[Audi A3/S3] changing rear wiper motor

[thenamesross]

Friend of mine has an A3 and the rear wiper motor has packed in. We were planning to get a 2nd hand one and replace it ourselves. Is this an easy job and does anyone have any tips on how to do it (or is it that straight forward).

Any help appreciated.

[steve1975l]

Which one 8L or 8P?

Simple if 8L remove x2 screws in handle and there are 7 clips that hold it on so pull hard no harder. Water has got into the motor best to get a new one as 2nd hand one likely to go soon as well.

[thenamesross]

Going to show my ignorance of A3's here. Dont know if its 8L or 8P but its a Y reg 2001 model if that helps.

[ChaiHal]

Same year as mine, so 8L. You can find it from the Vehicle number. It should read

WAU ZZZ 8L Z 1 1 xxxxxx

for your car.

[thenamesross]

Cheers PaulD

[Funki]

Seems to be a common fault on A3's as mine is playing up aswell. Mine is a 2000 1.8T and the motor is near dead. There are loads for the MK4 Golf on ebay but not many for Audi's. The A3 and the Golf Mk4 are pretty much the same car so I wonder if the motor is the same one?? I can't be asked to spend 80 quid on one from Audi for a new one.

BTW how would you remove the trim to gain access to the motor to replace it?

Cheers

[Mo-S3]

Has the motor definately gone? Usually the spindle which doubles as the water jet pipe corrodes causing the motor to work but not spray the window but the boot trim instead.

There are 2 screws inside the grab handle when you pull the bootlid down.

Then pull the trim away from the bootlid using firm pulls. I usally find the a long thin screwdriver poked into the correct area between the lid and trim works very well.

[mikebridges]

Easy to remove, I had to do mine at the weekend as a bit of broken glass was under there from the previous owner and it was really getting on my nerves! You just undo the screws on the interior handle you use to pull the boot down, and then get you hands underneath the trim at the bottom of the rear windscreen and pull. It should just come off, as there are some little metal clips that simply pop in to hold it on (although it may require a bit of a tug!). With that off you have access to the wiper motor

[Funki]

Thanks chaps, will let you know how I get on once I get a new motor without getting skanked by the maindealers...