Wipers out on my 79 Scirocco

[kayakman13]

Hey guys, took the car out to the store the other day and when it started sprinkling I found out my wipers are not functioning, both front and back. I did a little research in my repair manual and found that its likely not fuses as the front and back are on separate circuits. The same reason rules out the motor. So now I'm down to the switch or the relay. (Or ****ty wiring by the previous owner if I'm really unlucky. ) Has anyone else encountered similar problems? Any advice for me? I've got diagnostic procedures in the manual, but it involves bridging terminals and I'm not the most electrically savvy gearhead. Thanks guys!

[Wooks]

Unfortunately (as the PO), I think it's probably the wiring my friend. I bought it like that too, don't be mad at me!

A couple times the rear wipers went out and were fixed by simply re-connecting wires more securely.

How's the Scirocco doing?

[kayakman13]

Unfortunately (as the PO), I think it's probably the wiring my friend. I bought it like that too, don't be mad at me!

A couple times the rear wipers went out and were fixed by simply re-connecting wires more securely.

How's the Scirocco doing?

Haha, I know it wasn't your wiring. I should've said previous owners. She's doing alright. I've been polishing all the paint pretty well lately so she looks nice. I saw the A4 for sale, did it go through?

[kayakman13]

Haha, I know it wasn't your wiring. I should've said previous owners. She's doing alright. I've been polishing all the paint pretty well lately so she looks nice. I saw the A4 for sale, did it go through?

Oh, and could you elaborate on the location of those wires?

[kayakman13]

bueller... bueller...?

[kayakman13]

Hey are you still there wooks?

[Wooks]

Sorry, I don't really check these forums anymore since I'm in college with no car at the moment.

I sold the Audi to my older brother, and my brother traded it to a guy as payment to get his Nova painted candy blue. And then he sold the Nova....

Wish I still had it, I had big plans! But I needed the money for college.

It's out there in the wild somewhere lol.

[Wooks]

Oh, and could you elaborate on the location of those wires?

Sorry, I can't. That's just what I was told by the mechanic.

The mechanic is on these forums though, he might remember some info about the car, though I doubt he'll remember that one wiring issue.

http://dayandnightrebuild.com/

(Great guy and great shop)

[kayakman13]

Alright, thanks man. I hear you on needing cash for college.

[petebee]

Hey are your fan blower and rear defroster switch dead, too? If so your load reduction relay or ignition switch might be acting up.

My wipers recently went caput (I have a later model wiper motor installed with a spliced harness) and I chased my tail checking for voltage, testing fuses, etc. I then remembered about the pesky load reduction relay which essentially interrupts power to wipers, blower and rear defroster when ignition is cranking. Well I pulled it out, ran a jumper wire between terminals 87 and 30 on the relay panel and voila - everything works again.

BTW installing the newer motor (out of an 82 model...these still had monowiper setup) makes a huge difference in the wiper speed.

[kayakman13]

Hey are your fan blower and rear defroster switch dead, too? If so your load reduction relay or ignition switch might be acting up.

My wipers recently went caput (I have a later model wiper motor installed with a spliced harness) and I chased my tail checking for voltage, testing fuses, etc. I then remembered about the pesky load reduction relay which essentially interrupts power to wipers, blower and rear defroster when ignition is cranking. Well I pulled it out, ran a jumper wire between terminals 87 and 30 on the relay panel and voila - everything works again.

BTW installing the newer motor (out of an 82 model...these still had monowiper setup) makes a huge difference in the wiper speed.

Hmm, well I think my blower is still working... but I can't be certain. Its never been great. As far as the rear defroster... no lol I dont think it works. When you say you ran a jumper wire, did you do that as a test, and then replaced the relay? Did you need connectors or was soldering required?

Good tip on the new motor! I always got a laugh out of passengers when I showed them the difference between slow and fast speeds. Its the same damn thing!

[petebee]

I just put in the jumper wire with the relay removed and left it as is. The jumper test will determine if the relay is bad, but the relay itself is not 100% necessary if you don't leave your wipers, blower or rear defroster on when starting the car.

Just get some 14 gauge wire and a few crimp on spade connectors. Strip the ends on a 3" piece of wire, crimp the spade ends on and put in the terminals marked 87 and 30 on the relay plate.

Note leaving out the relay will allow the wipers, blower and defroster to function with the car off.

[kayakman13]

I just put in the jumper wire with the relay removed and left it as is. The jumper test will determine if the relay is bad, but the relay itself is not 100% necessary if you don't leave your wipers, blower or rear defroster on when starting the car.

Just get some 14 gauge wire and a few crimp on spade connectors. Strip the ends on a 3" piece of wire, crimp the spade ends on and put in the terminals marked 87 and 30 on the relay plate.

Note leaving out the relay will allow the wipers, blower and defroster to function with the car off.

I'll try this tomorrow! Thanks!

[ginster86roc]

@ kayakman13:

my good friend randall (California16v) is experiencing the same type difficulties...78 scirocco.


please to be contacting him with reference to your fixes?


thx. and i put him onto this thread as well.

i spent a couple hours monday trying to troubleshoot his wipers...test for ground/test for 12v+/test for continuity/etc.....to no avail.

[kayakman13]

Hit a small hiccup. The interrupter relay for the blower motor, rear defrost and wipers is not pulling out easily. Fearing damaging something, I did further investigation but can't find a reason its not coming out nicely, aside from light surface rust on the terminals. Is there anything that holds it in place, or should I rip that puppy out with some force?

[petebee]

Try to get a small screwdriver and pry the edge carefully...likely just need to get it started. These relays are not easy to pull out by hand if they've been in there for decades. Once you can get fingers under the edge they can be coaxed out.

[kayakman13]

Try to get a small screwdriver and pry the edge carefully...likely just need to get it started. These relays are not easy to pull out by hand if they've been in there for decades. Once you can get fingers under the edge they can be coaxed out.

Thank you sir!