Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

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dandare1980
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Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

Post by dandare1980 »

Yes, it's me again.

This time, it's my other Xsara......

Taking the dogs out for a walk this afternoon I was driving along and noticed my heated rear windscreen light was up.

Turned it off, then after a while it turned back on all on it's own! So I turned it off again, and then it came on again.

This on/off sequence carried on all the way back home.

I can hear the relay operating every time it goes on/off, it's just that it won't stay off!

I've pulled the 30A fuse to temporarily disable it, but would appreciate any ideas on the matter.

The rear heated windscreen is operated by a push switch on the end of the right hand stalk (windscreen wipers etc.).

I can't remember if it was just a single push to operate or whether it would "click" once depressed? It certainly doesn't click now.

My wife's Mk2 Xsara has a different set-up with a push button above the centre console.

Anyone with Mk1 Xsara's confirm the push or click function of the stalk switch?

Could a faulty relay cause this type of malfunction or is it more likely to be a stalk switch fault?

Any ideas most appreciated as always.

Dan.
Last edited by dandare1980 on 13 Dec 2011, 20:24, edited 1 time in total.
1998 Citroen Xsara 1.9 D Estate (XUD9A indirect injection engine DJY with Bosch XUD 211 injection pump).
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Re: Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

Post by Peter.N. »

Was the heater actually coming on or was it just the light? I have had problems with the XM light coming on due to a broken wire from the body to the tailgate, probably an earth.

Peter
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dandare1980
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Re: Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

Post by dandare1980 »

Hi Peter,

Yes, the heater was working as the rear windscreen was clearing of mist.

Dan.
1998 Citroen Xsara 1.9 D Estate (XUD9A indirect injection engine DJY with Bosch XUD 211 injection pump).
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Re: Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

Post by CitroJim »

Dan, let me have a think about that one as it's likely the same wiring as on the S2 Xantia. My first suspect would be the stalk itself making a very brief electrical short that duplicates the push of the button.

Can you provoke the screen into switching on by wiggling the stalk around but without pushing the button?
Jim

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dandare1980
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Re: Rear heated windscreen gone crazy!

Post by dandare1980 »

Hi Jim,

I have tried "wiggling" the stalk about, but not 100% sure that makes much different.

However, casting my mind back, when I first bought the car in August 2009 I can remember that the right hand stalk made an irritating buzzing noise.

It didn't happen every day or all of the time, but when it did go it drove me nuts!

Sounded like a loud electrical short. In fact wiggling the stalk seemed to ease the symptoms if it went off on one.....

I'm thinking my push button possibly clicked previously, but now it's knackered it's intermittently stuck in the on position.

Dan.
1998 Citroen Xsara 1.9 D Estate (XUD9A indirect injection engine DJY with Bosch XUD 211 injection pump).
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