Need help with intermittent wiper relay for '79 RESOLVED!!!

[dtrumbo]

Hi all,

I've been beating my head against the wall off and on for two years now trying to get the intermittent wiper function on my '79 to work. I've done the search, I've seen the diagrams and my switch functions exactly like this:

I've bought no less than three relays (all of which claim to be the intermittent wiper relay) and none of them operate as I'm led to believe they should.

What I'm asking here is if someone who actually has a '79 with wipers that actually perform the intermittent function (switch stalk pulled all the way down), would you be willing to pull the relay out of the fuse box, snap a couple of pics of the part number and the terminals and either post it here or PM me and I'll give you my e-mail address. If you're feeling even more charitable, a pic of the harness that plugs into the wiper switch connection on the steering column would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me out on this.
_________________
1970 Transporter. 2074cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1971 Super Sedan.
1973 Squareback.
1976 Transporter.
1978 Riviera Camper.
1979 Transporter.
1979 Beetle.

[Russ Wolfe]

I have some WC fuse panels that I could look at later today and see what relays then have. I will have to run down the wire colors.
I have been thinking of doin this to my T-3's. The 73 has the place in the fuse box, and the switch.
_________________
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey

Gary: OK. Ima poop.

[Scott H]

Wait for somebody else to confirm this but I'm pretty sure this is the relay you need:

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Scott

[dtrumbo]

Scott H. Thank you so much, if what you show is what I need, I think I figured out why mine doesn't work.

The first relay I bought came from California Pacific/JBugs and is not what you've pictured and has additional terminals on it. I should have returned it since it didn't make my system work, but at the time, I didn't know why it didn't work. Besides, most places don't take returns on electrical parts and it's too late now anyway, blah, blah, blah.

The second relay I bought is from Bus Depot and looks similar to what you show. It doesn't work because the circuit board inside is cracked. Again, my fault for not returning it as defective when I bought it. However again, I didn't know why my system wasn't working so I couldn't blame the relay for sure. No biggie, I'll just order another one as soon as I get one more confirmation that that's what I need.

The third relay I bought from my local VW dealer. It's for a Vanagon and I was hoping it would be interchangeable and at least a good research tool. Now that I've done the research, I've found that it is more like the wrong relay from JBugs and less like the right relay (albeit defective) from BD. You'll be seeing that bad boy in the classifieds in the near future.

Thanks again and hopefully someone will chime in with a definite confirmation that the relay you've pictured is definitely what I need. Needless to say, I'm weary of buying relays at $50.00 - $80.00 a pop only to find out they don't work for whatever reason.

I absolutely will not allow these stupid wipers to beat me. I WILL PREVAIL!!
_________________
1970 Transporter. 2074cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1971 Super Sedan.
1973 Squareback.
1976 Transporter.
1978 Riviera Camper.
1979 Transporter.
1979 Beetle.

[DrDarby]

Just as an FYI: I just replaced my '04 Mexi beetle's intermittant wiper relay with one from a 92 cabriolet.
This gives you the ability to vary the time of the intermittant wipe. Simply turn on the intermittant wipers then off. Wait the # of seconds you want and turn them back on. It gives you a range from 5-30 seconds and is a simple relay swap.
The VW part # is 357-955-531 or 1HM-955-531-(A) and the number stamped onto the end is "99". I think quite a number of VWs, Audis and even Volvo used this relay in the 90s-00s.
The Bosch # is 0-986-335-058. I swapped one out of my cabriolet before selling it but I see them on e-by for $20-25 often.
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL

[Al Capulco]

I have a '79 also, I just check the relay, (btw my neck is killing me now) and the part number is 111 955 531. However, I also had the one that Scott showed you and that one works too. I went thru the same problem about 5 years ago, so I have a few relays. I tested a spare 111 955 531 relay while I was at it and it works. So if you want a free relay let me know!

[64SunroofVW]

I've had problems with my '79 vert intermittent wipers too. I purchased a used relay off another '79 for $50 that had worked in the car being parted out and it didn't fix my problem unfortunately. The part number is 111 955 531 on both of mine (no A after the ...531 on mine though) The previous owner of my current car noted the wipers would not turn off and park or work intermittently. They had taken apart the column and it was in pieces. They had a used column in good shape that came with the car, so I replaced the whole column with the one they gave me since the original was a mess and the wipers still did the same thing.

I suspect the problem is somewhere in the wiper motor or wiring leading up to it...maybe just a bad ground connection...that would be nice. I just have to take out the air conditioning unit to access the wiper motor, so I haven't gotten around to that yet. For now, I pulled the relay out and using the wiper lever on the column, I have a stop and go function (no intermittent or park, but at least I can stop it at the bottom of the windshield). I am determined to figure this out as it is one of the last electrical gremlins in this car, so let me know if you have any luck and I'll do the same.
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1964 Sunroof Beetle

[zoti]

What exactly is the problem? Does the switch operate the 2 other speeds?

What happens when you put the switch into the lowest position? Does it work at all or nothing?

Did you recently replace the turn signal switch?

[dtrumbo]

[dtrumbo]

[dtrumbo]

[dtrumbo]

[dtrumbo]

Just edited some of my replies above. I was mistaken, the wipers won't park unless the relay is installed. This is because the wipers use the slow speed, which passes through the relay, to park. Sorry for any confusion.
_________________
1970 Transporter. 2074cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1971 Super Sedan.
1973 Squareback.
1976 Transporter.
1978 Riviera Camper.
1979 Transporter.
1979 Beetle.

[64SunroofVW]

Thanks dtrumbo...I'll check out the green wire...that's exactly it...it doesn't park with or without the relay and only fast and intermittent with the relay. Yeah, the AC gets in the way, but still works! Kinda funny though having air conditioning in a convertible It was a Florida car per the previous owner.
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1964 Sunroof Beetle

[dtrumbo]

[Russ Wolfe]

One part number I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the 321 955 531A. That is a Dasher part number, but it seems to be the one used in may of the other site threads that talk about this conversion.
Just google that part number. It does have one extra small pin that the 477 one doesnt have.
_________________
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey

Gary: OK. Ima poop.

[dtrumbo]

Problem solved!! The correct relay installed in the socket works exactly as it should! Thank you, thank you, thank you to Al Capulco for supplying me with the correct, working part! For the record, the 111 955 531 is the correct relay, the one California Pacific/JBugs sells under that part number is not correct. I will call them later today to let them know for all the good that will do.

Thanks again everyone!
_________________
1970 Transporter. 2074cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1971 Super Sedan.
1973 Squareback.
1976 Transporter.
1978 Riviera Camper.
1979 Transporter.
1979 Beetle.

[78vwbug]

Help me too guys !!!! I have a 78 champ II vert with intermittent wipers my problem is turn them on hear the relay click on 4 passes with 10 sec - between passes then switches on to High by on there self... wont turn off after wards till you switch to High and let it run on high for a minute or two. then turn them off? makes more than 4 passes when you pull the switch forward to wash before shutting off... PLEASE HELP ME>>>>>>>

[dtrumbo]

Pull the relay out of the fuse box and let us know what part number is written on it.

The problem may also be in your wiper switch, but lets figure out what you have in regards to the wiper relay first.
_________________
1970 Transporter. 2074cc, dual Weber IDF 40's
1971 Super Sedan.
1973 Squareback.
1976 Transporter.
1978 Riviera Camper.
1979 Transporter.
1979 Beetle.

[maggiolino91]

hi! i've just bought the intermittent relay #357-955-531. what have i to connect?
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1956 strato silver L227 ragtop
1961 beryl green L478 ragtop
1973 superbeetle pastelweiss L90D