General Weird wiper issue

[vrsboy]

My daughter has had her fiat 500 twin air 900cc since March. When I bought it I thought what a great little car although others had said don't buy fiat rubbish fix it again tomorrow and all that . It's a 2011 car with 40k on the clock and pretty much mint . Other than having new seat belt tensioner rear boot handle it's been ok . Just recently everytime the ignition is switched on the rear wiper does a few swishes the stops mid screen and has to be reset. The wiper switch is set to off so rather baffling . Any ideas.

 

[John202020]

It's a well known issue with the hatch wiring shorting out where it bends at the tailgate, there was probably nothing wrong with the boot handle, there's a kit on EBay to fix it, provided you can DIY?

See this thread; https://www.fiatforum.com/500/423837-maybelline-has-thrown-hissy-fit.html?423837=#post4063061

Repair kit https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500...728582&hash=item3fb072787a:g:MTYAAOSwtxlb3yhz

 

[vrsboy]

The boot handle was definitely broken I took it all apart and the micro switch was knackered. Thanks for the links I'll look at the wiring.

 

[AndyRKett]

Boot earth wires can cause weird anomalies like you describe.

If you disconnect the tailgate earth on most fiats the rear wiper will go mad as the current looks for other roots to ground via other electrical devices. Sends it all a bit mad.

Could be when the car is started something comes on/is switched on for a moment at start up and some how this is being rooted via the rear wiper motor/control