Rear Wiper Question?

[Lucky7]

Hello Everybody.

I have just installed intermittent wipers on my van after following the info within these pages.

Now that I have transformed myself to an auto electrics god I feel that I must now rush out and fit a rear wiper

My questions are:

I installed relay #19. Would #99 be a straight swap? Only just got the intermittent wipers and now I want to set the timing.

Did T25s ever have rear wipers as standard? I ask this because as the van is soon(ish) to be resprayed I could just get a rear door with rear wiper. If not what would be the best motor to get?

The stalk for my wipers only travels in 3 dimensions. Up, down, and in towards me. No outward movement for the rear wiper. Would I have to replace the stalk, or would it be better to just mount a rocker switch somewhere?

I have installed some cool lights from Ikea.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50119313" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any idea how long these would run from the leisure battery? They are currently set up to run from the mains hook up but I was thinking of running a couple from the battery on a dual switch sort of arrangement for when we are camping without power.

My speedo cable makes a spinning noise in the dash, I have looked at it and it appears to be broken. The plastic piece which clips in to the back of the speedo is completely separate from the rest and as such the cable keeps falling out of the housing. What would be the best method to fix this?

When I use the indicators regardless of which side, the left hand green light flashes on the dash. This is a relatively new thing. Would it have anything to do with the water that is finding it's way to the driver's footwell?

If anyone can throw any light on to any of this I would be most grateful.

We have had the van for about 9 months now and we are slowly making it nice mainly thanks to this forum and the wiki.

Thanks in advance.

[CovKid]

On the rear wiper, higher spec T25s had them but has been discussed on here many times it was more a selling point than anything approaching 'useful'. Mine had one (Caravelle) and I sealed up the hole and just give glass a coat of Rain-X twice in the winter and never had any need or want to actually have a wiper there. You also have to fit the wash bit too remember. Up to you but its a lot of work for very little gain at all unless you're doing a lot of offroading in mud as the rear window is so upright, water runs straight off it anyway.

If it does get really dirty (rare) then the rest of the bus will be really filthy by then (dirt migrates upwards I find) and it'll all need a wash. Rear window (in my experience) doesn't get any dirtier than side windows.

[Lucky7]

Hi and thanks for the reply.

I live in a very rural area and recently with all the rain and tractors going around the van has become a bit of a mud magnet.
I will try Rain X before going any further though.

Any thoughts on the rest of my post? I realise that it is prolly a bit long for one post and I should had split it in to several smaller ones.

Thanks again

[Gandalf]

Got a rear wash wipe on my westy - not worth a W... to be honest - stick with the rain X

[CovKid]

Don't use rain-x on inside though, only outside, but its damned good stuff. Been raining all week and barely had to use wipers with that stuff on. I'm not saying don't fit a rear wiper but its a lot of effort for nowt really.

Indicators are often a devil to diagnose and not easy on here. Do double-check fuses though. They can appear intact but sometimes need much closer examination. Ikea lights a tadge power hungry - ok for brief use (ie "I've Lost My Contact Lens") but use LED deck lighting for overnight use as they only draw milliamps and are generally bright enough for most purposes, even reading if you add spotlight versions in the right place. Don't know how many of you have used those squeezy self-charge LED torches but I've left them on for almost a whole day before they ran down - just shows you how little energy you need to charge them up. Lots of possibilities there that wouldn't rely on a leisure.

For speedo, may have to be superglue if you can't find a replacement.

[Lucky7]

"Don't use rain-x on inside though, only outside" No, that would be silly I will give it a go and see what happens.

Ok, I will look else where for camping lights, I am sure I can find something suitable.

Cheers

[CovKid]

Yup, reason I say don't use it on the inside is that some assume it will stop fogging. Unfortunately it doesn't and actually their anti-fog stuff wasn't much use either. Once converted to rain-x you'll be singing its praises for years. I note that Halfords do their own brand which is £1 cheaper but probably from same manufacturer.

Oh and take a look at 'LED strips' on ebay. A few have used them on here. Deck lighting is generally about £30 for ten lights but you can buy hundreds of high-brightness LEDS from China and wire up your own supply for them if you wanted to - or simply buy 12v LEDS (also on ebay) which have the correct resistor soldered to them to accept 12v. They also do bezels so you can fit the LEDS snugly and tidily into cupboards, roofing boards etc.