Windscreen wipers won't turn off

[albert_j]

I have a Polo 2016 and when I got in my car today my wipers were on constant and I could not turn them off. The stalk is in the off position but they will not stop going. I've tried just turning off the car with the stalk off etc but they will not stop.

The stock still "works" in the sense I can use washer fluid and enable the back one.

Weirdly; if I stop in the car in traffic they slow down significantly, and when the car is in reverse the back one starts.

Any help with this would be appreciated

[RUM4MO]

Normally, it seems that the weakest part in the wiper system on these cars is the stalks.

If you had VCDS or similar, you could check to see if this problem showed up in "output testing" - ie if the stalk input changed when the stalk was moved from OFF to ON.

Edit:- never be fooled into thinking that as the rear wiper works in reverse (that just means that the controller thinks that the front wipers have been switched one, or the washers both work okay, that it is not a stalk failure.

[Tracendaz]

The front wipers slow down by one stage when the car stops in traffic. So if the wipers are on fast they go to slow when stopped, if on slow they go to intermittent etc, and then resume when the car moves away again. It is the same on our VW up, although we hadn't spotted it until someone pointed it out on the VW up forum.

[albert_j]

Just for anyone finding this post - took it to a garage who found out it was the wiper stalk, £222 for parts and labour.

[DarrenR]

I have the same issue with my 2017 Polo.

The front windscreen wipers won't shut off, even in the stalk 'off' position. When I stop at traffic lights, they mysteriously stop, only to start up again when I set off!

Can someone please identify which relay (under the steering wheel) relates to the front wipers?

[ciclo]

The problem is usually caused by premature wear of the Integrated Circuit tracks where the lever switches slide.

[DarrenR]

Thank you.

Just going through a process of elimination. It's an annoying problem!

[ciclo]

Yes, I imagined that you wanted that, it's logical.

The tracks where the switch is located are short-circuited and the +30 power reaches all the tracks, which is why they only turn off when it is working in automatic mode when stopping/waiting at a traffic light.

[DarrenR]

So do you think this is a case of biting the bullet and getting a whole replacement stalk?

[ciclo]

The symptoms indicate that this is a common failure of 6C stalks.

Ideally, you would test with stalks in good condition from a scrapyard and then install brand new ones so that they will last until the end of days.
It is highly likely that these stalks have been updated with a new reference number, you can ask in the spare parts section of an official VW store.

[DarrenR]

New stalk ordered and dispatched, might have a go changing it over myself this weekend.

[ciclo]

-Remember to turn the steering wheel to its central position before removing the airbag, disconnect the battery, set the light switch to main beam and then disconnect the airbag.
-Do not turn the slip ring (G85), lock it in its central position (0º) before removing it from the stalk.

Good luck, we hope for positive results.

[DarrenR]

And there's a twist to the story!

On Friday before I set off for a journey I took the front wiper fuse out, as it looked like it was going to be a dry day and didn't want them constantly running. On my return, as chance would have it, it stated hailing so I pulled over and popped the fuse back in.

Guess what... the stalk/wipers are now behaving correctly, and I can go through the levels and stop it properly. This was also the day the replacement part arrived haha!

I'm dumbfounded why it's now working, but I'll monitor it's use and hold onto the new part for now.

[ciclo]

It often happens if it has not been diagnosed with tools that clear the faults... removing the negative battery terminal or a couple of hammer blows often also work.

Keep it under observation.

[will3733]

I've had this same issue except it seems to be more random as opposed to when I drive / reverse they change, I believe its the stalks as well

It also seems to stop and work fine for a period and then after it's been raining / wet I tend to get the issue (I don't know if this is just because I've had the wipers on and moved the stalks a fair bit whilst driving rather than water being somewhere it shouldn't)

I also just stop and pull out the fuse if they happen to be running on a dry day