Wipers don't Work in the Cold

[Zoolander]

Not sure why, but until the car is driven for about 10 minutes, the only way the front wipers work is if I push down on the stalk to do it manually, and the wipers will stop wherever they are if I stop pushing down. I can hear the relay click on the intermittant mode, but it doesn't work. Once it's warmed up (it seems), they work as normal. 04DII Any ideas?

 

[NHESS81]

No ideas...have had this happen to myself a few times...I am guessing the contact in the stalk is mucking up...but im not about to tear it apart...as long i move the stalk a little bit side to side, it seems to work fine without -warming up- like your wipers...

 

[skyguy]

My wipers sometimes "pause" for a second when on the slowest delay.

Got to love the Rover! It is similar to my Buell..................... Always messing with something. Oh well part of the fun I guess.

 

[rmuller]

It happens to me occasionally, I usually just use the washer jets and the blades start to work.

 

[Twilsey]

Mine do this as well,,, normally when it is below 20 degrees or so. Selector switch definitely feels stiffer when cold and I can get mine to work by moving the switch half way between intermittent and slow. But goes away once things warm up too.

 

[edthediscoman]

Lucas

 

[cyoc62]

I had a Pontiac that did this. But I couldn't fiddle with anything to make it work, it either worked or didn't. Turned out to be the wiper motor. Yours sounds like it's in the stalk or the steering column. Loose connection maybe? Good luck.

 

[Onionman]

My guess is wiper motor. Had similar problem with another vehicle. Just got worse over time. Finally had to replace the wiper motor.

 

[RAV]

Turn signals and wipers both non-op to slow on mine every cold morning. You get used to it.

 

[Joey]

Keep in mind both stalks (lights and wipers) are made of the same quality products.... I Wonder why the both have issues.... hmmmm makes you wonder.

Quick fix, remove and clean or replace.

 

[Mudhen]

Just wondering if any of you guys have done this yet...and what your results were.

Our '03 is getting pretty bad now...headlights AND wipers...

Thanks.

 

[QCNR]

Replace the wiper arms with those of a Disco I.
Bolt on mod. It is because of the design of the DII arms, they are closer to the windscreen
and freeze a lot more easily. As well as being made of plastic that exerts little pressure
on the windscreen. The DI wiper arms are proper metal ones.

 

[Mudhen]

Replace the wiper arms with those of a Disco I.
Bolt on mod. It is because of the design of the DII arms, they are closer to the windscreen
and freeze a lot more easily. As well as being made of plastic that exerts little pressure
on the windscreen. The DI wiper arms are proper metal ones.

I have D1 arms. Nothing to do with being frozen.

Thanks anyway, though.

 

[Michael]

Try replacing the relay - its contacts may be a little worn and cold weather usually makes things more worn.

I have he opposite problem on my D1. Intermittent works, but manual doesn't.

 

[Mike_Rupp]

On my D1, it was the stalk. I changed mine and the issue never came up again.

 

[phantomracer]

Seem to be having a similar issue.

When extra cold out, on intermittant, it will stop halfway up the windshield...when I hear the relay click again...it usually will finish the swipe...

If I have it on full (normal or fast) it seems to work OK. The stalks have good motion..I can hear the relay clicking just fine...

Thinking the motor is on it's way out..or is there something else to check before I go through the effort.

I went to Rovers North's website and did not find a part for the motor (unless I didn't look hard enough) . I did find this on Atlantic British http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/DKD100630G.cfm

I did find also a reman motor at Autozone for $80 with a ltd lifetime warranty.

I might opt for the OE, as the splines on the wiper arm shafts are worn out.

But does it sound like a motor starting to give up the ghost..or just normal for cold weather in a rover?

 

[built2crawl]

I had the same problem. It's the stalk.

 

[phantomracer]

Not sure why, but until the car is driven for about 10 minutes, the only way the front wipers work is if I push down on the stalk to do it manually, and the wipers will stop wherever they are if I stop pushing down. I can hear the relay click on the intermittant mode, but it doesn't work. Once it's warmed up (it seems), they work as normal. 04DII Any ideas?

mine will work that way or if 'on' or 'fast', or pressing down on the stalk, but not intermittant. Not sure if I should replace the relay or motor...or just live with it... LOL

 

[Blue]

for some reason I can't create a new thread so I will revive this one for my windshield wiper question...

Last night both front windshield wiper arms on my 2004 DII started acting up. They both move completely in unison but the one-touch/one-swipe feature no longer works correctly and no speed on intermittent works correctly.

If you push the stalk down for the one-swipe feature, the blades only move while you have the stalk depressed. When you lift off the stalk, the blades stop wherever they happen to be on the windshield. You have to hold down the stalk and let up on it at just the right moment to try to get them to park in the resting position.

On intermittent, the blades sweep over about a quarter of the windshield and then pause....you can hear the intermittent relay activate and then the blades move another quarter of the way, then pause, then hear the relay, then continue, etc.

Has my stalk switch gone bad?

 

[p m]

Bill, that must've been the first time you've ever used the wipers

FWIW... We've been driving back home from the mountains yesterday in pouring rain - my truck's never been this clean.