What does a front wiper motor do?

A front wiper motor is a small but powerful electric motor that powers your car’s front windscreen wiper arms. The motor is either switched on manually by the driver or more modern cars have rain sensors fitted that will switch the motor on automatically for the driver when water is detected.

The motor enables the wiper arms to swipe across the front windscreen clearing rain, ice, dirt or debris to ensure the driver has good visibility at all times. Electrical power is fed to the front wiper motor through a fuse and a relay. The driver can change the switch position to produce intermittent wipes, standard speed wipes or fast wipes depending on the driving conditions.

Kia

Kia Motors Corporation (widely known as Kia Motors) is South Korea’s second-largest automobile manufacturer, behind their parent company, the Hyundai Motor Company.

They were initially established in December 1944, over 70 years ago, as a steel tubing and bicycle parts manufacturer who started building cars in the 1970s.

Coming from a background of building cars under licence for the likes of Fiat, Mazda and Peugeot, it wasn’t until the 1980s when Kia started to produce vehicles under their own brand name, and only more recently were they to become minority owned by Hyundai, who currently holds a 33.88% stake in the company, in 2015.

How popular is Kia in the United Kingdom?

From the mid-1990s, the amount of Kia cars on UK roads has seen a steady increase to the current number of around 800k today.

Given their reliability, value for money and market-leading 7-year, 100k mile warranty, Kia is a marque that is heading for further popularity, greater sales and added respect.

Superb value for money

With an extensive range of models to choose from, Kia cars offer excellent value. From their city car Picanto starting at under £10k, through to their luxury spec SUV Sorento at £30k, Kia cars compete with more established mainstream brands, offering not only strong price-points but with advanced levels of technology and the extended benefits you’d expect from a car of a higher price.

Kia Sportage: The 10th best selling car in the UK

Given the rise in growth of the Korean car brand, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see its best selling model sneak into the top 10 best selling cars of 2018. This great value and practical SUV is ideal for family motoring; not only is it rugged and good looking, but it’s also backed with Kia’s impressive reliability and extensive warranty.

How often should a front wiper motor need replacing?

Good visibility is crucial to safe driving. Therefore, because the front windscreen wipers provide a clear view out of the windshield, it’s critical (and legal!) that they are fixed as soon as any issue arises.

There is no set lifespan of a front wiper motor, however as the motor is frequently used, wear and tear can eventually cause it to malfunction, the same as any other electric motor. The most important thing is that it is replaced as soon as possible because the front windscreen wipers are a critical safety feature.

What happens when we do a front wiper motor replacement on your car?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the front windscreen wiper system.

• Investigate to determine the exact fault in the electrical system.

• If necessary, they will replace the front windscreen wiper motor.

• They will advise if any other parts of the windscreen wipers need to be replaced.

• Finally they will test the windscreen's wipers to ensure everything is working correctly.

What causes a front wiper motor to break?

Undue stress on the motor can lead to it burning out. For example if your windscreen wipers are frozen to the glass or if they are stuck due to lack of use, it’s best to avoid switching the wiper system on. This can put too much stress on the motor causing it to burn out or fail.

General wear and tear may also result in older cars needing a replacement wiper motor fitted.

When should a front wiper motor be replaced?

Good visibility is crucial to safe driving. Therefore, because the front windscreen wipers provide a clear view out of the windshield, it’s critical (and legal!) that they are fixed as soon as any issue arises.

What are the signs of a bad front wiper motor?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• If one or both of the windscreen wipers completely stops working

• If the wipers move slower than usual

• If the wipers jerk across the windscreen or aren’t swiping as smoothly as usual

What happens when we do a front wiper motor replacement on your car?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the front windscreen wiper system.

• Investigate to determine the exact fault in the electrical system.

• If necessary, they will replace the front windscreen wiper motor.

• They will advise if any other parts of the windscreen wipers need to be replaced.

• Finally they will test the windscreen's wipers to ensure everything is working correctly.

What is the average life of a front wiper motor?

There is no set lifespan of a front wiper motor, however as the motor is frequently used, wear and tear can eventually cause it to malfunction, the same as any other electric motor. The most important thing is that it is replaced as soon as possible because the front windscreen wipers are a critical safety feature.

Can you drive with a broken front wiper motor?

No, you should not drive if your front windscreen wipers are not working. It’s not only dangerous to drive without the use of windscreen wipers, it is also illegal in this country. According to UK law, every vehicle fitted with a windscreen must have one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers.

It's also important to note that your windscreen wipers and wiper blades will be checked during an MOT test, so make sure your wipers are in full working order to avoid an MOT fail.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

It is illegal to drive with broken or malfunctioning front windscreen wipers. Therefore if your front wiper motor breaks it is important that you get the issue looked at as soon as possible.

It's also important to note that your windscreen wipers and wiper blades will be checked during an MOT test, so make sure your wipers are in full working order to avoid an MOT fail.