Great forum, and great experts in here giving help - I could sure use it now.

1999 C280 Sport - VIN: WDBHA29G1XA707073

The wiper (single blade) when turned on, moves across the window, but on the return path it stalls and you can hear the motor clicking as if it's trying to grab the wiper for the downswing, but nothing is connecting. Is this a DIY fix? (I attempted the fix posted regarding lubing the arm and spring, and it did not resolve the issue)

Service Counter: Anyone have the method for resetting the service counter on this model C class? All help is appreciated.

 

I had that problem with my C230 1998. They used a nylon gear and a brass gear in the assembly and the nylon gear deteriorates after a while or if the blade is prevented from moving (ice or snow). In my case, had to change the wiper motor assembly. I did not open the new one to check if they upgraded the nylon gear to brass but I know the part number has been changed.

If, when the wiper stops, you move it a little bit by hand and it grabs again, there is a good chance the problem is the same I had. I opened the assembly and saw with my own eyes (part of the nylon gear was stripped and the rest was just like new).

Approx 250$ at the dealer. 1 hour to install. Runs great since. Don't forget to keep the others moving parts greased.

Good luck.

By the way, I told the dealer I was surprised to find plastic in a fine German assembly like that and since they had changed the part number, I figured it was because Mercedes recognized the problem and fixed it. Because of that and staying polite, the parts guy gave me a little rebate .

 

Never start your wiper when it has snow or ice on it, always check first to see if it frozen to the windshield. these single wipers have a lot of pull, but ice with strip the nylon gears.

There is a way to set the FSS, it is outlined in your owners manual, if you don't have one, email me and I will look it up. I forget the exact procedure of pushing the button on the dash.

 

I was just wondering, is the nylon gear located in the wiper motor assembly itself or in the transmission assembly? I am having the same problem and I would rather replace the motor than the trans....as it is considerably less expensive.

 

The nylon gear is part of the wiper motor assembly. For my model (99 C230 202.024), I had to remove the plastic air grill to expose the wiper assembly and motor. You remove the 6-8 star head screws from the cover where the electrical connects to the motor and pull off the cover. The electrical is connected with a two prong plug inside that should come off easily as you lift the cover off. Inside you will see a brass serpintine gear that drives/strips the nylon wheel gear.

My wiper started stalling at the mid point across the stroke (straight up). I have found that the new replacement wiper arms are an inch shorter than the originals and suspect that beyond the possibility of the nylon gear being upgraded in the replacement motors that the arm has been shortened to reduce torque on the gears.

You should not need to replace the wiper linkage (~$500 USD), just replace the motor (~$150-300 USD depending on motor needed). Better yet, find a salvage yard and swap the nylon gear. The gear also has an electrical contact plate to stop the motor when the arm is in the parked position so you will need to swap it in with proper orientation if you try this.

Make sure you (or whoever does the repair) takes the time to remove the cap over the wiper arm pistons to regrease them and spray a good lubricant on the linkage while this repair is done as the entire linkage needs to be reomved to replace the motor anyways.

 

for anyone in need of replacing their wiper motor that doesn't want to pay the dealer $300 and wait two weeks, here is the best deal I found:

http://www.whslparts.com/

Got my wiper motor shipped for free UPS 3 day ground for $248. The motor retails for $284. The motor arrives on schedule and was new OEM MB. Took 10 minutes to swap in + 45 minutes of messing with the plastic trims to get back in place.

 

Hi:

I got the arm assembly and the motor for $95 from a used parts dealer in Oklahoma.

Worth looking around.