottle

On my 06 plate A3 2.0 tdi the rear wiper starts up - for about six wipes - each time I start the engine. Anyone know what is going on ??

Harbottle

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - thunderbird

Its probably switched on all the time. Try turning it off.

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - elekie&a/c doctor

More likely it is full of water from the rear washer system.The washer tube runs through the motor and leaks into the electronics of the system.hth

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - Collos25

Exactly the same as BMWs and if not looked at promptly will cost an arm and a leg to repace.

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - harbottle

well, two intelligent responses out of three's not bad, I suppose.

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - jonny10buds

The water for the rear washer passes through the motor and leaks into the electrics causing havoc as you would expect, I've succesfully fitted used motors from breakers in the past, it's an easy enough DIY job, I've just replaced one on a BMW Compact for around £45.

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - Roly93

I had exactly this problem on my A4 Avant which I assume may use exactly the same part. I see many Audis on the road with this same condition ie with the rear wiper stuck halfway across the screen.

The part to fix it was about £120 new, I dont think you will ever find a viable 2nd hand unit due to the nature of the fault, ie the unit filling up with screen washer fluid.

Its a pretty easy job on the A4 so I would assume a similar sitation on the A3, just go at it steadily.

My rear wiper went really crazy before it failed totally.

Audi A3 Sportback - rear wipe - A3 A4

I have had the problem on both my A4 Avant, and my wife's A3 hatch.

The problem stems from the corrosion of the washer nozzle that also acts as the wiper spindle.

Both the motors were dead, but in each case I was able to strip them down, dry them out regrease and get them working as they should, albeit without the washer.

Didn't fancy paying out over £100 in each case, just for the wash feature, as long as one resists from using the wash function, you still have a working rear wiper.

You may also experiance the alarm going off as water will drip from the motor onto the tailgate lock switch, activating the alarm.