ford focus wiper problem

[richardmorris]

Hello all,

 

My colleague has a problem with his 54 reg ford focus. The intermittent wash-wipe has stopped working. Also washing the screen only jets water and doesn't operate the wipers.

 

Any ideas? Sounds like the stalk to me but how involved would this be?

[overrun]

I'm gonna say it could potentially be the relay.

Reason is, way back when, I made a 'single' wiper for my P11 Primera, by only running one arm, the drivers side and removing the wash/wipe relay, so I could park it manually, at bottom or middle of screen. Wherever I wanted, basically.

 

When I squirted the jets, the wipers wouldn't sweep.

I had to flick to speed 1/2/3, to achieve it.

 

Dunno if the Focus has a similar layout?

[Grundig]

If the wipers work on the other settings, then I would say it's the stalk - but if they dont work at all then I'd be looking at  motor/wiring/fuse 

[overrun]

This has me thinking. My Nissan must have had two wiper relays.

 

Seems stupid.

 

The Focus does sound like the stalk, if the wipers work in some capacity.

As above, the motor sounds OK, given that the washer jets are also acting up.

[mrbenn]

Do the wipers move at all when on intermittent? How about the flick wipe setting? Do they move a bit and keep stopping wherever they like? Then its more than likely the relay.

 

Cheap fix = swap relays 18 and 19 round in the box behind the glovebox (remove glovebox - not entirely, just swing it right down, remove two nuts holding fuse board in, swap relays). Its a very common fault on the mk1 Focus. The rear wiper will work fine with the "old" relay apparently.

 

Alternatively I have a relay you can have (just bought a new one for ££, didn't fix the problem, got a rear wiper motor on my desk waiting for me to fit). Was working fine.

 

If it is the stalk then thats even easier, its a 60 second replacement with a spare.

 

EDIT: could be either a mk1 or mk2 on a 54 plate, the above relates to the mk1 only. Think the mk2 wiper electronics are all to do with some fancy gem module or sommat.

[overrun]

I had to replace the front wiper relay on my mk4 Mondeo - the only issue it has gave me - as they were just running, permanently.

 

I initially suspected the stalk, as it was raining when this happened and it seemed as though the stalk just wasn't responding to my inputs.

[richardmorris]

flick wipe is fine, and parking is fine too. it's just the intermittent wipe that doesn't do anything.

 

does this sound like the switch?

 

we had a look at the relays but haven't taken the fuse box down yet.

 

 

edit - it's a mark 1 (and a half ish) model.

[dollywobbler]

I'd go for relay. It controls the intermittent interval and the number of wipes after a wash. Or at least, it does on a lot of cars.

[mrbenn]

I'd try swapping the relays round first as its free to do, after that perhaps look at the stalk. A replacement from ebay shouldn't run you more than a tenner so that'd be my plan I think.

 

Do the other "timed" functions work, i.e. heated front and rear screen, interior lights delay and rear intermittent wiper? If not, could be the module/relay that operates all that stuff.

[richardmorris]

Everything else electrical  works fine. I'm leaning towards the switch as that's easiest to change. Have found one for £9.95 on ebay. The relay is more!

[mrbenn]

Aye, IRO of £30 from Ford! I got a genuine one off ebay for £20.

 

Offer of the (used but working) relay stands if you need it.

[Junkman]

Hello all,

 

My colleague has a problem with his 54 reg ford focus.

 

Tell him to swap it for a 1984 Granada.

[richardmorris]

Aye, IRO of £30 from Ford! I got a genuine one off ebay for £20.

 

Offer of the (used but working) relay stands if you need it.

 

 

That's very kind mrbenn. I'll pm you the address.

[sierraman]

Some cars have a timer which this works on built into the motor I believe

[richardmorris]

Tell him to swap it for a 1984 Granada.

 

 

I asked, he says no.

[mrbenn]

Interestingly*, I've just had my second problem with the wipers on my Focus.

 

First issue, front wipers wouldn't park on single flick mode, or intermittent. New relay cured that.

 

Second issue, rear wiper kept stopping on the rear screen at odd points. Seemed to do about 1/3 of a wipe before giving up. Needed a new motor to sort that out. Apparently some sort of contact inside gets dirty/corroded.

[richardmorris]

No good deed goes unpunished!

[dollywobbler]

Everything else electrical  works fine. I'm leaning towards the switch as that's easiest to change. Have found one for £9.95 on ebay. The relay is more!

 

Dangerous strategy. All the switch is doing is sending a signal to somewhere else on the car. If the washers activate but not the wipers, it'd seem to me that the switch is doing its thing, but something else in the system isn't. As someone suggests, swapping relays can be a good way to identify a dud. It's something XM owners learn about very quickly!

[richardmorris]

I agree Ian, but every single mention on the Interweb of knowledge links the relays with parking problems, not just the intermittent wiper selection not working. Mrbenn has very kindly posted a working relay so we will be trying that first.

 

I know nothing about fords apart from this one being reliable but boring. Having said that it had a water pump at 2yrs old and two front springs recently.

 

Anyone want a 110,000 mile 1.6 54 reg focus in gun metal grey?

[richardmorris]

Success!

It was the relay.

[overrun]

Success!

It was the relay.

Note to self: You are always correct.