Evening all.

 

Got a problem with the intermittent setting on my 2005 Estate.

 

I've tried disassembling the stalk and cleaning the little slider contacts and they're absolutely spotless, to no avail.

 

They work on medium and fast setting.

 

The adjustable switch when flicked will make the arms do one sweep and that is it. Every now and again though you will hear a thudding almost as if the wipers are parking?

 

Anyone have any other pointers at all? Is there is relay present anywhere to be cleaned/replaced?

 

regards

 

Tom

Anyone? Driving me mad :(

First of all, which model is your Octavia? Does it have "normal" intermittent wipers or does it have the rain/light sensor on the screen?

If normal intermittent, the switch on top of the stalk alters the time interval between wipes when they wipers are on intermittent. If you have the auto-wipers, the switch alters the sensitivity, not the time interval.

Wondering if the clunk you are hearing is simply the (correct) way that the blades park themselves after use, each time stopping on the opposite sire of the blade to prevent wear. If they are on auto setting, it may just be the blades parking themselves as they should. The auto setting can be so sensitive that even flickering sunlight, such as driving under a tree canopy. can set the system off. The best way of keeping the system working as well as it can (and that isn't really brilliant) is to try to keep the screen scrupulously clean in the area of the rain sensor.

Even with auto-wipers, altering the sensitivity switch will make the wipers do one sweep.

I, and a few others, have asked on here whether it is possible to disable the auto wipers and convert the system to normal intermittent with switch-timed intervals, but have never found a solution to the issue. As it stands, I never ever have the wipers on auto setting on either of my two Elegance spec Octavias.

Mike

Thanks for the reply.

It's an Elegance model. I can't see any sensor on the screen. Unless I'm looking in the wrong place?

When I say it is clunking, the arms are not actually sweeping. It's just clunking whenever it wants to when it's at the bottom.

Edited 14 October, 201510 yr by Toms1989

My old MK2 Octy Elegance had auto wipers, if you have them the sensor is located in the centre of the windscreen where the mirror mount is. The mount is quiet large so should be obvious.

 

One thing, if the car has had a replacement screen at some point, maybe the wrong one was fitted and the sensor left off as it requires a specific screen. No sensor = No wipers in what we would normally call intermittent.

 

Perhaps get the car scanned with VCDS and post results here as that should show if the auto wipers are present and not working, or if not possible post the full series of 3 digit codes on the sticker at the front of the service book/ or in the rear by the spare wheel.

Friend ran the VCDS and the only faults showing was aa dodgey passenger wing mirror heater element and cruisecontrol stalk intermittent fault.

The elegance comes with auto wipers.

 

Look at the windscreen from outside. Look at the rear view mirror and it should look like this;

 

 

This is the rain/light sensor.

 

This means that the wipers will only wipe in the "intermittent" position if there is water detected on the screen. The dial on top adjusts the sensitivity.

 

Phil

Well don't I feel like a helmet now haha! not used to all these extras on a car  

Hehe. Don't worry you're not the first and you won't be the last!

 

Hopefully you will grow to like the wipers as much as I do. They very handy driving in rain and they automatically adjust their speed up and down without having to fiddle with the stalk all the time.

 

Also when you first turn the ignition on they won't wipe automatically until you switch them off ad back on or change the sensitivity. This is to prevent damaging them should the screen be frozen up.

The other issue you mention, the "thump" in parked position: this is a feature that is put into the programming. The parked position is different places each time. Also when you turn the ignition off (maybe on as well) with wipers in auto, the wipers move a little to avoid standing in the same spot all the time!

The other issue you mention, the "thump" in parked position: this is a feature that is put into the programming. The parked position is different places each time. Also when you turn the ignition off (maybe on as well) with wipers in auto, the wipers move a little to avoid standing in the same spot all the time!

I noticed mine did a little jump earlier when I switched the car off - never knew this was why. Clever.

Be aware also that if you really don't like the feature where the wipers change their parked position, it is a very simple change of coding with VCDS to disable it.

Mike

Surely it wouldn't upset anyone?

What is really annoying is that the rear wiper makes an automatic swipe when putting the gear selector in reverse. As I cannot decide for myself if a swipe is necessary or not. Many times the wiper swipes a dirty, but dry rear window..... The result is of course unnecessary scratches and wear.

I know. I asked my dealer, but they weren't allowed to do so. They said it is a safety matter. I changed car instead..... (hehe, not really). On mk3 this feature can be selected or not, by the driver via the infotainment system. So much for mandatory trafic safety features.

My old mans Golf Mk6 GTTDI does that when you pop it in reverse and squirts a bit of screenwash, thought it was a lovely little touch. Shame it can't be done on these :( 

My old mans Golf Mk6 GTTDI does that when you pop it in reverse and squirts a bit of screenwash, thought it was a lovely little touch. Shame it can't be done on these :(

 

I set up mine to switch on the rear wiper if I engage reverse when the front wiper is on. Doesn't do screen wash at the same time as the rear window is already wet (front wiper on).

 

Used Carista through the diagnostic port.