Date:         Tue, 25 Aug 1998 13:54:14 -0400
Reply-To:     John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Programmable Intermittent Wiper Relay
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>I'd explore the possibility of just replacing the standard wiper control
>>relay with a programmable intermittent relay.  The big question, of
>>course, is whether these will work *without* the fourth (intermittent)
>>position on the wiper switch functioning.  (Or is there a way of modifying
>>the wiring, e.g. paralleling the low/on wiring with the intermittent


A much simpler way is just buying the programmable relay made for the
standard control stalk.  This was a VW factory option in the early 90's but
had been kicking around the aftermarket for years before, I got mine in the
late 80's from Rapid Parts or some other FWD VW house, pick up a European
Car and start calling major advertisers, mine works in all VW's from the
early 80's till at least the early 90's.  It is sort of slick, when you want
a programmed interval, you pull the stalk down to the standard interval
position then immediately return it to off, then at desired time delay
return it down to interval and it leave it, it stays at the delay you set,
anything from 2-45 seconds or so.  The package from mine bears the label
Doduco (W Germany) a PN 321 955 531 AP from  the retailer a PN 3579 0010 01
from Doduco and a listing on the back of fitting damn near all Audi's VW's
Citroens Opels and Peugeots from the late 70's on.  It has worked flawlessly
for me in '85 Quantum, '86 Quantum, '85 Van, '90 Van, '90 Passat, '90
Corrado, '89 Jetta, you get the drift.  I'm 100% sure it is the same relay
VW was selling in the early 90's as an option, but I understand VW has
dicontinued it.  It cost me $25 or so when I bought it, I know I've seen
them from EC advertisers in the $30 range.  I recall an article ages ago in
VW&P (prior to becoming EC) that it would even work in late Buses (with
interval wipers), and very early A1 Rabbits, Sciroccos, etc but required
some finagling, running an extra wire to the relay from somewhere, or maybe
that was if you didn't have factory intervals, I don't recall.

John
janderson@iolinc.net