Windscreen Wipers always rest vertically

[colchesterguide]

My 2003 reg C5 has decided that it prefers it's windscreen wipers to come to rest vertically rather than horizontally! I''ve tried to manually adjust (or push) them back to their normal position but the next time I use the wipers they end up vertically again. Does anyone know a way to fix this and is it an MOT fail issue?

[myglaren]

They should do that if you push down on the stalk within a minute of stopping the engine. This is to facilitate blade changing.
If yours always defaults to this it looks as though the Com2000 unit in the steering wheel has got itself confused.
You may be able to reset it with a battery disconnect but this is by no means certain.
Not the battery disconnect procedure. If it isn't followed you may end up with far more problems.

One thing that impinges on C5 electrics/electronics is a failing battery, low voltages can cause mayhem. Be sure yours is fully charged, an opportune time to do it is during the reset procedure if you can arrange to do it overnight and have a garage to keep the car in whilst doing it.

Ideally needs to be in a garage and if the battery is at all suspect this should be charged overnight. A defective or discharged battery can cause a lot of headaches and may result it more problems after performing this procedure.

Drop the suspension to low (to prevent the pump running when you refit the battery).
Open the driver's window and remove the keys, close any doors.
Wait at least ten minutes, ideally half an hour.

Unclip the battery leads.
Short them together through a resistance - a festoon bulb is ideal - for a minute or so.
Short the battery leads together for a minute.

Wait at least half an hour.

Replace the battery and clip the leads on. Do not open the door or otherwise disturb the car.
Wait at least ten minutes.
Reach in through the window and put the sidelights on. Wait a few minutes, five to ten ideal.
Reach in and turn the ignition on but do not start the engine. Wait five minutes.
Start the engine and let it idle for five minutes.
Open the door, get in and operate the suspension buttons. Image

If all is well then you will need to retune the radio, reset the time and date, reset autolights and reset window controls.

[colchesterguide]

Thanks that is useful. I have had a few odd electrical issues recently (as well as the wiper blades resting in vertical position a few weeks back I got an anti-theft device failure error, then the auto gear selector stuck and wouldn't allow any gear selection and suddenly fixed itself and more recently the passenger front window opens itself whenever I switch the auto windsreens on!). I've disconnected the battery in the past, left it 10 minutes and reconnected but never gone through all those steps you mention.

[myglaren]

You may be lucky and not have a problem but IMO it isn't worth the risk of corrupting an ECU for the sake of waiting a little while while the hamsters get themselves organised.

If you have a built in satnav, removing the battery leads too soon can be very bad news.

[colchesterguide]

OK I tried the system reset over the weekend and it doesn't seem to have helped I took the car into a local independant garage that specialise in French cars and they said it needs a new wiper motor. This seems a little odd as the wipers work perfectly - they just stop in the wrong position. Does this sound feasable? I guess if I take it in but state my doubts that it is the problem and they change the motor and it doesn't work I can refuse to pay them! The other thing I thought was why can't I just disconnect the wiper blades, move them to the correct position and bolt them on again - of it that too simplistic?

[myglaren]

Yes.
While the actual motor may be fine then the parking electronics may be faulty - these are built in to the motor in most cases.

An autospark may be able to repair them though, depending on what the actual fault with them is.

Repositioning the blades may be worth trying. On the other hand you might mangle the arms that connect the wipers to the motor. If they sweep the screen properly then I would expect the chances of that happening to be rather high .

If the garage has diagnosed the problem as being a faulty motor and they replace it without any improvement then you can't be expected to pay for it.
They offer you a price to effect a repair.
If they are successful then you are contracted to pay the price, if they don't, then not.