When the car is started, the wipers cycle about 10 times and then stop straight up. Working the switch has no effect. I have to turn the car off and on till they stop in the down position.
Anynoe seen this?

 

Do they move slower than normal? If so, this sounds like one, or probably both sides of the wiper transmission is seizing up.

This is a pretty easy DIY job, but it depends on how badly the spindles are corroded on the inside. In my case, the spindles were so corroded that I couldn't get them out of the wiper transmission, so I had to install a brand new wiper transmission.

Overall, this is about a 2 out of 10 on the DIY difficulty scale.

 

Not slow, they just come on by themselves. I'll take a look at this as a preventative.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

David

 

Anyone? This is bugging.

 

If they just come on by themselves, them I'm guessing either the connection in the wiper stalk is bad, or a loose connection somewhere. Sorry, but that's about as far as my thinking takes me.

 

That makes sense honestly. A short in the contacts could cause all kinds of weird behavior.

 

When my whippers were moving slow and/or getting stuck doing what jdahlen really helped. It might be that they move by themselves because when you send the signal the motor does not have enough power to spin the corroded whipper (which was the right side for me) and is still in the process, and when you turn the car off then on then it gets enough power to make the full cycle. Thats what i figured out was going on with mine. Idk if that made sense or not but pulling it apart and checking it would be your best bet.

 

What do you think about the rain sensor? Does anyone know where it is? I would like to unplug it and see what happens.

 

wtf is a rain sensor?! we have those?? (these are legit questions)

 

sense rain and turns your wipers on for you. As advanced as our b5's are ( i have more features than half the people I know with 05+ cars) we do not have this afaik, we have to flip the stalk ourselves. sadly.

Are the wipers on a relay? if so id say thats a good place to look.