I've had a problem with the wipers on my 2016 Fabia SE-L recently where on intermittent mode, the wipers sometimes stop at 45 degrees (see pic).

 

It only happens on intermittent mode - never on continuous, or on single wipe. On average it happens every 7 or so sweeps, but be as often as twice consecutively, or as infrequent as one in 20 or so sweeps. Doesn't seem to be any pattern to it - e.g. how fast, how dry/wet the windscreen is etc.

Each time it happens, I can either over-ride it by selecting continuous wipe, or wait for the next intermittent wipe which completes the cycle and stops the wipers at the bottom again.

When it happens, I can hear the relay click, as if it thinks it has completed the cycle.

 

I'm thinking it's something particular to the intermittent cycle, as it never happens otherwise. It seems odd that it doesn't ever happen on a single wipe, as I'd assume the operation is the same as a single wipe as part of an intermittent cycle.

 

Anyone have any ideas? Does anyone know how the mechanism detects that the wipers are at the bottom to end each cycle?

Could be the computers - how well up is the charge on your car battery as that affects lots of the computer programs in lots of ways, or perhaps dodgy switch  - BUT - it might, or might not, possibly be related to sloppy grease or sloppy assembly as in the following.

 

 

 

Edited 19 August, 20223 yr by nta16

Without checking on my wife's 2015 VW Polo, that looks a bit like where they park when you demand "service position" - although why they are doing that will probably be down to a failing wipers stalk - a well known issue with these cars, as to how that cause that, I can't say, or the wiper motor assembly - ie its parking system - again I can't explain why the parking system  would fail in that way - all guessing really, at long distance! 

1 hour ago, rum4mo said:

that looks a bit like where they park when you demand "service position"

That was my first thought but I thought they parked further to the right but I could well be wrong as I often am.  Plugging in an appropriate scan tool might give more info.

 

I have now read about this happening with a same age Ibiza or Polo, in that case, after selecting service position, in normal use the wipers have continued to use that position or close to it as the parking position.

And did you read the cause or solution?

 

Thanks for the replies, and sorry it's taken a while to respond.

I haven't had a chance to measure the battery voltage or check with a scan tool yet - both good suggestions (though I would be surprised if the battery was the culprit).

The service position is with wipers vertical, different to the position they stop at, so I don't think that's it.

The stalk issue is an interesting idea, particularly as it's a common fault and the fault only happens in the intermittent position.

Thanks again, will check battery and scan codes and report back.

It might not be the battery at all but most owners don't realise how important it is to keep the battery in a reasonable state of charge otherwise the computers can play up in all sorts of unexpected ways if they lack their meagre diet of power.  And the very hot weather we had wasn't kind to car batteries, and thus possibly to charging systems too, the effects of which could show up later if not at the time particularly this autumn and winter.

 

Good luck whatever it turns out to be.

 

Edited 23 August, 20223 yr by nta16

99% sure this will be the motor mechanism and sliding contacts inside it that need a clean and regrease