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79porsche · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: Ghost wipers

Test drove the car last night and suddenly the wipers sweeped across the windshield all on their own....I checked the switch lever and the wiper was in the off position. It was as if the switch was suddenly moved to "intermittent". I toggled the wiper lever switch several times but never could find a position where the wipers would completely stop sweeping.

Also...the wiper switch seems to have the following postions:

High -- Low -- Off -- Intermittent

However, even on the best days when the wipers don't have a mind of their own....the wiper motor never seems to not run in high speed....only low speed or intermittent.

Anybody seen this before? Is it the switch? Relay? or motor?

Thanks for the help!

Lizard · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:35 am Post subject:

you will need to clean/fix the ground to the steering column,

and the wiper arm is high, low, off, int.
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3 928s,

Smoothie · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:51 am Post subject:

The wiper-turning-themselves-on is a grounding issue - ground for the wiper switch is completed through the screws that hold it on. The plate that the screws go through and make contact with is zinc plated. The zinc plating oxidises over time, degrading the ground. Then while driving, you hit a bump or make a turn and the conductivity through the ground changes, which signals the wiper relay to initiate a wipe. Quick fix (, but you'd have to go without the automatic wiper park and wash cycle) is to pull the relay. Better fix is to remove the steering wheel and clean just the spots behind the wiper switch mounting screws, then reinstall with toothed washers or/and dielectric grease to inhibit any more oxidation.
Also look here - http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=17996&start=03

The slow wiping problem can be oxisized connections anywhere from the switch - fuse/relay panel - wiper motor. I posted an easy test here - http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=17884 With that you can diagnose whether it's an internal motor problem or wiring/connections.
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

968rz · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 537 Location: S. E. Wisconsin

I had this same problem when I first got my 24. I went so far as to add a ground wire (small gauge) from the switch thru the column to a dash ground, never had a problem since (almost 10years)
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Rick
79 924 coupe Petrol Blue 3spd auto (wife's DD)
93 968 coupe Amazon Green 4spd Tip (my DD)

Ozzie · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

Had similar problems but it was caused by the faulty wiring of the PO.
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2745 Location: Sydney, Australia

might also be worth having a read of this

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=21013
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1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

Lightning22 · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 25 Location: UK

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

Ghost wipers in the sky...?
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1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org