Wiped Out !

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 09 Apr 2009, 13:05

Well as the title suggests this is thread is to do with wipers, these being on a S2 Xantia Activa.

This fault happened some time ago initially, but it only happened once, and when I had a need to meet up with someone in Slough, and no not in an office.

So it was a strange thing that happened, and it did it near so to speak its maker.

I returned to the car, and went to start it. The thing to note here is that it was not raining, and the wiper stalk had not been touched at all.

While cranking it I noticed the wipers started moving, now this is a S2 Activa, and has the rain sensitive wipers, and this function was not turned on.

Now like in the film Christine the car was doing something of its own accord. The wipers were sweeping the screen, and would not stop.

This was a wind up because it was on the way to the meeting, and now decided to play up!

I gave it a little while, and switched off the ignition, but it would not stop, every time I turned the ignition on, the problem showed again. I tried this several times but still it would not stop!

As I had stopped at a fuel station when this happened I took a break, having phoned the person I was meeting, and let the car be for a while.

When I returned after a lunch break I was optimistic it would be O.K.

So I got in the car and cranked it over, and the wipers went again although briefly, and then stopped.

As I had to get to this meeting, and it now seemed O.K. I drove there, and nothing happened again with the wipers, and it did not happen again after that at all until recently.....................

Well the time interval between what happened above, and the present day has been a matter of some years, but now it has returned, and it has happened several times within the last few days

when as mentioned above the wipers have not been in use, and if given some time it stops its Christine moment.

This does not happen when driving, and when one operates the wiper stalk when you really do need them they work as normal.

So, please does anyone have an answer as to why this is happening.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 09 Apr 2009, 13:24

i have had a similar thing with my R reg late MK1, the cause of mine is if the battery is very low and only just enough to crank her over once, so flat that if it dont start on that first go she wont start,

battery was cream crackerd and was evapourating the electralight away over a few month's period,

regards malcolm

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 09 Apr 2009, 14:05

Hi citronut

Thanks for the reply. 8)

This was something I had considered, although between the previous time the wiper fault happened, and the present date, I have had to renew the battery, and attend to the "flicking rev counter"

problem that happens when the battery just turns the car over.

The wiper problem has now happened several times recently, quite sometime after this new battery had been fitted, which is a HD version for the car. (Heavy Duty)

So it has a lot in reserve, and was changed about three months ago.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 09 Apr 2009, 20:20

were abouts are you (no not under a XANT), as you might be able to cadge a setion on a LEXIA or my DIS_LEXIA
regards malcolm

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 09 Apr 2009, 20:27

My guess is that this is a manifestation of the same problem that causes buzzing indicator relays (and transmission locksout on V6s), metalic dust contamination in the switch. You could try dismantiling the switch and cleaning it, or just fit a new one.

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 09 Apr 2009, 21:38

Don't know where the wiper relay is on a Xantia, but I had the same thing with the rear wiper on the ZX. The relay had popped out of it's box, and was being shorted by corrosion. A quick clean with vinegar and it's been fine since.

James

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 18 Apr 2009, 22:44

citronut wrote:were abouts are you (no not under a XANT), as you might be able to cadge a setion on a LEXIA or my DIS_LEXIA
regards malcolm

Not that near, and the busy schedule currently means I would not be able to get down to you, sorry.

So, thanks for the offer.

Also will be visiting a specialist for something else soon, so might get the Lexia check done then.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 18 Apr 2009, 22:48

xantia_v6 wrote:My guess is that this is a manifestation of the same problem that causes buzzing indicator relays (and transmission locksout on V6s), metalic dust contamination in the switch. You could try dismantiling the switch and cleaning it, or just fit a new one.

Is it actually possible to dismantle the switch, by that I assume you mean the right hand stalk, and are they an easy job to take out?

Or would it be possible to clean out with an airline, or a camera lens puffer brush?

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 18 Apr 2009, 22:54

Sl4yer wrote:Don't know where the wiper relay is on a Xantia, but I had the same thing with the rear wiper on the ZX. The relay had popped out of it's box, and was being shorted by corrosion. A quick clean with vinegar and it's been fine since.

James

I tried to do this when it last occurred, and the wipers would not stop so it would be handy to know where this relay is, to go straight to it, as out of these three options above it seems the most easy one to attend to, and is a good starting point to trace the cause.

So, could one of you please point out the location of this relay, thanks.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:46

ACTIVE8 wrote:
Is it actually possible to dismantle the switch, by that I assume you mean the right hand stalk, and are they an easy job to take out?

Or would it be possible to clean out with an airline, or a camera lens puffer brush?

I have only dismantled the indicator switch, but I assume it is similar. The switch body just unclips in an obvious way, and a couple of small springs and contacts try to escape, but nothing too complicated. You would need to physically wipe the internals, as there is grease that holds any copper dust in suspension, causeing (I predict) the symptoms.

The switches are not hard to remove, but do require removal of the airbag and terring wheel for access.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 19 Apr 2009, 09:22

ACTIVE8 wrote:
citronut wrote:were abouts are you (no not under a XANT), as you might be able to cadge a setion on a LEXIA or my DIS_LEXIA
regards malcolm
Not that near, and the busy schedule currently means I would not be able to get down to you, sorry.

So, thanks for the offer.

Also will be visiting a specialist for something else soon, so might get the Lexia check done then.

it is not just i who has a DIS_LEXIA on this forum, so if you tell us what part of the country you are it might be possible to hitch up with one of us

regards malcolm

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 19 Apr 2009, 17:04

Hi ACTIVE8,

Sorry for the delay,

I had missed this topic.

Item 4 called ‘wiper delay’.
Item 9 called ‘front wipers with rain sensor’.
Item 11 called ‘turning motor’, no idea of what here.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 22 Apr 2009, 15:02

citronut wrote:
ACTIVE8 wrote:
citronut wrote:were abouts are you (no not under a XANT), as you might be able to cadge a setion on a LEXIA or my DIS_LEXIA
regards malcolm
Not that near, and the busy schedule currently means I would not be able to get down to you, sorry.

So, thanks for the offer.

Also will be visiting a specialist for something else soon, so might get the Lexia check done then.
it is not just i who has a DIS_LEXIA on this forum, so if you tell us what part of the country you are it might be possible to hitch up with one of us

regards malcolm

OK point taken although as I have been on here for some time now, I.E some several years I have seen that Citrojim, and I think DickieG have Lexia's, and are nearer to me in West London. So where abouts are you in East Sussex?

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 22 Apr 2009, 15:11

Clogzz wrote:Hi ACTIVE8,

Sorry for the delay, I had missed this topic.

Item 4 called ‘wiper delay’.
Item 9 called ‘front wipers with rain sensor’.
Item 11 called ‘turning motor’, no idea of what here.

Hi Clogzz

Thanks for that.

I take it this is the main fuse area above the drivers right knee, and to get at these relays means dropping the panel down?

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 22 Apr 2009, 19:58

im in st leonards on sea, just at the bottom end of the dreaded A21, which Jim loves

regards malcolm