Wipers only working on fast and wont park ...

[davus]

Hi Guys (and gals?)

A new problem has popped up with the p38. I did a search through the forum, but unfortunately came up trumps.

Was driving along the other day and it started spitting with rain. Put the wipers on, and they only worked on the fast setting. Intermittent, flick, and normal modes didn't work at all, additionally the wipers don't auto park in their usual position.

Funny thing was, i pulled into the servo (by this time it had stopped raining so didn't have a need for the wipers), filled up and drove out. After another 30 mins or so it started spitting again so i flicked the wipers on to intermittent, and they worked!..........wierd right!.

They seemed to work for a while, and then stopped again, and haven't come good since.

So, i don't know if it had something to do with me stopping at the servo to get fuel (turning the car off and back on), or if it was something else.

I have done a google search and have found only two posts with solutions, neither of which are relevant to me.

1) Some guy found a problem with the small connector rods between the two layers of his fuse box in the engine bay. I don't think this will be my issue as i actually re-soldered all those just a few weeks back.

2) Another guys changed a few relays, and things came good. Ive tried this with no luck.

So, can anyone shed any light on where i might start from here?. I can obviously start using generic troubleshooting methods.......but i was hoping you P38 gurus might be able to tell me its a common issue, and have some things specific for me to look at :).

Thanks very much guys. Appreciate all the help to date (with my HEVAC issue), and any help anyone can provide with this issue!.

Dave

[TheTree]

Hi

Not a common issue as far as I know, iy may well turn out to be the switch, mine won't do the instant single wipe and that is the switch for sure

Steve

[blindin]

Hi there,
My first thought is that it's a relay.
My second thought is the switch.
Another thought is that I once came across a BMW which had exactly that happening. It was caused by the speedo cable being disconnected. Now I know there's no cable, but my point is, it could be caused by something which you least suspect. If you have a later model it may have some connection with BMW systems?????

[Scouse]

Looing at the ETM, I think relays RL1 & RL8 might be worth looking at. Full speed seems to be the default position.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=90317&d=1423258991

[davus]

hi all,

Just wanted to check back in with an update to this.

The other night i was driving home, and things went pretty haywaire.

On top of my wipe issue, the Traction control light came on, the speedo stopped working, the warning ! light came on (i thought this was the handbrake light), and the dash came up with a "slow 55kph" warning. Something was badly amiss!.

I read through a whole bunch of stuff, and found some guy had a similar wiper issue, and it turned out to be his fuse box.

Even though i had resoldered all the joints in my fuse box only a few months back, i assess all the signs and accepted that i may not be as good as i thought......so i pulled the fuse box out, and sure enough, two of the solder joints (joining the top board to the bottom board) had broken.

I resoldered and repaired the joins, and put everything back together, and TADA!.....everything works again, including my wipers. :)

Beware! - those pesky fuse boxes are sneaky :)

Thanks all for the help and suggestions.

Dave

[Scouse]

Unfortunately, fuseboxes are almost classified as a 'consumable item'.

[Keithy P38]

I agree with scouse. Just replaced mine a few weeks ago (preventative maintenance).

I've been reading this thread and had a suggestion, felt it was not my place to say, definitely no offence intended here, but when you mentioned you re-soldered your fuse box and then you're experiencing issues I felt perhaps there was a solder that needed to be re-inspected.

I give you full credit for not only finding it, but also fixing it yourself! It's a job well over the realms of an average home-made auto guy!

Cheers
Keithy

[davus]

Thanks keithy!

No offence taken at all! I'm certainly nothing more than a home hack. Once I acknowledged to myself that my abilities may indeed be undercut by my perception of my abilities....it seemed obvious to check over my own handiwork! :)

I'm now moving on to finding the right solution to clear my srs and abs lights, and to read fault codes (including hevac!).

Dave