Option: M652 - Intermittent windshield wipers

[gms]

Intermittent windshield wipers - Intervallschalter scheibenwischer

[Pat Garvey]

Ummm, Glenn - what am I looking at?
Back in the mid '70's I bitched to a Bosch mechanic about not having had intermittent wipers offered as an option to me.

He took a pair of needlenose pliers, reached in the access area for the wiper controls & extracted a piece of white plastic (block). Told me then that all 914's came equipped with intermittent capabilities from the factory. If you paid the dealer for the option, they pulled out the same plastic block that he did.

Don't know for sure if that's a true story, but I do know that I've had intermittent wipers since '76, thanks to him & at no charge.

By the way, I pulled the same plastic block from my '76 924 & '86 GTI to get intermittent wipers.
Pat

[gms]

The photo illustrates the relay, the wiring harness and how it connects to the wiper motor.
Not sure how the tab thing would works, I had never seen the intermediate wipers on any of the other (20+) 914s I have parted out. The relay was mounted on the vertical bracket.

[bleyseng]

You need a timer relay to make it work not just screwing with the wiper switch.
:eek:

[Dads914]

Just flick the switch on and off again and wala Intermittent wipers.

[Pat Garvey]

Sorry, but that's what happened. White plastic block removed from the stalk/column area & intermittent wipers. Worked for 31 years that way. No additional relay. Can't explain it, but it works.
Pat

[gms]

Relay mounts right here (picture)

Pat can you see if you have this relay??

[Pat Garvey]

Glenn,

I checked quickly, because it's cold in the garage! The small strut is drilled for the realay, but none there. This is interesting because a relay MUST be somewhere, or some sort of wierd wiring thing, because I do have intermittent wipers. Will have to trace the wiring, which is still factory. Let you know.
Pat

[gms]

The small strut is drilled for the relay, but none there.
I will be interested to see how that works

[gms]

Relay mounted on bracket

[bleyseng]

Glenn,

I checked quickly, because it's cold in the garage! The small strut is drilled for the realay, but none there. This is interesting because a relay MUST be somewhere, or some sort of wierd wiring thing, because I do have intermittent wipers. Will have to trace the wiring, which is still factory. Let you know.
Pat

Pat, you just have a intermittent short in your wipers.....:p

[DEC]

Here the wiring diagram

[Pat Garvey]

OK, you guys got me thinking. I hate how the years can screw up your memory (mine, anyway).

Even though it's 30 degrees in my garage, I hooked a battery from my 911 up to the 914 today. All I needed was enough juice to fire up the wipers & put them on intermittent. Did so - no intermittent! Just 2 speeds.

So, what was it I was thinking about? Checked back to the records on my other, earlier cars (yeah, I keep everything, and notes about it all). Thought at first that I must have been thinking about my '77 Rabbit - no notes about intermittent wipers. '70 911E Sporto - no such notes either. Nothing for the '73 T either. Then I found it!

My '76 924!!!! My mechanic in Cincinnati (Forry Hargitt) was the one who "pulled the plug" from inside the wiper stalk area, giving me intermittent wipers on THAT Porsche for no charge. My notes indicate he "reached into the steering column and extracted a small white plastic plug" allowing the intermittent "option" to become activated.

Sorry to all for my screw-up. My 914 hasn't been in rain since 1977. My memory was very vivid that I had intermittent wipers then - 30 years ago.

What an idiot!

Pat

[bleyseng]

:rolleyes:

I am not saying anything, Pat. You cooked your own goose pretty well

[davep]

Hey, I'm with you Pat. The years are not so kind anymore. The visions can be vivid, and mostly true, just some of the details are swapped.

[gms]

No worries Pat, I was just checking to see that I didn't miss something:)

[Pat Garvey]

I labored over admitting my idiocy. But, you all knew I was wrong, so why not admit it? I thought... how could this work without a relay? Stirred up so infrequently used brain cells. Oh well, I've made mistakes before - twice, as I recall.

Thanks for making me think guys!!!! Mea Culpa!
Pat

[gms]

Column switch configuration

[bleyseng]

yeah, now theres a project for me to finish..have all the parts stashed on the shelf and just haven't done it.

Maybe next week I'll put it in..and I'll take pics.

[gms]

Schematic of relay

[irish9142000]

Guys,
I'm interested in this discussion as I am installing an electric washer and I read on another forum that the 924 wiper switch can be used to power the pump by pulling on the wiper stalk. Its on the Pelican technical forum by Karl Ellzey. What I would like to know is if the wiring on the wiper switch of the 73' and onwards 914s had the wiring for the relay even though the relay was not fitted as an option. Its supposed to be a brown/black wire? If it was I could use this wire to power the pump.
Also Glenn your diagram of the steering column wiring is confusing as you show the directional indicators with an arrow pointing to passenger side, should this not be the drivers side etc.

[bleyseng]

No, there are two distinct wiper switches as one is a 3 position switch and the other stock is a "Flick wipe" style. I will take some pics...but I am not sure if you can modify the stock switch to work.

I was in Galway in Dec for a brief (2 days) vacation, nice city and dying to go back in the summer!

[gms]

Also Glenn your diagram of the steering column wiring is confusing as you show the directional indicators with an arrow pointing to passenger side, should this not be the drivers side etc.
It is looking at the column from the windshield (diagram was drawn by Alan Caldwell)

[davep]

I am developing a kit to replace the washer valve with a switch. The mounted switch just replaces the valve for a very clean installation. That leaves the other switch for the intermittent wipers. I need to measure the length of wires required and check to see how it can be fused. I was also going to source the washer pump ( I have a couple of VW pumps that are perfect, in my mind, for the application). I need to determine the current rating of the pump to be sure the switch and fuse are adequate. I was also going to provide a vent for the washer bottle cap. Still a few things to be done, but the design part looks good.

[irish9142000]

OK Guys, Thanks for the response, I will see if I can retrofit the 924 switch to work. Will let you know the outcome. The pump I am using is a VDO pump, don't have a part number and can't see it now as I have it in postion down by the washer bottle. Did't drill any hole in the cap, there is a tube connector there for the air pipe from spare wheel so not sure it it will be able to suck air thru this. Took my water feed from original oulet.

Bleyseng if you are in Galway again let me know and we can hook up. give me some notice so that I can have the garage tidy. I have a Ghia and a 912 as well.

Dave, Very nice idea for the Switch, I presume the lever action will make the contact. The wiring I'm not too sure of, are the too pins at the top for the wires, one to the pump, the other to the fusebox.

[davep]

Yes the switch would be wired up like that.
The tank may pull a vacuum unless you vent it properly. The original line has a one way valve in it.
Using the original feed from the bottom outlet is fine.
The VDO pump is a good choice for sure.

Since I have the intermittent wiper, I need to use the switch for a pump system.

[bleyseng]

:) pics of a intermittent switch and its extra pin and wiring.