wiper problem

[old-sparcy]

I'm new around these parts so here goes my first!

My Octavia (2002 1.9TDi Elegance estate) has a wiper problem. The basic problem is that the front wipers come on as soon as the ignition is turned on and remain on. I can stop them by flicking the stalk to turn on the rear wiper. Leaving the rear running for a minute or so seems to reset the system and the fronts start to behave – all the stalk positions work fine. But, every so often the fronts start up again and have to be reset as before. I’ve also noticed the headlamp washers also operate sometimes when the fronts start up.

Having searched through this forum I see there have been relay and motor problems. I’m hoping my problem is going to be with the relay – seems easy enough to get to.

Would anyone know if the relay also operates the headlamp washers?

Also, could this problem be with the stalk?

Any other suggestions?

My thanks

[olit]

Does your car have a rain-sensor?? :-)

JAN

[old-sparcy]

Hi Olit,

Not sure is the honest answer. I'm not sure which Octavia models had the sensors fitted. This Haynes manual I'm looking through mentions it. Says it's "located in the front of the interior mirror base". I have to admit I've not noticed any wires poping out of the mirror. If there is a sensor, is there anything I need to check around it?

[cheezemonkhai]

MK I Elegance won't have the clever wipers IMHO

[KenONeill]

Mine doesn't.

[mbames]

nor does mine.... I miss them though -my 306 used to have them :-)

[old-sparcy]

Oh good! One less thing to worry about. I'll start with the relay I think. I read in one post that the wiper relay is a black one.
Has anyone any info on the relays on that panel?
What does each one control?

[KenONeill]

My boss's 406s both have/had them, and I think they're a solution in search of a problem.

[cheezemonkhai]

I had wiper relay problems, but they only caused problems when set to intermittent.

If the wipers don't know when to park, then it is more likely to be the motor itself. If you get around to replacing that you might as well change the linkage too as these seize up over time.

[old-sparcy]

Hi Cheezemonkhai,

Do you remember which relay you changed?

[midgebuster]

Just had the same problem, which happened a while back but cured itself. I have just had to take out the fuse for the rear wiper and keep the lever in the position for the rear wiper to work, to get the fronts to park. It is definitely not the motor that is at fault if this works, so I need to identify the relay. Which relay have you guys changed, and where is it hidden??

Neil

[aidan62]

I'm in the same boat as old sparcy and midgebuster Neil with my Mk 1 4x4 estate . I have just spent an afternoon replacing the column switch (£58) since I thought the internals of that could be shot but the situation has not changed (BTW the steering wheel airbag is a real pain to get off but I now have some photos of the catch mechanism to remind me for next time... (happy to share them). The Haynes manual for my Golf is great and has a diagram showing which relay does what but it is completely silent when it comes to the Octavia!... and whilst most things are a direct read across from the golf these relays are not! Hopefully someone can tell us which relay we need to change. I have a bargain fully functional wiper switch for an Elegance (ie with trip computer switches) if anyone wants it!

Can anyone help by telling us where the wiper relay is located?

[fordfan]

Remone the panel from around the pedals (2 torx screws and 2 integral clips), look up towards the right and you will see the relay plate. Bottom row furthest to the right is where the wiper control unit is, it is around 6cm long and 3cm high. Usually a black one for an Ambiente and brown for the Elegance (this has more pins probably for the headlamp washers. They cost around £25 new and the part number will be on them.

The front wiper motors are quite common for playing up, the parking switch goes resulting in them not been able to be turned off, you could try thr control unit, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be the motor.

[4x4t]

Just make sure that a its dry under there.I had a water leak on mine and it ran all over those relays and caused havoc with wipers and headlamp washers and lights.I pulled the relays and dried it all out and it all works fine.And sorted the water leak.

[aidan62]

Thanks, Fordfan, I will give it a shot but I'll not be too surprised if it does not provide the solution! By the end I may have a new switch, a new relay and a new motor......!



Aidan

Originally Posted by fordfan

Remone the panel from around the pedals (2 torx screws and 2 integral clips), look up towards the right and you will see the relay plate. Bottom row furthest to the right is where the wiper control unit is, it is around 6cm long and 3cm high. Usually a black one for an Ambiente and brown for the Elegance (this has more pins probably for the headlamp washers. They cost around £25 new and the part number will be on them.

The front wiper motors are quite common for playing up, the parking switch goes resulting in them not been able to be turned off, you could try thr control unit, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be the motor.

[aidan62]

Thanks 4x4t. I had a similar problem with a Scirocco once and I ended up wrapping the panel in a polythene bag! Was your leak a windscreen seal problem since I can't really understand how water would get there? I think it might be part of the problem since my wipers can sometimes behave themselves after a period of dry days when the car is all dry but they then regress when it is wet or when the car gets damop through a period of inactivity.



Aidan

Originally Posted by 4x4t

Just make sure that a its dry under there.I had a water leak on mine and it ran all over those relays and caused havoc with wipers and headlamp washers and lights.I pulled the relays and dried it all out and it all works fine.And sorted the water leak.

[aidan62]

That is one big brown relay!! Thanks... I'll see how it goes....

Originally Posted by fordfan

Remone the panel from around the pedals (2 torx screws and 2 integral clips), look up towards the right and you will see the relay plate. Bottom row furthest to the right is where the wiper control unit is, it is around 6cm long and 3cm high. Usually a black one for an Ambiente and brown for the Elegance (this has more pins probably for the headlamp washers. They cost around £25 new and the part number will be on them.

The front wiper motors are quite common for playing up, the parking switch goes resulting in them not been able to be turned off, you could try thr control unit, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be the motor.

[4x4t]

Hi mate.It wasent the windscreen leaking it was a plastic wiring cover.If you remove the drivers plastic cover below the windscreen (you might need to remove the wiper arms) you will find a plastic cover that the wiring goes through,this is directly above the relays.This was leaking on mine.I had to remove the wiper motor and reseal the cover.There is also a grommit there that the bonnet release cable goes through that is worth checking.Whilst you have the cover off just check that the water drains that go into the wings are clear theres one on each side,this could allow the water level to build up,mine get blocked with leaves quite often.

[aidan62]

I will check since I park under beech trees and they drop all kinds of small parts into the grills!

[4x4t]

I dont park near trees and mine seem to fill up alot.The plastic covers are a nighmare to remove,use the search function theres alot about this.

[aidan62]

Aaargh! Midgebuster's solution of living without a rear wiper and just taking the fuse out so I can use that switch position to "park" the front wipers is starting to look promising. Replacing that great big relay (£28) didn't do it either. I find it hard to believe that a motor fault with the front motor (presumably a defective "park" position switch within the motor mechanism) could give this symptom and the interaction with the rear wiper switch. Could it really? The other thing that is weird is that the other day, when the ignition was turned either on or off, switching the column stalk to the rear wiper "on" position switched on the luggage compartment light! It is not doing it just now although I have just had to jump start the car with am almost flat battery so I wonder if I had left the switch in that position, the lights on in the day and I had flattened the battery. If I wasn't unemployed at the moment I would go out and buy myself a new car!!! What is the verdict; should I go out and buy a new motor ? Thanks guys......

[aidan62]

Don't know how to delete a post... sorry!

[sparky2]

I have had wiper problems with my mk1 Octavia, its either the relay unit or the wiper motor, It started with the wipers stopping working on either intermittant or slow (fast OK) and I cleaned the contacts inside the large black relay above the gas pedal, if that doesn't work remove the wiper arms and the plastic scuttle covers and remove the wiper motor complete with linkage (torx screws). Make a note of which way the arm is mounted on the wiper motor output shaft, after removing the motor I drilled off the top of the rivets the go through the cover plate and removed the cover, inside you will find 3 contacts all covered in silicon grease, save the grease and then clean the brass strips with some brasso etc, ease out the 3 contacts slightly and replace the grease onto the brass bits replace the drilled out rivets with some small nut and bolts and replace back into the car. Before fitting the wiper arms check it works on all settings and that it parks OK, then refit the arms and the job should be a good one.

[aidan62]

Thanks, sparky2, that sounds as though it has the edge over buying a new wiper motor "just in case it is the problem"... it is also good and "green" to fix rather than replace and generally more satisfying. I will wait for some warmer weather to do this job since I have to work outside and for the moment at least the wipers have started behaving themselves again so I am not being driven mad! I'll let the listing know how I get on when I do the job.