Wiper delay for intermittent wipers doesnt work?

[porshapower]

I have 4 positions on the wiper stalk but only 2 work. When I turn the lever all the way up I get the high speed. When I turn lever down one level its at the low speed. The next one under that and the one all the way down dont work? Which should be the intermittent wipers..all the way down or second position? My wheel under the dash does nothing when I turn it anyway. Thanks in advance Nel

[rhjames]

replace the potentiometer under the dash---yes, the little wheel thing you say doesn't affect the wipers......

--Russ

[Alan in AZ]

The lowest position (down from off) is intermittent. Push up (tip mode) should get you one wipe on slow speed and the next position up should be slow continuous mode.

When you say you have 4 posistion do you mean 4 total (3 active and off) or 5 total (4 active and off)?

Off is the second position up from the bottom in all cases. Intermittent is down all other fixed positions should run continuously - faster as you go up. If you have a posistion up from off that doesn't run then you have 2 issues: one with intermittent (probably the relay) and one with the wiper connections or the motor.

Alan

[porshapower]

Hello and thanks for the help guys I went back out and checked and I do have 5 positions. I have the high,medium,slow and then all the way down which should be intermittent wipers nothing happens. Its like having it in the off position....any relay that controls this or definately the round wheel under the dash or?? Thanks again

[Alan in AZ]

Originally Posted by Alan in AZ

... intermittent (probably the relay)....
Alan

I think I said it already - lets keep up with the plot...

If you want to know where the relay is? - you'll need to (in every initial thread post or in your sig line) tell us what year your car is - virtually evey year has electrical differences (fuse & relay numbers, equipment etc etc...)

Alan

[rhjames]

Alan is the electrical guru---he knows this stuff.

(I forgot about the relay)

relay first, potentiometer (wheel positioner) next.

--Russ

[Alan in AZ]

If you suspect the potentiometer - you can just short the 2 wires together. But the relay should run anyway (even without it connected).

I'd recommend replacement with a VW relay not the Porsche version - this will eliminate the potentiometer (always a really stupid idea anyway...) yet still leave you with a default 6 second intermittent delay - plus an immediate and intuitive digital rate control via the switch... its directly plug & play all model years and its cheaper too.

See: http://members.rennlist.com/sharkskin/Pages_SA_R24-IntermittentWipers.htm

Alan

[porshapower]

Hello, Thank You so much for that link. I will spend alot of time looking through that page. Sorry for not putting the year...it is a 86.5... I will check to see if there is even a relay in there tomorrow if not I will do this conversion to the vw relay and then on to the next problem Thanks again. Nel

[Alan in AZ]

The relay also controls the self parking of the wipers - so if they park in the right place you have the relay - this function is independant of the intermittent feature - so no suprise that it still works...

Alan

[porshapower]

I removed the relay and the wipers would not "park" in their correct position. With the relay they park correctly in the off position. I looked under there to see if there was a similar relay I could try to swap to see if it fixed the problem but no luck. I ordered a dimmer swich for the dash lights and it should be here soon. Is this similar to the intermittent wiper delay where I could possibly plug it in to try before I install it for the dash lights? Thanks again for all the help. Nel

[Alan in AZ]

Originally Posted by porshapower

I removed the relay and the wipers would not "park" in their correct position. With the relay they park correctly in the off position.

I hope this wasn't a surprise...? (see above).

Originally Posted by porshapower

I looked under there to see if there was a similar relay I could try to swap to see if it fixed the problem but no luck.

Sorry this but this is spectacularly stupid thinking... never assume a relay is "similar" there is only the exact same and different. If you plug the wrong relay into the wrong slot you may set fire to your vehicle... don't even think about swapping different relays unless you know exactly what you are doing...

Originally Posted by porshapower

I ordered a dimmer swich for the dash lights and it should be here soon. Is this similar to the intermittent wiper delay where I could possibly plug it in to try before I install it for the dash lights?

I already noted how you can do this see above - just short the 2 potentiometer (dimmer) wires for the delay together.

Alan