HittingOnAllFour

When I turn the windshield wiper switch on my 1999 Honda Accord to "On," the wipers keep running, even after the switch is turned off.

This problem was intermittent for a few months, but now it's constant. The wiper motor now has only two speeds, low and high. The "intermittent" mode doesn't work at all. The intermittent position on the switch makes the wiper motor run at low speed, the same as if the switch were in the low position.

The washer motor works and turns off normally, but the wiper motor comes on and stays on, once the washer switch is actuated.

The wiper motor stops momentarily when the switch is held halfway between low speed and high speed, but it starts again as soon the switch is moved fully to any position, including "off."

The only way I can turn off the wipers is by turning off the ignition key, and then turning it back on again. When I turn it on again, the wipers restore to their normal "home" position (fully down) and the wiper motor turns off.

I suspect the problem is due to a faulty relay, but can't find one in the fuse/relay box near the passenger-side strut, where some other relays are located.

The car has 138,000 miles, has never been in a flood. I'm the original owner. Everything other than the wipers functions as it's supposed to.

Does anyone have any ideas? If you think it's a relay, please tell me how to find it on a 1999 Accord and give me some idea how to get it out.

While driving in a rainstorm yesterday, I became quite proficient at turning the ignition off and back on while at highway speeds, but I don't want to make a habit of that.

Thank you!

gqstatus05

I don't think it is a fuse b/c it still works. May be the relay. I'm not too sure where to locate it at but did you check under the brake pedal to. I know the main relay is located there.

ahobbs

copy&paste didnt feel like typing, most likely its the switch

Problem: wipers won't stop, they've been acting weird lately..starting on themselves and then just full on, you've fiddled with the switch, perhaps kicked around under the dash looking for a relay of some sort, but the only solution you've found so far is to turn the car off or yank the fuse.

Troubleshooting:
According to the manual it can be one of 3 things.

1. the switch--this wasn't the problem with mine, but I would assume that they would either be stuck on or stuck off, whatever position they were in when it malfunctioned. the book says that if you unplug the switch and the wipers turn off then that's your problem. mine stopped with switch unplugged and then started with oem-new-switch replaced

2. Integrated Control Unit-- again, not the problem with mine. I think this just has to deal with the intermittent feature and controlling how the wipers park, nobody seems to know a damn thing about these, but I do know that if you unplug the plug going into the back of it (and you're having the same problem I was) you gain manual control of wipers (won't park/won't auto-on with washers/intermittent).

3. The bastard wiper motor-- in the end, part of this ended up being my problem. if yours aren't coming on at all, I would recommend first checking the fuse and then checking the motor. the wiper motor plug has 5 prongs, three on top(1-3) and two on the bottom (4&5). With harness removed apply power to pin4 (bottom left) and ground to pin1 then pin2(top left and center). if the wipers move then there's hope for it yet, even if it is a little bastard...

dramsey@vtaig.com

most likely the switch, but the relay could cause those promblems too.