Windscreen Wipers Not Returning To The Park Position

[bessremy]

Saab 9-3 150 Tid , 06 reg.After a recent service the car came back with a fault on the single swipe wiper blade operation.When using this the blades stop approx 30 degrees after they start and if you operate the switch again the blades go to roughly 80 degrees before using a third attempt to get back to the park position.Sometimes these sequences are different but this seems the most common.I know its not a big fault but boy is it annoying.

       Cheers,
                      Mark

[sgould]

Welcome!

That's an unusual fault.  I don't think that I've come across it before.  I fairly certain that the wiper modes are controlled by the Column Integration Module (CIM) which is the plastic box that sits in front of the steering wheel and has the stalks coming from it.

The CIM also controls the steering lock and the ignition switch.

The CIM on our 9-3 Vector went wrong and the wipers would swipe if you brushed a finger on the switch, almost as if it just needed static electricity to work it!  very odd fault.  A new CIM fixed it, but the CIM is not cheap.  I think ours cost somewhere around £300.

It may be a motor fault or a fault in the stalk, but I think you would have to get an expert to check it.  If it is the CIM, it's not a DIY fix as the car cannot be driven or started without the CIM and a new one needs a dealer/specialist to marry it to the car security system, or it won't work.

Whereabouts are you?  Someone may be able to recommend a specialist near you.

[Max Headroom]

Hi Mark, and a big welcome!

Keep us posted on how you fix that snag!

[Audax]

It could be a motor fault, a rack fault a CIM fault or a UEC fault (the fuse board under the dash), if you want it sorted you'll most likely need someone with Tech-2 so a specialist or main dealer job.

[bessremy]

Thanks for the info , I live in Workington ,I think I can live with this problem for £300.The car has just returned from having all the followers ,valves,cambelt and water pump changed(water pump seized 200miles before the cam and water pump were going to be replaced ).This is along with all the other faults I've had both front coils,EGR valve,alternator,air conditioning heat exchanger( full of pin) holes and once on the back of a RAC wagon to the main dealer because of a fault which meant the computer wouldn't even let it try to start.Even with all these faults it's acar of character especially with the 175bhp Hirsch kit.

    Cheers,
                Mark.

[sgould]

The CIM is the. Bit that does the starting / ignition logic.

If it's already been replaced, it may still be under the Saab two year replacement guarantee.

[Merve84]

I think it's most likely to be the wiper motor or the wiper linkage has rubbed through the wire going to the motor. Do you have any problems with your washer jets?

[bessremy]

I Merve84 the washers and everything else appear OK i.e.intermittant wipe and both slow and fast speed.


    Cheers,
           Mark

[Silurian]

Look at this link about this topic i posted on another forum

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t31650715.html

[bessremy]

This post seems to have potential .Thank you , will keep you informed

[bessremy]

Silurian,

      Your a star ,

     Found all three wires going into the plug assembly near the motor had all the insulation worn through due to the wiper
mechanism rubbing against them(every time the wipers stopped the mechanism looked as though it was shorting the cables).Sorted the cable out and re-routed and now all appears OK.The hardest part was removing the wipers off the spline , just got 1/2inch lenght of unistrut drilled 5mm hole and used 1inch x4mm ,nut,bolt and washer to pull the blade mechanism off the spline.(sorry about imperial and metric I was born right at the crossover between metric and imperial)


      Cheers,
                 Mark.

[sgould]

Glad you got it sorted!

[Silurian]

No probs,glad to be of help