windsreen wipers

[fortnum1977]

Hello,

was wondering if anyone could tell me how to wire up a wiper on/off switch on my p5b coupe.

The wipers recently stopped working after working for sometime intermittently.

I noticed the fuse was blown. I replaced the switch and a fuse, which blew when I tried it.

Not sure i've wrired up the six wires on the back of the switch correctly. Does anyone know how to do it? My workshop manual doesn't show how.

Thanks,

Fortnum

[norvin]

Are you sure you do not have a short on any of the wires from the motor. As far as I can make out look at the back of the switch so you have three lucar connectors each side, top left red and green, centre green and brown, bottom yellow and green. Right hand side top white and green, centre earth, bottom blue and green. The yellow and green and the white and green are from the reostat switch.

[Phil Nottingham]

I cannot confirm the cable positions without undoing my console but make sure the switch is the right way up (on is left) - a short may have ruined the switch which is a special and does cause problems.

Make sure the cables at the wiper motor end are not shorting and also the self park switch contacts are clean and its adjusted correctly (Knurled nut at wipe motor)

[Colin McA]

Jan 17, 2009 1:23:14 GMT Colin McA said:

Could some one please check the wiper switch for me.

I removed the wires before checking the colours against the terminations.

The copy of the "updated" wiring diagrams are not marked with term numbers and the old copy I have is to poor to read.

What I think it should be is, looking at the diagram. term 1 bottom left and term 6 top right.

1-yg
2-ug
3-ng
4-earth
5-rg
6-wg

thanks
Colin

Thanks

There is numbers next to the connectors which correspond to the above.

Colin

[Phil Nottingham]

Thansk this is what is needed on the diagrams

[norvin]

Numbers are printed on all the switch connectors on the circuit diagram but are not easy to see, I have done a photo copy of mine to a larger size but even then some are not that clear, but it is better with the large diagram when checking the circuits.

[fortnum1977]

Thanks everyone,

how do you get to the wiper motor, where is it?

fortnum

[Warwick]

Unlike most modern cars, it's exposed in all its glory under the bonnet beside the heater fan.

[norvin]

The wiper motor is in the top right hand corner of the engine bay as you stand in front of the car, have you still got a trouble? check the wiring from the wiper motor for any shorts where they go into snap connectors but do one at a time so you put them back in the right order, let us know if you get them working or still have trouble.

[nickk58]

I had the same problem, which was caused by hardening of the grease in the windscreen wiper mechanism, which meant that the resistance was getting to great and as a result drew to much current to keep the motor going, which then in the end caused to blow the fuse.

[fortnum1977]

oh yes I had to get a new wiper motor in the end... the armature had lost part of its commutator, which was causing it to work intermittently. The rotor was spinning round but the brushes weren't picking up any current where one panel of the commutator had fallen off. Bascially, knackered.

[Deleted]

Rather than just start a new thread......
I have a problem with the wipers.Occasionally when turning them on,they don't go.However there is a drain shown on the ampmeter.
Trying to move the wipers,wiggling wires etc does nothing,but flicking the switch with a finger usually then starts the wipers which will carry on normally and will speed up,turn off and park as they should.
I hate working on electrics but assume that the switch is not a simple on/off jobby and as flicking it seems to resolve the problem I can lay the blame at its door.
Would you agree?

[Phil Nottingham]

Common fault and you are correct - some have dismantled the switch and cleaned contacts successfully see SEARCH

[Deleted]

Thanks Phil. There was a little bonus in store for me when I removed the wipers and the intake grille.Inside the air intake it was very dull but totally sound paint,I half expected to find some rust,I've had other cars where the intakes have rotted badly but under a layer of dust this looked as good as it did when it left the factory.

[norvin]

The easy way to clean electrical contacts is to buy a can of switch cleaner.

[eightofthem (Andy)]

Cheap coca cola works just fine to clean electrical contacts

[norvin]

I am sure that is true looking at the photos of what coca cola can do to teeth in my dentist, the thing is if you buy switch cleaner you can squirt it into the switch without taking it apart and it will dry quick.