fiat punto + back wiper fault

[fahema]

this morning i started my car up n the back wiper started off on its own, it wasnt turned on, i turned the car off and started up again and it was fine, then i turned on th heater n back wiper started up again, thn stopped wen i turned it off, wen i turnd indictor on it started up again. what is the problem? is it electrical? jus a fuse?

[Joanne-G]

You have a short somewhere in the wiring loom, I would take it to a dealership. It cant be a fuse for the simple reason that if a fuse blows, something electrical will not work at all!

[Jay70]

It may be that some moisture has got in to where the relays are situated. The moisture can short out (as Joanne-G has mentioned) power from another relay such as the ignition relay which is in operation when the ignition is on or your heater relay when you switched on the heater. This can then cause another relay to operate such as your wipers even though you havn't operated the wiper switch. After the car has warmed up/ or moved the moisture will probably dry out / or move so this explains why the fault is intermittent. Relays are sometimes situated in the cars fuse box which can be under the dashboard or in the engine compartment. Your user manual should tell you where the relays are situated. once located you may be able to see moisture around the relays (small metal or plastic boxes with four blade contacts on the underside which plug in to sockets). I would remove each one individually and dry out any moisture using a paper towel. It may be worth spraying some WD40 on the contacts to repell any moisture. If this is the case then you still have to find out why moisture is getting in to the relays though - it may be as simple as the relay/fuse box lid being loose or you may find water is getting in by running along the wiring loom. Some fuse/relay boxes are fitted inside the car's bulkhead and can fill up with water if a drain hole in the bulkhead has become blocked - as anyone who has had and early Ford Sierra will be able to testify. I hope you get it sorted it would be interesting to know the outcome. Good luck.

[fahema]

Hey Thanx for the replys, i had it fixed within the hour after i had taken the car to the garage, there was a problem wid the wires somewhere but im not really sure where, so instead of buyin a brand new part, he short circuited the wires and it jus cost me 5 pound.