Removing and installing wiper motor: Audi A4 B5
Step-by-step removing and installing wiper motor for the Audi A4 B5: 31 steps, 4 torque figures. What to remove, what to tighten and to how many Nm, what.
Removing and installing the windscreen wiper motor on Audi models built on the platform codes listed below. The motor is bolted to the wiper frame in the plenum chamber, so the plenum cover, both wiper arms, the left cowl grille section and the electronics box cover come out first, then the whole frame is lifted out from the right-hand side. On the bench the drive rod is levered off the crank, the crank nut removed and the motor unbolted. The part that decides the result is setting the crank: the new motor is run to its end position with touch-wipe, the crank aligned with the frame and the nut tightened to 18 Nm while the crank is braced.
🧭 Before you start
Remove the plenum chamber cover, run the wipers to their end position with touch-wipe, then remove the cover caps and wiper arms. Take off the left cowl grille, electronics box cover and frame bolts and lift the complete frame out. Detach the drive rod, remove the crank nut and crank, and unbolt the motor. Fit the new motor to the frame (8 Nm), run it to end position, align and tighten the crank (18 Nm), check angle α, refit the frame and adjust the wiper arms.
Fits: Audi A4 B5 (8D)
- Special tools named: puller
Don't miss
- Run the motor to its end position with touch-wipe before fitting the crank.
- Align the crank with the wiper frame and brace it with a spanner while tightening the nut.
- Check angle α after a second touch-wipe cycle and re-align if needed.
- Use a puller if an arm will not release from its shaft rather than levering the cowl.
- Torques: crank nut 18 Nm, motor and frame bolts 8 Nm.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
🔩 Torque settings
Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.
| Torque | Fastener / step |
|---|---|
| 18 Nm (13 lb-ft) | Screw on nut (3) securing motor crank to shaft of wiper motor and tighten it |
| 8 Nm (5.9 lb-ft) | Insert wiper motor into wiper frame and tighten bolts securing wiper motor to wiper frame |
| 8 Nm (5.9 lb-ft) | Tighten securing bolts (3) |
| 8 Nm (5.9 lb-ft) | Tighten securing bolts arrows |
ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.
📋 Procedure
- If fitted, detach rubber seal of plenum chamber cover in direction of (arrow).
- Remove plenum chamber cover (1) to front.
- Operate "“touch-wipe function”" and allow wiper arms to move to end position.
- Pry cover caps off wiper arms with a screwdriver.
- Loosen nuts (arrows) several turns.
- Release wiper arms (1) from wiper shafts one after the other by tilting slightly.
- Remove nuts completely and detach wiper arms. [Note: If wiper arm cannot be released from wiper shaft, detach by using a commercially available puller.]
- Pull off retaining clips and detach left section of cowl panel grille (2).
- Unscrew bolts (arrows).
- Remove cover for electronics box (plenum chamber).
- Remove bolts (1). [Note: Crank of wiper motor must be facing in direction of travel.]
- Carefully pivot rear part of wiper frame (2) upwards ((arrows)) and take complete frame out of plenum chamber from right-hand side.
- Unplug electrical connector at wiper motor.
- Detach drive rod from wiper motor crank (arrow) using removal lever80 - 200.
- Unscrew nut (2).
- Pull crank (1) off wiper motor.
- Unscrew wiper motor from wiper frame (arrows).
- Secure wiper motor without crank to wiper frame (arrows).
- Plug in electrical connector.
- Switch on ignition.
- Operate "“touch-wipe function”" and allow wiper motor to move to end position.
- Switch off ignition and take out ignition key.
- Align crank (1) with wiper frame (3).
- Hold crank in position and hand-tighten nut (2) so setting is not altered.
- Then brace crank with an open-ended spanner and tighten nut fully.
- Switch on ignition.
- Operate "“touch-wipe function”" and allow wiper motor to move to end position.
- Check that angle (α) is attained; re-align if necessary.
- Insert wiper frame (wiper motor first) in plenum chamber.
- Fit and secure wiper motor together with wiper frame.
- Adjust wiper arms .
Other AUDI procedures
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
- Calibrating overhead view camera system
- Removing and installing bearing for flange shaft (right-side)
- Removing and installing engine oil cooler (top) – Audi 5.0
- Removing and installing exhaust gas temperature sender
- Removing and installing upper longitudinal member (right-side)
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.