VW programmable wiper relay
09-26-2012, 12:37 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
VW programmable wiper relay
Hi Guys,
I bought a programmable VW intermittent wiper relay and installed it except that I am not able to program the intermittent wiper delay outside the default 5 seconds range. My original 1987 S4 OEM relay never gave me the intermittent feature. When I pushed the stalk to the intermittent position, the OEM gave me the same speed as the low speed wiping. I figured I got a bad rheostst wheel. Now with the VW unit, the intermittent feature works but the interval is fixed at 5 seconds. I did a search and had read Alan and AO's posts. I tried unsuccessfully to program it by returning the stalk to the zero position as soon as the wiper moves, then returned the stalk to the intermittent position as an attempt to program it at different interval. I tried shorter and longer intervals, say 3, and 15 seconds but the relay still triggers at 5 seconds.
At least now the VW relay gives me a 5 seconds intermittent wipes but it does not behave as it should. Am I using it incorrectly or the relay is defective? Any help is greatly appreciated. The dealer I got it from is very reputable and already told me that I could return it.
Thanks again for all your helps all these years.
Steve
I bought a programmable VW intermittent wiper relay and installed it except that I am not able to program the intermittent wiper delay outside the default 5 seconds range. My original 1987 S4 OEM relay never gave me the intermittent feature. When I pushed the stalk to the intermittent position, the OEM gave me the same speed as the low speed wiping. I figured I got a bad rheostst wheel. Now with the VW unit, the intermittent feature works but the interval is fixed at 5 seconds. I did a search and had read Alan and AO's posts. I tried unsuccessfully to program it by returning the stalk to the zero position as soon as the wiper moves, then returned the stalk to the intermittent position as an attempt to program it at different interval. I tried shorter and longer intervals, say 3, and 15 seconds but the relay still triggers at 5 seconds.
At least now the VW relay gives me a 5 seconds intermittent wipes but it does not behave as it should. Am I using it incorrectly or the relay is defective? Any help is greatly appreciated. The dealer I got it from is very reputable and already told me that I could return it.
Thanks again for all your helps all these years.
Steve
09-26-2012, 12:45 PM
#2
Chronic Tool Dropper
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This 'problem' gave me some fun too, especially since the rain doesn't come often to SoCal, and I don't drive in the rain on purpose.
Oh yeah...
To 'program' the interval, set the stalk to intermittent mode. PULL the stalk to wash position for a flash. Wait however long you want the wiper to delay, then pull to wash position again for a flash. That sets the period for you until you repeat the procedure, or you turn the key off.
Oh yeah...
To 'program' the interval, set the stalk to intermittent mode. PULL the stalk to wash position for a flash. Wait however long you want the wiper to delay, then pull to wash position again for a flash. That sets the period for you until you repeat the procedure, or you turn the key off.
09-26-2012, 01:08 PM
#3
Inventor
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I could never get the flashy thing to work properly. I went back to a stock relay.
I think there used to be a different relay, perhaps an older version, whereby you set the delay by moving the lever to intermittent, then off, to set the time. That's what I wanted.
I think there used to be a different relay, perhaps an older version, whereby you set the delay by moving the lever to intermittent, then off, to set the time. That's what I wanted.
09-26-2012, 01:40 PM
#4
Chronic Tool Dropper
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That's what I wanted too, mostly because I don't like the dribbles from the washer system when I set the delay interval. When I got the car, I ended up replacing all the washer plumbing including all those check valves. Rebuilt the washer pump too. The check valves are plain steel, so they rust given half a chance. So now I pump water through them to flush them out whenever I happen to set the intermittent delay period. Most of my use in in mist, so I generally don't need a full wash and wipe.
I settled on a washer mixture of distilled water and a little methanol. Got rid of the water spots from the washer and the fouling and staining of the nozzles from scale. No winter washer fluids available here, so had to make my own.
Just put my third set of replacement wiper refills in, at almost exactly fifteen(!) years of ownership. I use the blades to keep the arms from dragging on the glass, pretty much.
I settled on a washer mixture of distilled water and a little methanol. Got rid of the water spots from the washer and the fouling and staining of the nozzles from scale. No winter washer fluids available here, so had to make my own.
Just put my third set of replacement wiper refills in, at almost exactly fifteen(!) years of ownership. I use the blades to keep the arms from dragging on the glass, pretty much.
09-26-2012, 05:10 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
The VW relais that I use which works perfectly on my car for setting and remembering the delay time (from anything of 0.5 seconds up to at least 20 seconds) by only having to move the lever to intermittent, then off, is (as recommended by other Rennlister's in much older threads): 3B0 955 531 (and it has a large "197" printed in white on top).
Actually: all the credit for finding this out originally goes to Dave H., who tried it out and posted it in this thread as per his post#17 on 04-11-2002: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-better-2.html
I bought it new from an official VW dealership, and it is a straight drop-in replacement for the standard 993.615.101.00 relay (as shown on the left here):
Actually: all the credit for finding this out originally goes to Dave H., who tried it out and posted it in this thread as per his post#17 on 04-11-2002: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-better-2.html
I bought it new from an official VW dealership, and it is a straight drop-in replacement for the standard 993.615.101.00 relay (as shown on the left here):
Last edited by Arnoud; 09-26-2012 at 05:24 PM. Reason: Added the detail of: (and it has a large "197" printed in white on top) + credit line
09-28-2012, 05:22 AM
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
This 'problem' gave me some fun too, especially since the rain doesn't come often to SoCal, and I don't drive in the rain on purpose.
Oh yeah...
To 'program' the interval, set the stalk to intermittent mode. PULL the stalk to wash position for a flash. Wait however long you want the wiper to delay, then pull to wash position again for a flash. That sets the period for you until you repeat the procedure, or you turn the key off.
Oh yeah...
To 'program' the interval, set the stalk to intermittent mode. PULL the stalk to wash position for a flash. Wait however long you want the wiper to delay, then pull to wash position again for a flash. That sets the period for you until you repeat the procedure, or you turn the key off.
Steve
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10-01-2012, 05:46 PM
#8
Electron Wrangler
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Sorry this is all wierd... the VW programmable relay works only based on the intermittent switch position - ignore the wash mode...
There are two types of VW relay - fixed intermittent & programmable intermittent. If yours won't respond the the programmable interval its probably because its not designed to... The numbers are almost the same...
Operation:
Switch to intermittent, wait for a wipe, turn it back off, (it may wipe again) - wait until you need it to wipe again - turn it back to intermittent mode - it will wipe at the interval between the last 2 wipes (there are limits on the max interval - prob about 40 seconds - don't recall). Obviously you can extend or shorten the interval in the same manner at any time...
Let's not make it harder than it really is...
Alan
There are two types of VW relay - fixed intermittent & programmable intermittent. If yours won't respond the the programmable interval its probably because its not designed to... The numbers are almost the same...
Operation:
Switch to intermittent, wait for a wipe, turn it back off, (it may wipe again) - wait until you need it to wipe again - turn it back to intermittent mode - it will wipe at the interval between the last 2 wipes (there are limits on the max interval - prob about 40 seconds - don't recall). Obviously you can extend or shorten the interval in the same manner at any time...
Let's not make it harder than it really is...
Alan
10-01-2012, 06:05 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
I tried to program it with Dr. Bob's instructions and so far it is a hit and missed thing. Half of the times, I have to pull the stalk 3 times to set it. And when it is set, it might not be the interval that I actually want. All along, I have a bunch of blue windshield fluid everywhere. Not a very satisfying mod. So, with my original OEM relay working at the same wiping speed as the low speed wiper, does it mean that I have a bad rheostat? I think I will just buy a new rheostat and go back to stock.
Steve
Steve
Believe it or not, this "puzzle" has bothered me a bit. Because the VW digital wipe module simply does not have the pin for the rheostat/potentiometer connection at all, which made me think that you logically might not have a problem of a bad rheostat but more of a bad wiring connection problem.
Having checked MY 1994 with 1987 + 1988 electrical schematics, it appears that at least the wipe/wash switch are all wired up identical. I recommend that you check & trace the connection wires to the rheostat, and in particular the 0,5 sized (=small) yellow wire that goes in two (2) directions:
1. from the rheostat to pin "J" of the wipe/wash switch, and
2. from the rheostat to MY 1987 + 1988 pin D22 of the CE panel connector (and from there to pin "I" of the wipe module).
Last edited by Arnoud; 10-01-2012 at 06:05 PM. Reason: Typo's
10-01-2012, 06:19 PM
#10
Inventor
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I wasn't able to get an original VW relay.
I didn't try the dealer, though.
Instructions are no longer online.
I tried to get the VW relay, 3B0 955 531, recently, but two places sent me a relay which replaces that number.
3.200.110 made by KAE (Kahler)
I was confused because this relay isn't set by turning on and off the delayed wiper. I tried to return it, but I'd already plugged it in. I even went online and found the relay's instructions, but still couldn't make it work. (KAE instructions)
Today I tried again, and found that you have to turn on the delayed mode first, then tap the squirter to set the delay.
If you turn off the delayed wiper, it will remember the delay you set, until you turn off the car. The default is ~6 seconds.
Set
1) Wiper stalk down
2) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
3) Wait number of desired seconds (up to 20)
4) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once (unless it's still wiping from the last tap)
Reset
5) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
6) Wait number of desired seconds again
4) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
If you don't have the wiper stalk down in delayed mode, it will wipe 3-times as normal when you hit the squirter.
3.200.110 made by KAE (Kahler)
I was confused because this relay isn't set by turning on and off the delayed wiper. I tried to return it, but I'd already plugged it in. I even went online and found the relay's instructions, but still couldn't make it work. (KAE instructions)
Today I tried again, and found that you have to turn on the delayed mode first, then tap the squirter to set the delay.
If you turn off the delayed wiper, it will remember the delay you set, until you turn off the car. The default is ~6 seconds.
Set
1) Wiper stalk down
2) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
3) Wait number of desired seconds (up to 20)
4) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once (unless it's still wiping from the last tap)
Reset
5) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
6) Wait number of desired seconds again
4) Squirt-tap, wiper cycles once
If you don't have the wiper stalk down in delayed mode, it will wipe 3-times as normal when you hit the squirter.
10-01-2012, 07:55 PM
#11
Electron Wrangler
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Well I'd recommend buying the real original VW one then... is that version NLA? - seems someone put some effort in to make it worse - theres progress for you...
Alan
Alan
