only when it rains!

[eye121]

Wipers not working on either button but only this week when it rains.

Is it the ribbon cable; should I just fiddle with the steering wheel off or should I look somewhere else?

How can I get to the motor? Could it be a fuse even though they work occasionally for a flick?

Thanks as always. What an every day car!

[JensenA]

Check the Ribbon cable first, check for any breaks. They can sometimes be 'bodge repaired' but it wont last, and replacement cables are available.
The Motor is on the passenger side bulkhead, behind and to the left of the Coolant top reservoir thingy, and it is a ba$stard to remove.

[ridds]

Does the main beam work?

I had issues with my mains beam, indicators and wipers the week after reconnecting the battery.

Seemed to be fine after I had started and then stopped the engine.

[McNasty]

the problem i had with mine was related to the park switch inside the motor, took it out cleaned it and all worked well.

[plumAJP]

big fuse, crap earth and or fuse, chaffed ribbon

[eye121]

Thanks for your helpful replies. Tomorrow it'll be dry and I'll sort it on the weekend or the electrician will - he's more patient than I am.

[SlvrCrb]

A quick way to check if it is indeed the 9 miles of ribbon cable inside the steering column without dismantling it is to pull back the big rubber boss just behind the steering wheel to expose the PCB where the plugs from the buttons are pushed on to the right side. There are eight solder points (2 per button) on the left of the board and using a screwdriver or similar flat piece of metal you can short the the circuit there and the relevant function should, well, function

From memory, going from back to front on the PCB 1+2=Full beam, 3+4=Horn, 5+6=Wipers, 7+8=Wash/Wipe. If they function ok when shorting on the PCB, then the wires from the buttons inside the steering wheel are goosed.

hth.

[eye121]

Hi

Would you believe it? Goosed ribbon cable and steering wheel control box and wiper motor park switch!

The lovely TrackvRoad sent me a control box while mine's repaired. Next time I'd test the wires on the back of the steering wheel as above, then replace the ribbon cable (I didn't know it unplugged from the steering wheel hub) and then tackle the control box.

I would never take the small circuit board off the steering column again!

Thanks for all your help. Driving to work's fun again.