Technical Intermittent wiper fault

[Fang]

My wife's 04 Panda Dynamic has developed a wiper fault. When using the flick wipe or intermittent wiper options, after a while, the wipers will stop working. They always stop in the 'parked' position and will start again when a wiper arm is slightly moved by hand. This fault hasn't appeared when the wipers are on a continuous speed.

I'm assuming the intermittent wiper relay is at fault. Can anyone tell me where it is? I can hear it clicking (I assume it's the relay) from somewhere near the bottom of the steering column/footwell.

I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

 

[varesecrazy]

My wife's 04 Panda Dynamic has developed a wiper fault. When using the flick wipe or intermittent wiper options, after a while, the wipers will stop working. They always stop in the 'parked' position and will start again when a wiper arm is slightly moved by hand. This fault hasn't appeared when the wipers are on a continuous speed.

I'm assuming the intermittent wiper relay is at fault. Can anyone tell me where it is? I can hear it clicking (I assume it's the relay) from somewhere near the bottom of the steering column/footwell.

I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

Hi.
Probably on the main fuseboard.. next to drivers knee

 

[Fang]

Hi.
Probably on the main fuseboard.. next to drivers knee

I did have a look but unlike the under bonnet fuse box, I can't see any relays there.

 

[Fang]

Bump.

Can anyone point me to the location of the relay?

Please.

 

[Fang]

And another strange little twist. If you try and start the car when the wipers have stopped working, the immobiliser light remains on and and the car won't start. Get the wipers working (as previously described) and it starts first time.

I'm out of ideas.

 

[DaveMcT]

Worn wiper motor is a likely culprit. It uses copper tracks (with a gap) and carbon brushes to provide the auto parking. The flick wipe switches out the gap so the motor turns.

The immobiliser issue is strange but weird things happen when the battery is weak. A low cost digital voltmeter will give you a good idea of battery state. I dont know does the Panda use CanBus on any of its systems? On these, the ECU disconnects an over-current circuit until next time the car is started - no fuses. That could explain the seemingly strange behaviour.

 

[Fang]

Thanks Dave much appreciated. Having spent some time fumbling around I'm wondering whether the wiper/immobiliser issues are unrelated.The immobiliser seems to behave as it should if the ignition key is is put in with the fiat logo facing up (on the man key). It's still pretty hit and miss with the spare key.

 

[portland_bill]

First check the chamber the wiper motor is in, below the windscreen. There are 'duckbill' drain channels to allow the rainwater out, but these block up.
If the chamber is full of rainwater, it will get into the wiper motor and intermittent or park issues have been reported in the past.
Then the water overflows into the car. This will often fall onto the body computer behind the dash in front of your right knee. All sorts of electrical issues will follow.

 

[Fang]

Thanks Portland. I did have a look and although it wasn't full of rainwater, it was a bit like a damp compost heap. It was full of old leaves. I've cleaned it out and will have a have a look at the wiper motor over the weekend. Am I wrong in thinking that there is a intermittent wiper relay?

 

[portland_bill]

I think the intermittent is all handled by the body computer. That's where the clicking comes from on mine.

 

[ratty]

First check the chamber the wiper motor is in, below the windscreen. There are 'duckbill' drain channels to allow the rainwater out, but these block up.
If the chamber is full of rainwater, it will get into the wiper motor and intermittent or park issues have been reported in the past.
Then the water overflows into the car. This will often fall onto the body computer behind the dash in front of your right knee. All sorts of electrical issues will follow.

Can confirm, what I thought was the sound of the cooling system gurgling at one point, was actually that area full of water sloshing around.

I ended up just removing those two rubber bits. They're bound to block up. Strange design choice.

 

[Fang]

I ended up just removing those two rubber bits. They're bound to block up. Strange design choice.

Udders!

Their only purpose (when not blocked) seems to be to direct the water away from some components.

 

[DaveMcT]

Although they never see sunlight those udders seem to harden over time. New replacements can't be silly money and at least help to avoid engine fumes getting into the cabin air intake.

 

[portland_bill]

Udders!

Their only purpose (when not blocked) seems to be to direct the water away from some components.

Although they never see sunlight those udders seem to harden over time. New replacements can't be silly money and at least help to avoid engine fumes getting into the cabin air intake.

They also discourage the water from clinging to the bulkhead, which might be a rust spot later if it did.
New ones are cheap. Replaced mine a year or so ago. The heat in the engine bay hardens them. If they weren't necessary, Fiat would have saved their cost and just given us holes.

 

[koalar]

Bump.

Can anyone point me to the location of the relay?

Please.

its built into the body computer and not replaceable

you can hear it click if you put your head near the pedals.

never known one go faulty.

your symptoms sound like the stalk ?

 

[koalar]

Thanks Dave much appreciated. Having spent some time fumbling around I'm wondering whether the wiper/immobiliser issues are unrelated.The immobiliser seems to behave as it should if the ignition key is is put in with the fiat logo facing up (on the man key). It's still pretty hit and miss with the spare key.

I would think unrelated


I never have a problem if I open and close the door the start the car. You can get weird things to happen if you faf around. Somehow I got the ECU and trip computer to reset but kept the time.

some third party keys aren't as good as the originals.

 

[Fang]

I would think unrelated


I never have a problem if I open and close the door the start the car. You can get weird things to happen if you faf around. Somehow I got the ECU and trip computer to reset but kept the time.

some third party keys aren't as good as the originals.

Thanks Koalar, I think you're right about them being unrelated. I took the covers off the steering column to have a look at the wiper stalk and connections. I couldn't see anything amiss but when I put the covers back on, the key problem has disappeared! It's good to know about the relay. It narrows the problem down to the wiper motor or stalk.