Windscreen wiper linkage and motor

[Euler2]

Hello
New to forum but not my 9N 1.4 TDI AMF.
Looking for advice and experience. My windscreen wipers have slowed down to virtually stopping and need a 'push' to get them moving.
I have had this occur a number of times over the last few years, and have replaced them with 2nd hand (Stevens VW Brakers) ones. However this is the 3rd time now. Have been told it is the linkages seizing and not the motor. Is it me or 2nd hand serves me right. Should I service with some Lithium grease when installing them !

Thanks

[RUM4MO]

I think that if you have owned the car for a while, you should be open and available to listen for and react to any unusual noises. In my experience, wiper spindles start to make noises a long time before they start to seize up. I noticed this on my wife's 2002 Polo after the wipers had not been used for a while, I immediately removed the wiper arms and "drizzled" 3 in 1 oil down the spindles and moved them about, in a bid to avoid any problems this winter, and to avoid me needing to remove the linkage and service it properly. My concern is removing the black plastic water shield and refitting it still in one piece, I'll need to look at Haynes for help! (been there done that - breaking water shield - on old Passat B5)

[Euler2]

Problem now sorted.

Removed wiper linkage and motor, a bit fiddly removing torx screws and heat insulator (used Haynes Manual)

By using a youtube video by 'ask the mechanicCoUk' which seemed to be the same wiper linkage as my 9N.

Stripped it down as by video instructions and reinstalled.

WARNING: I did not realign the arms or mark their original position. So when switched on wipers they were all over the place and did not return to finish
position on windscreen. Eventually adjusted central arm on motor bit a time and got there eventually (1 hour just for this).
Cleaning the spindles and greasing them made an amazing difference in the movement.

Hope this helps someone time.

[RUM4MO]

Problem now sorted. Hope this helps someone time.

Excellent, maybe I will do something a bit more than I've already done to wife's Polo after looking at that video.

One thing that I would add is, for anyone doing this for the first time, before refitting the wiper arms, operate the wipers and let them switch off - ie park in their natural position - then refit the wiper arms. If you don't do that, you might just find that you need to buy some new wiper arms after they have got themselves tangled up!