Re: Wiper arm won't return....sometimes

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a note dated 2/27/97 you ask:

<<I have a '88 80 Quattro. The wiper won't go back down if it is in the
intermitten mode. If you push it once to do a single wipe it also doesn't
return. It works fine in normal full running mode at all speeds. My qestion
is: Is there a problem with the motor or the wiper relay>>

My 85 4ksq wipers do this too...intermittently. I have meantioned my thoughts
on this in the past too...I think in my case it is the Wiper
(Column/Multifunction?) Switch itself...as I can get the wipers to behaive by
wiggling this switch. I have had this problem come and go for some time...I
have looked over the wiring diagrams in the Bentley and thought at first that
the switch inside the wiper motor would be the most likely culpret. In
looking further at the diagram for the Wiper Switch I see there is a switched
connection in the rest position of the Wiper Switch (supporting my failing
Wiper Switch theory). Not wanting to start parts swapping (not having
narrowed down the possibilities yet) I have not persued this further. In the
past week or two the Wiper Switch doesn't do anything when trying to activate
the wipe/wash function-very intermittently...further pointing the finger at
the Wiper Switch (I think it is actualy all column switches in one
assembly)...This doesn't rule out either the relay or the motor-just points
to the switch being most likely in my case.

When you say it works fine in normal speeds...do you mean it always returns
fine in normal speed operation? If so, then I don't think it is the motor but
still could be the relay...This would be a good thing to rule out as you
would eliminate 1 of 3 possibilities! I know this long winded answer isn't
much help...let us know what it is if and when you fix it! I won't attempt
fixing mine until I can't live with it anymore, and for now an occasional
wiggle of a switch is far better than praying (paying?) to the Audi gods
playing parts swapper (my least favorite form of troubleshooting...). When I
do fix mine, I will post the list with a more definitive answer. Anybody have
a better troubleshooting method for this???

Mike Veglia
85 4ksq (with wipers that return most of the time)