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wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 10 Nov 2014, 15:30
by Sir Brixalot
I thought it would be a fuse but they look OK also the lights on buzzer is continous even when driving - any ideas?

Re: winsdcreen wipes only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 10 Nov 2014, 15:59
by Ralf85
Have you been touching the wiring for any reason? Have you checked the wiki regarding earthing faults?
Also see Hacksaw Bob's message above yours in the Electrical & Instrumentation section from last year.

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 10 Nov 2014, 16:05
by Sir Brixalot
No I haven't touched the wiring. Everything was OK when I parked up but when I set off again the wipers and blower wouldn't work.

The crowns don't look too bad but I'll clean them up and check the other earths.
I can see a spade with a yellow/grey wire that isn't attached to anything coming from the rear of relay in 8 slot.
I noticed that I still have a 19 fuse - should that have been changed to a 99 when i fitted the "lights on" relay?

Another possibility is that it's the stalk switch but I don't see how that would account for the lack of blower.
Also just noticed NS side and dips have blown-perhaps that's caused too much current?

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 10 Nov 2014, 21:20
by MidLifeCrisis
This behaviour is usually caused by the Load Reduction Relay (sometimes called X-Relay) not being activated as it should be.
Usually its the wire between the ignition and the headlight switch not working ..... putting high beam on reactivates the relay as power does 'backwards' through the high beam stalk switch .... see below;

Image

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 11 Nov 2014, 11:01
by Sir Brixalot
Thanks MLC. I've had a good look and there's no break, I'm looking at the black and yellow wire. I then cleaned the crowns and spades and weirdly the wipers worked when I took one of the brown wires off - the only problem being the wipers weren't meant to be on. I have seen your other post on this and it sounds exactly like mine except I can't find a break in that wire.

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 11 Nov 2014, 16:31
by MidLifeCrisis
Rather than a break in the wire it's possible that the ignition switch has failed - can you use a multimeter to measure the voltage on the black/yellow wire with ignition on (obviously making sure that highbeam isn't on)?

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 11 Nov 2014, 17:34
by Sir Brixalot
Thanks MLC - I thought it might be so I ordered light switch from Brickwerks and I've reserved an ignition switch at GSF will collect it tomorrow, it was too late to get it from Brickwerks, These dark nights are annoying I'd like to get on with it. Managed to trip over on my multimeter and ripped the probes out their holders today so need a new one

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 11 Nov 2014, 17:53
by Paul Weeding
My money is on the ignition switch too...

Had pretty much the same thing happen on my old mk2 golf, and that was a failed circuit within the switch!! 8-)

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 12 Nov 2014, 11:42
by Sir Brixalot
There are so many unfinished threads that I make a point of coming back when the problems sorted and thanks and yes it was the ignition switch - a fiver for me to fix. I think I'll keep a spare in the van

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 12 Nov 2014, 12:09
by MidLifeCrisis
Good stuff - glad you got it sorted!

Re: wipers and blower only work when full beam is held on

Posted: 12 Nov 2014, 16:21
by Sir Brixalot
Yes, thanks for the help. Without it I would probably have gone to a garage...