440 intermittent wiper fault

[eddvolvo]

My 440 wiper control has developed a fault.

When attempting to wash/wipe the windscreen by pulling the stalk forward only the washer motor works.

In the intermittent position nothing happens. Pushing the stalk up from here for a single swipe will work as long as I maintain upward pressure on the stalk and when released back to the intermittent position the wipers will stop at that point and not return to the normal parked position. When the stalk is then moved back to the off position the wiper movement completes and the wipers park correctly at the bottom of the screen.

For both normal and fast operation, down one and two positions respectively from the off position on the wiper stalk, the wiper operation is normal. Although when turned off the wipers stop at their current position and do not park correctly at the bottom of the screen.

The single swipe function, press the wiper stalk down but not engaging normal continuous wiper position, will wipe so long as it is held in this position, returning to the off position will leave the wipers where they are on the screen.

The problem developed progressively. Initially I noticed a grinding mechanical noise a couple of times when using the wipers at normal speed from a cold start. After a minute or so the noise stopped and the wipers worked correctly. This noise has not happened again. The intermittent wipers started to fail around this time and got worse until, as now, they won't work at all.

Occasionally, after using all of the wiper switch positions the single swipe will work for about eight attempts then fail by first juddering and then failing completely to park in the correct position. A few days ago the intermittent wipers worked for about eight wipes but have not worked again since.

I thought initially the intermittent wiper relay may be faulty so swapped it to no avail. I have since swapped the steering column wiper switch but all of the problems persist.

I have removed the wiper motor from the car and can see nothing obviously wrong with it mechanically or electrically. The contacts for blue/white, white and brown wires to the electrical control disc connections appear to be in good condition. I am therefore reluctant at this stage to swap the motor.

Due to the intermittent nature of the problem is is not a complete mechanical failure and has to be something electrical. But I can't find out what.

I need to renew the MOT in about a month and probably need this fixed to pass.

Any help with this will be appreciated.

[matt_tily]

I've had similar problems on my 480 I have about 15 electrical faults.It was all dodgy connections and fuses.The fuseboxes on the 400 series seem to be really crap and if you take the fuse out spray some air duster on where it slots in then put fuse back in.Check fuse to see if its ok.Its worth a try it cured about 6 electrical faults on my 480.Might be worh checking all grounds around engine compartment too and giving them a clean.

Hope this helps,

Matt.

[eddvolvo]

Thanks for the reply Matt.

As far as I know there is only one fuse for the front wipers, I have removed and reseated this during my attempts to diagnose the problem. I am considering removing the relay box which is situated next to the wiper motor, if only to reseat the connecting wires. However, I work from a Haynes manual and it doesn't have this as a procedure so I'm not sure how easy or difficult this will be.

[matt_tily]

if you look up from the fuse box theres wires on connectors which go to the relay box wiggle them around abit.Was the stalk you replaced new or second hand and the relay.

Matt.

[eddvolvo]

The wiper switch was from a breaker selling on ebay and the relay was from a Volvo main dealer.

[matt_tily]

It might be worth getting another 2nd hand one from your local scrapyard as they go alot and you may have been unlucky and got another bad one.

Push and wiggle all relays and fuses concerned aswell as this has helped me a few times.

Thanks.

Matt