headlights turn my wipers on

[piratedonut]

My headlights switched off whilst i was driving home tonight, which was quite alarming in the frosty devon lanes. Luckily I could get home by holding the headlight stalk back, which kept the lights on full beam. Since having a closer but very amateur look (checking bulbs and fuses and any loose looking connections) I have now discovered that my wipers only work when I have the headlight stalk pulled back, and I still can't get any lights to stay on. Anyone know if I can check anything 'easily', I'm a carpenter so i'm better with wood than wire....My van is a 1989 california td.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Does the 'wipers only work when the headlight stalk is pulled back' trick only work when the headlight switch is on too?
Also, are you parking lights working OK i.e. is it just the headlights that are not working?

If so, then it looks like it might be the following (from a quick look at wiring diagrams).
a) There is a relay that provides power to the wipers.
b) This relay is activated by 12v from the ignition switch (but the same wire also provides power for the headlight switch).
c) I think that this wire is at fault in your system (and is broken/disconnected, therefore not providing power to the wiper relay or to the headlight switch)
d) The wipers work when you pull the headlight stalk because the headlight stalk is feeding 12v 'backwards' through the headlight switch and re-activating the relay that powers the wipers.

So, if that is correct - the fault is somewhere either at the ignition switch, at the wire between the ignition switch and the headlight switch, or at the headlight switch. The wire is a Black/Yellow striped wire (according to my wiring diagrams) - check that this is making a good connection at the ignition switch and at the headlight switch.
If you yank the top off the gauge console thingy you should be able to see the wire running from the headlight switch to the ignition.

Hope that helps.

[piratedonut]

thanks for that, I'll have another look tomorrow. An hour ago it was like a freezer out there, now its persisting it down instead. I don't suppose you know where that relay is do you? Maybe one of those on the fuse board?
Oh and in reply to your questions, the sidelights come on with the dashboard switch as usual, and I' m pretty sure that the lights will flash using the stalk all the time, even with ignition off, but id have to check that too.

[MidLifeCrisis]

I have the older style fuse board so not sure exactly where your version of that relay is but yes, it will be in there somewhere.
But to be honest I don't think that is your problem - the relay is working fine (otherwise the wipers wouldn't work).
The problem is most likely in that Black/Yellow wire between the ignition and the headlight switch or in its connection to either the ignition switch or the headlight switch.

And yes, the headlights will work (on high beam) whenever you pull the stalk (with the ignition on or off). That is the correct operation.

[piratedonut]

Thanks for your suggestions, you were right on the button. I stared at my wiring diagram for ages, not really getting it, then I mucked about testing that black and yellow wire. It seems like somebody has been in there before, probably isnt the first time its happened. Pretty soon I found there was no power getting to that wire, and that there was no continuity through the ignition switch from anything live in there. I made a little jump lead from a fat red wire going into the ignition barrel, onto the black and yellow wire and hey presto we are back in action. Ive now ordered new insides for the ignition barrel (£8.50 from JK) and hopefully that will keep my roads lit for a little while yet.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Good stuff!

[PetenAli]

Thats a really helpful thread. Thanks all - got a similar problem tho intermittent which is a pain. I'll go thru all this now.