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Maybe by replacing the wiper switch first. On pre-facelift cars, the switch can be the reason the wipers just stop in the middle of the screen when you turn the switch off. New switches aren't guaranteed to be good of course.. After that, you might also find you have to open your wiper motor and realign the microswitch that detects the park position.
I think this all depends on what era your car is though, since Jaguar used multiple different wiper motors and probably two different wiper switches over the years. You should put your car details in your signature.
Nice. I don't mind that rear spoiler that some XJ-Ss came with.
Even though our cars are only 3 years apart, you probably have the Lucas reverse-park wiper motor and I probably have the Electrolux motor.
We can both potentially get the won't-park problem, usually caused by the switch on the steering column:
“There is a simple in-car test to determine if the switch is the problem. After turning the wipers off and having them stop midstroke, simply push down slightly on the stalk toward the intermittent position (but not the "locked" intermittent position). If the wipers park, it is the switch.”
You can pull apart the switch to fix the problem but it doesn't sound easy. The switch is sort of riveted together, so you have to improvise a means of reassembly. Some people just live with the problem. I think I'll live with it, especially once I realised there's a pull-to-wipe function you can use to park the wipers.
Since you probably have that Lucas motor, you can also potentially get this problem (love the description!):
Pitiful Windshield Wiper Operation: The performance of the early/mid-80’s Lucas wipers is really sorry. They behave as though they are “dragging themselves into the grave.” And switching from slow to fast speed makes so little difference you’d hardly notice it. This problem is similar to that causing the slow electric windows (see page 605), so a similar solution is recommended: a relay scheme should be incorporated to provide solid 12V power directly to the wiper motor without having to go through the stalk switch and the skinny wiring to get there.
I'm getting this information from "Experience In A Book: Help For The Jaguar XJ-S Owner" by Kirby Palm. It's a pdf that you can find around the web.
Last edited by Ben_NZ; 05-10-2020 at 08:11 AM.
Reason: need to learn to count
Thanks for responding I'm going to take a look today and see which switch I have. Wish me luck.
The spoiler was fitted by the dealer in 89. Im not sure where my coachlines went Will get round to that sometime. Lots to d before that.....
Thanks for responding I'm going to take a look today and see which switch I have.
You mean which wiper motor, not which switch. And I don't recommend you do that first. It sounds like a bit of a hassle.
I reckon you should pull the wipers up into their raised position off the screen, make them fail to park, and experiment with whether you can park them using the pull-to-wipe position or by moving the switch towards intermittent. Also check whether it's possible that low and high speeds could actually be different from each other when the wipers are raised (= no load on the motor, less voltage drop?).
I forgot to mention the possibility of the park microswitch being misaligned within the motor gearbox. That could be a reason for the wipers never stopping. I saw this in another post on here recently.
If you're considering anything that requires getting at the wiper motor though, I think you should read the relevant section of that Kirby Palm pdf first.
Ok, this is what I found. I did what you said, pulled the wipers up, they are working at one speed, no intermittent, no park, no pull to park.
I think the issue is in here? But as you mentioned, there are rivets and no screws, also what would I do once into the unit....
I need them to park, because its tricky to get them in the correct position when driving.
Ok, this is what I found. I did what you said, pulled the wipers up, they are working at one speed, no intermittent, no park, no pull to park.
I think the issue is in here?
I tried to avoid you pulling stuff apart unnecessarily.
Have a read of this thread:
Hey BEN_NZ,
I cleaned up the wiper motor and hey presto! It works. I too have the Pull to Park now and the other 3 settings. That will do for now, although automatic parking would be great.
A challenge for the future!
05-09-2020, 01:26 PM
Wiper speeds and parking position
And switching from slow to fast speed makes so little difference you’d hardly notice it. This problem is similar to that causing the slow electric windows (see page 605), so a similar solution is recommended: a relay scheme should be incorporated to provide solid 12V power directly to the wiper motor without having to go through the stalk switch and the skinny wiring to get there.
