Variable intermittant Wipe (VW99 Relay upgrade)

[mikealder]

Get down to the local breakers yard, find a VW and purchase the black can relay with .99 on the top of it as this provides a user programmable variable time delay to the intermittent wipe function on the phase one x70 models, well worth doing once you get used to using it, this set of pictures shows an alternate way to swap the Volvo relay for the VW unit without going in from under the dashboard

Start by prising the caps of the wiper arms:



Which reveals the 13MM headed bolts:



once removed the wipers can be stored somewhere safe

Next is to open the bonnet for servicing rather than just the normal open position, If you look close at both hinges you will see a portion in the middle with a slot in it:



Push this downwards with your thumb or a screw driver, it doesn't take much force to move it to here:



With the above done on both sides the bonnet will now open to near vertical:



Disconnect the scuttle panel drain tubes on both sides, gas pliers make easy work to squeeze the clips ears:



Allowing the pipe to slide down and off the plastic panel:



Next you take the top cover off the fusebox, if you don't do this you won't get the scuttle panel out as it fouls on the cover during removal, four T25 head captive bolts and it simply pulls off:



There are six T25 screws securing the scuttle panel to the car, simply remove these and slide the scuttle panel down and away from the base of the windscreen, at the base of the windscreen is a slot that the scuttle panel sits in:



While you are in there swap out the pollen filter as a replacement from Eurocar parts only costs £7:32:



Quite a difference when you look at the new one in place:



Now to get to the relay you want to change, firstly remove the windscreen wiper motor mechanism complete, it is only secured by two 10MM headed bolts, the electrical connector is easy to release:



With the wiper assembly out of the way cut through and discard the tywrapps securing the harness that runs across from one side of the car to the other, this releases the harness so it can move away from the clips it was secured to, doesn't need to move far.

Remove the four 10MM head bolts that secure the relay/ fusebox in to the car and the fuse box can now be lifted slightly up revealing the L203 relay that you want to change:



If you want slightly more movement release the two 10MM headed plastic nuts that secure the cable raceway running forwards from the fusebox, the two nuts are located on the inboard edge of the suspension turret:



Out comes the L203 relay:



Simply fit the .99 relay in the same place you pulled the L203 out from (it can only go in its socket in one position) then refit everything you took off the car, total time is about 45 mins and that included swapping the pollen filter.

Looks like I need to spend some time cleaning up the engine bay as it looks filthy in most of those pictures! - Mike

[stribo]

Just found this Mike, how do you vary the intermittent timing once the relay is fitted?

[V70 Graham]

Just found this Mike, how do you vary the intermittent timing once the relay is fitted?

Can't believe I missed this too, would be interested in finding out how the intermittent wipe is altered too.

Must say you do some very good 'How-to's' Mike.

[MoleT-5R]

with you there Stribo, changing the relay is easy, but hows it then controlled ????

Nice "how to" though, top marks

[Dangerous Dave]

Found this about the delay time.

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Wiper_Variable_intermittent



And an excellent How-to Mike

[V70 Graham]

To use the Variable intermittent, flick the wiper stalk to wipe the screen once. Then wait for period of time "x" and put the stalk to intermittent setting. The intermittent delay between wipes will now be "x". Easy.

Seems easy enough.

[stribo]

To use the Variable intermittent, flick the wiper stalk to wipe the screen once. Then wait for period of time "x" and put the stalk to intermittent setting. The intermittent delay between wipes will now be "x". Easy.

Seems easy enough.

Yeah sounds straight forward, shame Volvo didn't fit variable intermittent as standard, it was fitted to my 1984 Ford Escort.

[Dangerous Dave]

Cue loads of Volvo owners heading to scrapyards in search of the 99 relay (apparently you can use the 197 relay, according to that link I provided)

[MoleT-5R]

will be keeping an eye out next time I'm in the scrapy's

[Harvey]

There's a number on the bay. Around £10

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-AUDI-No...-/231124210633

[mikealder]

Some people carry this job out stood on there heads reaching up behind the dash to swap out the relay working mainly by feel, this is an alternative method that also lets you change the cabin air filter, check the scuttle panel water drains are clear, grease the wiper linkages and clean out any dead leaves/ twigs that always seem to get under the scuttle panel, nice subtle upgrade that is very handy in use, much better than the standard 7 second relay provided by Volvo - Mike