Greetings,

 

I alluded to this problem slightly off topic here - http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/400823-any-ideas-when-the-emission-cheat-refits-might-start/page-2#entry4675548 - but just lately it's got worse.

 

I've now read virtually everything written on this and other forums, but nothing seems to be quite the same as how the problem has evolved for me (apologies if I've missed something) so here goes:

 

Virtually every time lately, when the estate's boot lid is shut (gently or heavily) when the engine starts so does the rear wiper wiping as though it's raining i.e. one wipe every few seconds. Obviously it's turned off at the stalk. When it's wiping like this, the washers will not work - perversely neither will the front wipers or washers. If I turn the engine off for a couple of minutes all USUALLY returns to normal i.e. wipers and washers work when I want them to.

 

Now it's sometimes inconvenient to start,stop, wait and start again. and I've found 3 ways so far to prevent the rear wiper from doing it's own intermittent wipe:-

 

Method 1 - accelerate hard in low gear for a few seconds (a quick shot of electricity?) but this method is not always possible say on a car park or similar

Method 2 - hit some potholes, preferably at low speed (indication of faulty lid catch?) which is extraordinarily easy on the roads by me

Method 3 - push the stalk down as though washing the rear window and hold it for at least 30 seconds

 

So having shown the wiper who's boss with the above methods and it's parked itself the washers won't work front or rear occasionally neither will the wipers. After a journey, when I start the engine again all is well (usually - I've probably jinxed it now writing about it). It's all a tad annoying.

 

If anyone has any ideas what the reason(s) may be I'd like to here them. I've got a service due in the next couple of weeks so no doubt this problem could well be discussed and I'd like to be armed with a few ideas in case they fob me off with the old British Leyland / Rover excuse that "they build them like that". Or is it all a plot like some have discovered here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/404938-its-falling-apart/?

 

AndyW

 

nb - Strangely the key fob window trick (open all the windows, press and hold the lock button on the key fob to both lock and shut the windows) seems to prevent the problem for a few days no matter how hard or soft I shut the lid. I find it all very odd.

Any diagnostic scan with VCDS?

 

It could be a broken wire somewhere that's making intermittent contact.

 

Rear wiper behaviour can be triggered by the rain sensor - it will do a wipe on startup even if you don't select the rear wipe function if it sees rain. So it could be a faulty rain sensor. Or perhaps a faulty BCM.

 

I'd start with getting a scan done to see if it points towards any particular sensor/system and go from there.

FWIW, I'd agree with chimaera on this one.

 

If you open and close the tailgate a lot - then I'd go with the broken wires/intermittent contact idea. On another car i have owned (a BMW though, not a Skoda) I had three occasions of bizarre electrical behavior and in each case the cause ended up being a different broken wire in the loom that went from the body into the tailgate via one of the hinges. The PO was a guy who had dog cages in the back and used to open and close the tailgate allot...