Electrical Gremlins

[mopoole]

Out yesterday in the Peak District for Drive It Day, weather not brilliant but initially dry, however it started to drizzle so put the wipers on "intermittent" which then decided they would wipe fast; no intermittent setting. Not too much trouble so brain said just switch them on & off appropriately. Wipers said no we will continue to wipe at full speed no matter what setting the switch is at. More switching of the switch, Off, Slow & Fast and they eventually stopped. Luckily the drizzle also stopped.
So this morning, investigations, wipers will now wipe intermittently on intermittent, but nothing else and now the washer doesn't work either.

Car was MOT'ed a couple of weeks ago and everything worked then.

I'm at a loss Anyone any ideas?

Many thanks

Maurice

[DZP]

Hi Maurice,
The wipers and washers are on different fused circuits, so I suspect you have some physical damage to the wiper/washer switch.
Wipers
I usually suspect problems with the wiper motor park switch, as the contacts get get weak and rusty and the plastic case deteriorates.
The park switch takes all the inputs from the wiper switch and feeds them to the wiper motor.
The usual problem is that the wipers do not park. This occurs because the wiper park switch is weak/worn and does not provide power to the slow speed circuit in the not-parked position.
However, slow and high speed wiper settings should circumvent the park switch and feed the appropriate sets of brushes in the motor.
The fact that you had high speed wipers when in intermittent mode, makes me think you have some sort of shorting occurring in either the wiper switch.
The problem with the washers seems to suggest a wiper/washer switch issue.
So, I would remove the steering column cowl and take a look at the wiper switch.
You might have a contact broken causing some shorting.
Regards,
Dennis

[Jimmygee]

Hi Maurice,

Can't help with a fix here but bizarrely I suffered from exactly the same issue during Drive it Day yesterday.

Mine worked on intermittent fine for around 5 mins and then went to a constant slow speed without me touching the stalk. When I tried to turn them off they just kept on going.
Embarrassingly, they were still wiping away some 10 mins later (rain had stopped) and no matter what I did with the stalk they kept going.
The only stalk position that made any difference was the high speed wipe - they increased in speed and slowed down again when returned to normal speed. No position would make them stop.

I ended up leaving them in the intermittent position and a little while later they suddenly started wiping intermittently again. At this point I was able to switch them off.
This same cycle happened a few times during the day.

I've had a good search through the forum and whilst there are several posts about the intermittent position not working, or issues with parking switches I cannot find anything relevant to this.
After looking at Disadrew's wiring diagrams and explanation, I'm beginning to think that it may be a faulty relay ie. it fails after a little while of use when warm? Once cooled down it works again for a short period?

Not sure but I'm going to try that - although it would seem they are not easy to get hold of.
I'll let you know if it works!

Regards,

Jimmy

[jbuckl]

The only relay is the delay relay.
Dont think that causes symptoms described though.

the issue will most likely be either with the column switch or park switch I think, or the connections.
park switches are a problem to get.
delay relays are tricky to get but a workaround has been posted on here before.

[MandM]

Had the same thing in France a few years back, the park switch may need adjusting but do it with water on the screen as things move/react differently on a dry screen.

wiper switch.jpg

You can the the position adjustment slots on this switch, this is underneath the wiper motor and hard to get at on the RH drive car, 2 small screws


20220707_112018.jpg

[richardthestag]

When I had wipers that wouldn't switch off it was because the angled lump of very thin steel (that sits on the end of the wiper cable and locates into the shuttle for the park function) had broken and the park shuttle was not over the plunger. Hence with ignition on the wipers were constantly trying to find the park.

Quick and dirty fix was to remove the top cover of the wiper gearbox and position the shuttle over the park switch and then operate the column control to switch off the wipers.

Your issue sounds like you may have a wiring issue, as DZP says the slow, fast and park functions are all on different wire feeds that are all controlled at the column switch end. Maybe your switch has been a switch too long?!?

Difficult to say without testing the voltage etc

[Jimmygee]

Thanks for all of your replies and the information supplied - all very helpful.
I will investigate as soon as I have time and get back to you.

Just to really wind me up, my wipers were working fine again last night!
Perhaps I just need to not drive in the rain.....

[mopoole]

Thanks all,
Managed to remove the wiper motor yesterday to see if anything was amiss there-all looked OK. Took the switch off the column and had a play around with it, switching on/off in all positions then squirted contact cleaner into it's orifices, waited for it to dry then re-connected the battery and guess what NO CHANGE. Will try a multimeter on it tomorrow. Watch this space.
Thanks again
Maurice

[mopoole]

Decided to grab the bull by the horns and ordered a replacement switch assembly from the brothers. Hopefully can send it back if not needed. Reading the ROM you have to take out the column to replace, Triumph designers at their best? so ferreting under the column find that a PO had previously replaced the switch and used block connectors to join the wires to the loom. I wondered why; then I found out. Trying to remove the adjusting bolt - ROM says it slides out - oh no it doesn't, at least mine doesn't. You can hear the bolt hitting metal, presumably the clamp and no amount of pressure will get it to shift. Have tried hitting it with a mallet with the nut on and still no joy

Will appreciate any answers/help please

Maurice

[Lingen]

It is held in place by a very small roll pin, that you will have to tap out with a very slightly smaller punch!
Mike.

[mopoole]

Thanks for that Mike, Whereabouts is it? Now you mention it, I notice there are 2 small holes in the top of the clamp. Is that it/them? Typical ROM, no mention of it!!!

Maurice

[DZP]

Hi Maurice,
Yes, there are 2 small holes in the top of the clamp.
A roll-pin goes through one of them to stop the bolt from exiting even when the lock-nut is removed.
The bolt has a slight "cut-out" in it to allow the roll-pin to lock it in place.
Only one hole will house the roll-pin.
Here is a picture of the hole "without" the role pin.
I have used a drill bit just slightly smaller than the hole to knock the pin out
You don't need to remove the pin completely, just enough to remove the bolt.
If you insert a new roll-pin it will knock the original completely out.
Regards,
Den

image.png

[mopoole]

Thanks Den, yes I thought that was it/them. Presumably two holes, one for L & other for RHD cars. Will attempt to remove this am
Thanks again
Maurice

[mopoole]

Well, I'm at a loss. Before dismantling the steering column, I thought I would have a look at the wiper motor - much easier. Using Drew's excellent guide, took it apart but could find nothing amiss. Back together and a quick try of the switch more in hope than anything and lo and behold every thing worked even the washer had woken up. Several more tries with the engine off and running and still OK. So an hour to put all the bolts and screws back and still OK. The bodge with the wiring for the switch will have to wait, probably a job for the winter.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, now back on the road

Maurice

[richardthestag]

Great news, electric contact cleaner and an old tooth brush should fix any of the dirty contacts on the old switch for you.

Lucky that none of the smoke leaked out of your loom also