General Can the automatic rear window wiper be stopped?

[Morty Mort]

Hello.

Many people is propably thrilled by this fancy little electric circuit, starting the rear wiper when striking reverse with the front wipers on.

Personally I hate it.

Problem is during winter, and there is either snow on the rear window or the blade has frozen stuck. The wiper engine then attacks when I reverse and then, "blam" it goes off like hell after it's torn away from the ice, and works its way throught the snow. I am just awaiting the wiper engine to blow.

So how can I stop this feature? If I wanted the rear wiper to wipe, then I'd turn it on.

Morten.

 

[Stilo_ste]

Either,

Turn off front wipers before engaging reverse,
Contact Fiat and get the 'computer' updated if possible
Remove fuse from rear wiper - would totally immobilse it
Fit another switch onto the rear wiper circuit
Remove reverse gear selection switch


3,4, and 5 are more work / consequences

 

[Deckchair5]

If you disconnect the feed from the body computer to the column wiper switch then it should turn off the rear wiper and only when you select reverse.

Pin 1 on connector A on the body computer to pin 3 on connector A on the wiper switch.

Whether it will go into a sulk if you do that I don't know

 

[D4nny8oy]

Have you tried...... removing the snow manually and using de-icer on the rear screen before driving off?

No seriously, if the screen is covered in snowflakes and you stop and need to reverse, how are you going to see without wiping it off? If the heated rear screen is on there shouldn't be an issue with ice reforming.

Granted it's another system for the lazy people out there (the same ones who spec rain-sensing wipers and auto-lights), but if you're really against it then the best option is to turn off the front wipers when you want to reverse.

 

[Stu DemonD]

You seen his car in the snow? Not like the winters we get here probably freeze his balls off wiping it manually

As for auto-sensing wipers, all it does is replace the intermittent speed option - I presume you have disabled that on yours then, leaving just ON, OFF and FLICK ?

 

[T14086]

remove wiper arm/blade

 

[D4nny8oy]

If it's snowing that bad, then won't he have the same problem if he could get the rear wiper to only operate when he wants it to (huge amount of snow weighing down the wiper)?

Every winter we have Punto customers in with failed front wiper linkages because they couldn't be arsed to de-ice the screen first!

 

[D4nny8oy]

You seen his car in the snow? Not like the winters we get here probably freeze his balls off wiping it manually

As for auto-sensing wipers, all it does is replace the intermittent speed option - I presume you have disabled that on yours then, leaving just ON, OFF and FLICK ?

Don't own a Fiat mate, can't afford to on my wages.








T14086 is the one with the big pay packet! :worship:

 

[ChrisMClark]

Isn't there something on the wiper motors that prevent them turning if there's too much weight on the blade, or if the blades are frozen to the screen?

 

[T14086]

T14086 is the one with the big pay packet! :worship:

Now you know thats quite true mate;-) or did I tell you my wages the other day

 

[D4nny8oy]

Only having a giggle mate!

NumanR said your bosses were taking the mick until recently. It's depressing when you go on the training courses and hear how much more everyone is getting ain't it?

Someone who drives home to Scotland from Warwick then goes back to work the next day for the pittance we all earn gets big respect in my eyes!

 

[T14086]

It's depressing when you go on the training courses and hear how much more everyone is getting ain't it?

Even the checkout girls laugh at my wages

 

[D4nny8oy]

Bless! :hug:

 

[Stilo_ste]

Anyone who has been to the arctic will know how really, f'ing cold it can be.

I've been in the winter and I can tell you that the majority of people in the UK have never experienced cold like it.

Plugging your car into the mains at night doesn't happen anywhere in the Uk

 

[T14086]

Plugging your car into the mains at night doesn't happen anywhere in the Uk

Unless you own a milk float

 

[Morty Mort]

Have you tried...... removing the snow manually and using de-icer on the rear screen before driving off?
No seriously, if the screen is covered in snowflakes and you stop and need to reverse, how are you going to see without wiping it off? If the heated rear screen is on there shouldn't be an issue with ice reforming.

Granted it's another system for the lazy people out there (the same ones who spec rain-sensing wipers and auto-lights), but if you're really against it then the best option is to turn off the front wipers when you want to reverse.

You don't get it. And as mentioned, this is Winter, not just winter.

I know the best thing is to shut off the front wiper when reversing. And the problem isn't when starting. I always remove all snow (including roof) and de-ice and scrape every window so the wipers won't stick. It is also for safety reason - I get to see out all my windows.

There are also 2 outside rearview mirrors to watch in when reversing, not the big one on the inside - that on is great when driving.

After driving for a while, the rear heater threads shut off atomatically. When driving through a nordic winter, snow, sand and salt whirl up on the rear window, and ices - when cold, as it usually is. I sometimes have to park the car, and then occasionally needs the reverse. Then I have to remember the stupid rear wiper which will activate if I have the front wipers on - which always are on due to the salt and snow combination and that other cars are on the same road as mine. After a while it has been bagged with fresh snow, whirled salty snow and then some ice to make this cocktail a perfect glue for the wiper. I mention again the threads shut off automatically, and are not very instant.

So there is a reason I ask about it. Nothing to do about being lazy - just practical for my need. And to prevent a busted wiper engine etc.

Morten.

 

[Deckchair5]

I get the same sort of problem when i carry bikes on the rear carrier because if i ever forget and select reverse with the bikes there then the rear wiper would smash into the bike carrier and wreck itself.

I pull the rear wiper off the screen and it will lock up at 90 degrees to the screen so that if it goes then it just rotates harmlessly in the air. Maybe you could do the same too for those occasions where you don't want the thing to go at all

If you want something more permanent then you could try putting a switch in the line I mentioned earlier from the body computer to the wiper switch then you can decide whether it works automatically or not without affecting it's normal operation




N22 is the rear wiper motor
Try to locate the wire going from body computer connector A pin 1 to wiper switch connector A pin 3 as this line sends the signal for automatic operation of the rear wiper

 

[alexGS]

After driving for a while, the rear heater threads shut off atomatically. When driving through a nordic winter, snow, sand and salt whirl up on the rear window, and ices - when cold, as it usually is. I sometimes have to park the car, and then occasionally needs the reverse. Then I have to remember the stupid rear wiper which will activate if I have the front wipers on - which always are on due to the salt and snow combination and that other cars are on the same road as mine. After a while it has been bagged with fresh snow, whirled salty snow and then some ice to make this cocktail a perfect glue for the wiper. I mention again the threads shut off automatically, and are not very instant.

I think it's safe to say that FIAT made the car for convenience in our climates, e.g. having the rear window heater switch off automatically is useful because everyone forgets to turn it off, and it does its job in five minutes after all.

Like the others, I was going to suggest turning the front wipers off before selecting reverse, but I can see that I'd probably forget myself when I was in all those conditions.

Something I saw a few years ago was how to make heated windscreen washer jets - basically, a heat exhanger for engine coolant to the washer tubing, or I guess you could do it electrically. Or maybe your Stilo already comes with heated washer jets? I expect you have heated seats?

I think Deckchair5 had the best answer (an extra switch) but still, I'm horrified at the thought of trying to drive anywhere in those conditions. How long would the engine take to warm up? Do you have one of those 'hotstart' devices that plumb into a radiator hose and use a 240v immersion heater to pre-heat the coolant?

Anyway thanks Morten for the insights,
-Alex

 

[D4nny8oy]

Sorry mate, no offence meant, I didn't realise it was that bad!

To be honest I'm surprised Fiat didn't optimise the system better for your climate. I suppose the Italians don't know what a winter is!

My only concern with putting a switch in-line is whether the Body Computer will throw a hissy fit and start bringing up an "electrical fault" message when disabled (and the beeping every Stilo owner loves!).