Electrical Fault Causing Wiper Problem?

[neiluk]

Hi all,

On my way home yesterday with my family in heavy rain I noticed that my wipers started to move more slowly than usual. I had the dreaded frozen wiper problem last winter and my local garage greased the wiper mechanism as specified on the forum. They have been working fine for the last 6 months or so but yesterday I had the reacurance of another problem at the same time. My dashboard illumination faded to what looked like about it's dimmeas setting when it was set to it's brightest. It sometimes brightened up somewhat but usually stayed dim. It was at this time that I noticed my wipers slowing.

 

I put my wipers on the fast setting to give them momentum to sweep (as the AA man told me to do last time) which worked great for 5 mins. They were going really fast, but even they ground to a halt about 100 yards from my home. They luckily came to life for one more sweep close to my home making life a lot safer. When I reversed onto the drive they seemed to come back to life after about 30 seconds at which time I noticed the dashboard lights were brighter again. Could the two problems be connected in some way? I have noticed the dashboard lights dimming themselves for some time but with no other notisable symptoms.

 

I tried the wipers in the dry on my drive today on slow and fast and they seem to be working fine again but the slow setting is still slower than I would like but that may be normal for a Galaxy.

 

I don't have an undertray on my car so I was wondering spray from all the standing warter could have affected the electrics in some way. The inside of my car (under mats/seats etc) is dry as always. I will see if my garage can fit me in soon as I don't trust the wipers again.

 

Thanks for any advice,

 

Neil.

[tdi90]

If you've got a multi meter, check the voltage of the battery with the engine running. Should be around 14volts. Then switch on wipers, heater blowers, heated windows and stereo and check the voltage again should still be well over 12v. If not could be the alternator's knackered.

 

I had the same sorta thing a few months back. lights, heater, wipers, stereo, heated screens on, on the way back from work, then all of a sudden everything that is supposed to be lit up in the car was flashing like a mo fo. Interior lights, switches, wipers stop starting, stereo coming off and on.

[Mirez]

As above check the alternator is charging correctly - expect 14 volts with the engine running, 11.5 to 12 with it off. Without a tray could also be spray on the drive belt makng it slip and not charge correctly although I would expect squeal if that were the case. There are more possibilities though but alternator seems most likely.

[neiluk]

As above check the alternator is charging correctly - expect 14 volts with the engine running, 11.5 to 12 with it off. Without a tray could also be spray on the drive belt makng it slip and not charge correctly although I would expect squeal if that were the case. There are more possibilities though but alternator seems most likely.

 

I had the tensioner and belt changed for Ford parts some time ago to stop the squeal I had. This worked for about a month then the squeal started again :-( . The noise always stops when driving in the wet, so for when it's dry I carry a spray can in the door compartment and squirt the belt and wheels (mainly A/C I think) behind the drivers wheel with water which usually stops it for up to a day. I havent noticed any connection to the squeal and my other problems though.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil.

[insider]

So, you're lubricating the belt with water and allowing it to slip without squealing and you wonder why your alternator isn't charging the battery correctly? B)

The belt is squealing for a reason - there is more resistance than there should be on one of the pulleys. It could be your alternator, power steering pump or A/C compressor but one of them is causing more resistance. Fix the cause not the symptom!

[Mirez]

Precisely that - if its a new belt with new tensioner then its not turning one of the pulleys correctly. This will mean that whatever it is isn't working correctly which may cause all manor of additional problems not to mention possible heat build up and certainly wear to your new belt.

 

Since you seem to have an electrical issue I'd be very inclined to suspect its the altenator on the way out, but start with the belt and go from there.

[neiluk]

Thanks all,

I have been using the 'sprayed water' technique on and off for the best part of 8 months as I thought it was just lubricating the squeal in some way. Any other symptoms have only started in the last month or so. Now I think of it, one thing that may be connected is my air conditioning has had something of a mind of it's own of late. About 2 weeks ago in hot weather it worked fine to cool me down but in a sudden downpore soon afterwards the air con puffed up a load of condensation onto the windscreen like I'd never seen before and misted up the whole car (thank goodnes for a heated windscreen!). Since then it sometimes works fine in hot weather for about 5 mins then I notice the car getting hotter. Sometimes it will work fine again for a while after being switched off for 15 mins or so, or it will refuse to work at all. It can be coaxed into action sometimes if I switch it from 'LOW' to '18'. I guess it thinks it thinks it doesn't have to work so hard ;-)

 

Anyway, I've got it booked into my local garage for next Wednesday and I'll put your suggestions to them. When I took it back to them after it started squealing again after the tensioner and belt change they said there was no adjustments that could be made. Maybe I should take it to Ford though from what you all say I'm reluctant to.

 

My Gal has had a couple of other intermitent problems but I'm unsure if their connected. I have been told a seemingly great tip using lemon juice that has done wonders for one of them but I'm wary of your comments ;-).

 

Thanks again,

 

Neil.

[Mirez]

Lemon Juice? Oh dear god no! :)

 

Something on that drivebelt system is causing the issue - whichever garage said they couldn't adjust anything AVOID as a new slipping belt simply eliminates the belt but there are MANY other things on that system that should have been checked at that time. Unfortunatey though most things on there are expensive when they go wrong, so be prepared but uncoupling the belt and attempting to turn each pulley seperately should show the culprit reasonably easily.

[neiluk]

I can see that would work. I've booked my service etc with them at the same time so I'll give them another chance and tell them what you said.

 

My Gal had a tendancy to stall when I put my foot on the clutch especially after coasting for a few seconds first. I've read that other members have had similar problems. Lemon juice has all but cured the problem on my Gal :)

 

Thanks for the suggestion,

 

Neil.