QuestionQUESTION: Hi Jan,
I have a 1998 A4 2.4 petrol. Over the last few days when I start the car the wipers start also. They work at high speed when so selected by the switch and normal speed with the switch in either normal or delay position. In off or wash/wipe positions they complete seven sweeps before parking normally. Could I have a faulty delay module?
A second problem is that the OSD intermittently shows a failed bulb warning but all bulbs work.
Any clues appreciated!
Tom
ANSWER: The wiper motor is probably not sensing it's end of travel correctly. Is the wiper pattern correct? The bulb is probably a loose contact, or a wrong wattage bulb has been put in the circuit. The wiper relay iself is also worth checking; sometimes they stick too. Let me knwo what you find, Jan
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QUESTION: The wiper pattern is correct. When the switch is in the off position the wipers will park correctly after seven sweeps but if I then don't touch the switch but turn the ignition off and on again there will be another seven sweeps.
This makes me think that the problem is not with a stuck microswitch in the motor but rather an external component which can provide power independently of the column switch.
Thanks for the relay suggestion, I'll try that later.
The bulbs are all marked with the correct ratings. The warning light comes on even when the lights are off and occasionally a beep will sound. Around 25% of the time there will be no warning light. The bulb contacts appear ok but I'll clean them to be sure.
Thanks!
ANSWER: OK so the relay is where I would start in that case. Secondly for the bulb warning, check the brake lights (especially the third brake light) for good contact. Also check the turn signals. Let me know, Jan
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QUESTION: Hi Jan,
my dealer had to order the relay. I put the old relay back in for the 17 mile journey to collect the new one. The wipers had been in a parked position but moved a little further before stopping. I reset the wiper arm positions but now I had no wipers at all.
The fuse (#24)was ok and at least a couple of terminals on the relay block showed 12v. I guessed that the relay had died and set off to collect the new one. This made no difference! It's raining now so I'll wait for better weather to check the supply at the wiper motor.
May be a coincidental rodent attack....a few months ago they chewed a rubber brake vacuum hose elbow! One strange thing is that the problem with false 'bulb out' warning has gone, or at least there was no sign of it on a 35 mile journey which is very unusual.
Is there a separate intermittent wiper control? The wiring diagram seems to suggest that there is, at the steering column switch, connected to relay terminal 'Pot'. My dealer says no, and that the relay takes care of everything. It's shown as 'E38' on the diagram and separate from the 'E22' intermittent wiper switch. Maybe 'E22' is the column switch and 'E38' is the small delay switch. Confusing terminology.
AnswerThe column switch does have the potentiometer in it, which sets the time of delay. Obviously it also has the on/off control, but once activated, the main relay triggers the motor, and the motor should keep running to the park position. I think it may still be the wiper motor. let me know, Jan
