wipers wont shut off!!

[R.O.R-2.0]

ok, so my wipers will NOT shut off unless i shut the car off, or pull the fuse out. im thinking the wiper switch is fine, since they stay off once they are off, and both high and low speeds work, but no intermittent.

so, is it just most likely a relay died on me? or am i really gonna start hating my car?

(also saw a tiny bit of water up by the relay panel, what can i do to keep the water away from it?)

[maxfax]

Could be the relay or the contacts in the wiper motor itself..  Personally I'm leaning towards the contacts..  They keep the motor powered till the wipers get to the parked position then kill the power..  If the contacts aren't opened the wipers just keep going..  IIRC the tab that opens the contacts is part of the plastic drive gear in the motor and can wear off.. 

[Powered by Spearco]

Well if its an early MK1 Rabbit, pull the Int. wiper relay out and use the stock jumper and see if it fixes it. If its a late Mk1 Rabbit, pull the relay from your MK2 and try that. You said maybe water up at the top area leaking down. Reach through the rain tray to the bottom corners of the windshield, and check for any dirt/rust. It thin through there and its right on top of the relaysand fuses.

[Wayland]

I had the same thing happen to my Jetta after it sat all winter and got very damp inside. I replaced the relay, and it's been fine since.

[Luckypabst]

Yup... relay... same problem...
Also had a relay gunk up and the wipers wouldn't work altogether, in Oregon during rainy season.

Look for a shrinking windshield seal, especially in the lower driver's side corner. The seal shrinks to the point that it won't seal against the body anymore.

Chris

[R.O.R-2.0]

MK2 GTI... 1985, CE1 wiring..

i was thinking of the contact inside the wiper motor too.. but my rabbit did the same thing, and all it needed was a relay..

mk3 relay is a direct swap and has settable delay right?

are all mk2 wiper relays the same? i have a 92 jetta GLI parts car, but it has CE2 wiring.. i guess if the mk3 unit will work, then the late mk2 unit should work too..

[R.O.R-2.0]

the more i think about it, i doubt its the contact in the motor. because once i get the wipers off, they stay off, till i turn them back on..

if it was the contact in the motor, wouldnt they just randomly park where they wanted? instead of running constantly?

either way, im going to have them fixed today, end of story. i live on the oregon coast, that right there should be 'nuff said..

[R.O.R-2.0]

if i pull the relay, and my wipers work on high and low, then its most likely the relay isnt it? cause i know rabbits will operate with NO RELAY..

they just wont park with no relay..

[Wayland]

IIRC, my MKII wipers wouldn't work at all with no relay.

[R.O.R-2.0]

no relay = wipers work fine on high and low, but dont park, and have no intermittent..

anyway, i pulled the relay, and then plugged it back in, because i had to be SURE it didnt work.. and when i hit the wipers again, they worked just as they should..

and to whoever said that my windshield gasket was leaking, i dont know how its possible, theres no gasket. its glued in. does it need to be re glued?

or should i track down the leak from my door?

[Luckypabst]

Sorry... my mind is stuck on MkI... and I'm not familiar with much specific to the newer cars.

The gasket on my Caddy just barely touches the body at the corner of the windshield and is the only source I can find for the water leaking onto my fuse box. You still could have a leaky windshield seal, but it wouldn't be as easy to locate in your case.

Chris

[maxfax]

the more i think about it, i doubt its the contact in the motor. because once i get the wipers off, they stay off, till i turn them back on..

if it was the contact in the motor, wouldnt they just randomly park where they wanted? instead of running constantly?

either way, im going to have them fixed today, end of story. i live on the oregon coast, that right there should be 'nuff said..

You are correct..  IF the contact is bad they will park wherever you shut them off..  If the tab that opens the contact is bad they won't shut off ever.. (The most fun is when it's right on the edge of shot and the wipers randomly turn on!) I somehow skimmed over you mentioning that if they shut off they will stay off..

AS far as your water leak is is possible that the glue left loose..  It's a PITA to determine that for sure though..  Process of elimination unless you are lucky enough to be able to see the water leaking in..

[R.O.R-2.0]

i have a slight leak sometimes at the drivers door somewhere, and i just noticed some mold growing in the door pocket.. i got leaks to fix tomorrow..