Variable intermittent wipers for Puma- easy mod

[POD]

I came across this modification on another forum, have never seen it mentioned on here. The VW/Volvo/Saab #99 intermittent wiper relay is a direct replacement for the intermittent wiper relay on the late model Defender, and provides programmable, variable delay on the intermittent wiper setting. I've just put one of these relays in the 130 (just in time for the improvement in the weather!) and it definitely works as advertised, cost me US$19.45 to my door off an eBay seller, and took less than 2 minutes to install.
The relay is activated by switching on the intermittent wipers, then switching off, then on again at whatever interval you want and leaving on, the intermittent speed is now set to whatever the delay was between switching off & back on, from 1.5 to 22 seconds.
The relay is Bosch 357 955 531/1HM 955 531A.
The intermittent wiper relay is in the block above the right-hand footwell, behind the little cover, red relay in the centre of the top row.

[iClick]

Sounds like the business! Could you kindly share which seller you bought it from. My searches all come up with the relay costing around $40 landed.

[copba]

It works on 300TDi's, and TD5's too :)

I did my TD5 two years ago, after reading a thread about it in the projects area.
I got a Volksy relay from UK ebay for about $27 delivered from memory.

The relay is behind the dash binnacle on Td5's.

Cheers

[goingbush]

I can vouch for it, also works on Td5's Have the VW-99 relay on my 110 defender, its a direct swap for the orig wiper relay, plug & play, in a Td5 its behind the instrument cluster, I believe it also works on Late Tdi's

[Wallaby Ted]

Early last year I bought 2 from European sellers they were $9.34 and $9.99 shipped. The cheapest new one as has been found was over $40 mark at the time, which is why I bought 2 used ones.

I am sure I found it here with a link to another forum.

If you search for 357955531 on ebay and set the search to worldwide cheapest one comes back at around $13 which is about right given the change in the exchange rate.

As stated was the simplest mod ever.


Richard

[POD]

Mine was second-hand and the cheapest I could find including postage. The seller had about a dozen of them and is now sold out, not sure if this link will be of any use as the eBay auction is expired. VW Audi Volvo Saab 99 198 Programmable Intermittent Windshield Wiper Relay | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330969247583'ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)

[ericvv]

And even better, you can use your original 6 seconds fixed relay which you replaced by the variable VW relay now for the rear wiper. Look here.
Defender2 - View topic - Intermitent Rear wiper (http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic4625.html?highlight=intermittent+wiper)

[iClick]

Thanks - just bought a used one. The single stage intermittent wiper has always bugged me and I always thought the solution was going to be more difficult. Pleased to see I was wrong!

[Moragg]

What a win! I’ve owned my 2005 110, aka Pamela Landy, for a month now and have been upgrading bits and bobs. Found this thread, went to a wreckers, found a 1996 Golf, paid $5 for the relay plugged it in today and it works. What a win!

[swissrover]

This is awesome, thanks for the great tips! I just ordered my relay from eBay.

[karlz]

Thanks again, I ordered a "Brand New" one

[Bigbjorn]

Has anyone done anything like this to a 110 County Wagon?

[debruiser]

Pretty sure if you have intermittent wipers, then throw in the #99 and you will get variable. I've upgraded my series to defender spec wipers and switch, then threw in a #99... so my 1975 series 3 has variable intermittent wipers :)

[swissrover]

Btw I wasn't able to use the old relay for my rear wiper: didn't fit due to connector difference.

[karlz]

Confirmed that this works in a 2015 Puma.
Great trick.

btw, I bought a new one from this bloke on ebay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/232415179241), it wasnt cheap at about $66 aus, but its brand new.

[DiscoMick]

Would you mind posting the ebay link please? I found some, but I'm not sure they are the right ones.

[TheGrumpy]

Got a 2nd hand one on eBay (via Latvia) for $12.25 delivered. Seller was setauto2010. No dramas, works great. When fitting it I noticed the dealers hadn’t put one of the other relays back properly last time they were working on the car so I’ll need them to fix it next time I’m there.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/785.jpg

[DiscoMick]

Just copied Wallaby Ted and ordered a used one for $10 plus $14 postage from Latvia, so looking forward to giving this a go. Sounds too easy, but worth a try.

[Rolly]

I’ve just done this as well, what a cracker!

[travelrover]

Mine arrived on Tuesday. Will install this weekend:-)

[DiscoMick]

Hope mine is waiting for me when I get home tomorrow.

[DiscoMick]

Got a 2nd hand one on eBay (via Latvia) for $12.25 delivered. Seller was setauto2010. No dramas, works great. When fitting it I noticed the dealers hadn’t put one of the other relays back properly last time they were working on the car so I’ll need them to fix it next time I’m there.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/785.jpg
My underdash (below) looks different to yours (above), so now I'm unsure which one to swap. Any ideas?
Also, if it is the centre red one as someone posted previously, is there any trick to pulling it out? Mine is very tight and I'm afraid of breaking the mounting. Is there a clip or anything holding it in?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/728.jpg

[SSmith]

My underdash (below) looks different to yours (above), so now I'm unsure which one to swap. Any ideas?
Also, if it is the centre red one as someone posted previously, is there any trick to pulling it out? Mine is very tight and I'm afraid of breaking the mounting. Is there a clip or anything holding it in?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/728.jpgOne of the bigger pink/red ones. Pull one out and see if the wipers stop working [emoji56]

[TheGrumpy]

Pretty sure it’s the middle darker pink one. You must have some extra bling (heated seats?). I think I just gave it a wiggle, can’t remember using any tools.

[Grappler]

The attachment shows where the relay goes on a 2012 130

[DiscoMick]

Thanks all. Mine is very tight - I may have to use a screwdriver to lever it out.

[Grappler]

Thanks all. Mine is very tight - I may have to use a screwdriver to lever it out.

If you use a screwdirver, probably best to disconnect the battery first

[DiscoMick]

Finally, got this done, with help from the BIL as I was nervous about breaking the fitting. It needed two screwdrivers to undo screws to get it out. In went the new one and it worked a treat.
We tried to figure out how to use the replaced relay to make the rear wiper intermittent, but nothing tried worked. It's obviously not just plug and play. I have since done some searching and found the thing about shifting a wire from pins 6 to 1, but haven't tried that yet.

[mwbrydon]

It needed two screwdrivers to undo screws to get it out.

The relay in my MY07 is very tight too - I think I'm having the same issue. Where are these two screws though? Or should I just continue to jimmy it out?

[DiscoMick]

On the side. Take out the adjacent relays to get a better access.
It's difficult. I got my BIL, a mechanic, to do it for me as I was afraid of breaking something.

[DiscoMick]

I still haven't figured out how to use the replaced front wipers relay to make the rear wiper intermittent. Any clues?

[cuppabillytea]

I wouldn't bother Mick. Frequent use of the rear wiper will see the window scratched so badly that you won't see through it clearly anyway. After 4 years mine is as good as new as I only use the wiper when I absolutely have to.

[DiscoMick]

You could be right.