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Wipers failed? - test
the relay as well as the fuse
Simon Austin recently imported RV8 (Woodcote Green 0590) to
Canada from Japan and during the process of having the car MOT'd
for licensing had run into a small snag. His wiper/washer system
was not working. He thought he had isolated it to the relay/control
unit on the back-side of the fuse-box. Unfortunately he found
that this relay was not available in Canada so he ordered a
new one from Rimmer Bros. Simon posted a message on the V8BB
to see if any other RV8 owners had had their wipers fail and
found the relay at fault. If not the relay, were there any other
areas to check out? (Jan 10)
Simon later reported he had installed the new relay/control
unit but the wipers still failed to function. Working with the
workshop manual wiring diagrams, he determined the power routing
ran through the ignition relay (#4 on the fuse panel) through
the #15 fuse and then to the wiper control unit #8. The fact
that there was no power showing at the #15 fuse confirmed that
the #4 relay was suspect. By switching the #4 relay with the
identical one at position #2 (cooling fan), this activated the
wiper/washer system. These relays are a common, 4-teminal relay
(fortunately) available at any auto parts supplier.
So,
if your wipers fail, check the fuse first, then the #4 relay
and if those are good, then the wiper control unit on the back
of the fuse panel (#8).
In the
accompanying photos, the numbers on the yellow relays indicate
the two used for testing and show the good, original #2 relay
in the #4 position (ignition relay). The faulty, original #4
relay is in the #2 position (cooling fan).
Photos: Simon Austin |
Relay marked
#2 is the ignition relay that powers the wiper circuit.
Back side of fuse panel showing the wiper control unit's position.
|
