Odd wiper problem

[sector6]

There is a sort of sensor on the motor that tells it where park is it gets gummed up or wet and things get confused.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Windscreen_Wiper_faults

That might explain it better than I can.

I haven't read it yet, but thank you. Someone had mentioned something about that earlier in this thread, but didn't shed much light on it. It would make sense. Not sure how quickly that gets dirty with a new motor, but seems plausible.

[Adrian_Visser]

There is a sort of sensor on the motor that tells it where park is it gets gummed up or wet and things get confused.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Windscreen_Wiper_faults

That might explain it better than I can.

[dnguyen1963]

Check the relay box for moisture too. In heavy rain, I have found some moisture inside the box. I put some window insulation to keep the moisture out and my wipers are working fine now.

[sector6]

I've had similar problems where the wipers were in low but going fast; I believe it could be wiring issue. it does get pretty soggy under there. even with new motor. Also check your wiper relay. I highly doubt it to be the wiper stalk although it has happened to people time to time.

Again, once things dried up they never gave me a problem. I do recall though, when I had that issue it was raining pretty hard for a good couple days on and off.

exactly, heavy rain for most of the week, they went crazy. they would actually stop working if they were not on the high setting. returned to normal after it dried out. started doing it again next time it rained. they did NOT recover fully from the last time it rained. still not right. I too suspect a wiring problem.

[Ceeker]

I've had similar problems where the wipers were in low but going fast; I believe it could be wiring issue. it does get pretty soggy under there. even with new motor. Also check your wiper relay. I highly doubt it to be the wiper stalk although it has happened to people time to time.

Again, once things dried up they never gave me a problem. I do recall though, when I had that issue it was raining pretty hard for a good couple days on and off.

[Morrison]

Have they fully returned to the normal position yet? Mine just did the exact same thing yesterday where they park fully up....but still wipe across the windshield just fine.

[sector6]

update for anyone who cares:

The wipers are slowly "relearning" where the park position is/was. They've gone from 90 degrees to a bit less than 45 after F'ing with them on my back to work at lunch today. Glad I didn't reposition them manually, they'd be rapping across my hood. All for now.

[sector6]

There is a plate that "tells" when the wipers are in the park position. Sometimes the grease gets on the plate and makes the motor think the wipers are parked when they aren't. I had this problem with my first E30, thankfully none of my last 3 had it. Something to keep in mind.

Thank you! Now this sound like what I'm looking for! Where exactly should I look for this plate?

[Quadrajet]

There is a plate that "tells" when the wipers are in the park position. Sometimes the grease gets on the plate and makes the motor think the wipers are parked when they aren't. I had this problem with my first E30, thankfully none of my last 3 had it. Something to keep in mind.

[sector6]

yea, I've been through it before when I put the new motor in last summer. I was hoping that was the last time I'd have to dick around in there! ha! I'll let you know what i find.

[nando]

it's fairly easy to get to. you just have to feel around in there, which is the difficult part since you can't see anything.

[sector6]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out tonight and verify, but I'm not convinced. If it did loosen up I wouldn't think it would tighten back up. We'll see, thanks again.

[nando]

well that's the only thing that sets the wiper's park position..

[sector6]

Needs to be verified, but I can't see that as being the issue at this point. (I understand why you might suggest that). I think if the nut came loose, the wiper motor would just spin in place not engaging the linkage. The stroke is strong (even on a dry windshield), suggesting that the nut is not loose. It doesn't make sense! Somehow it's mirrored, parks vertical and strokes downwards.

[nando]

possibly the mounting nut for the linkage to the motor has come loose.