Hi All, My windscreen wipers suddenly stopped working whilst driving home. Pulled into the next services and awaited assistance. After a long wait, help arrived but to no avail. Managed to drive home in dry conditions. Booked car in with local Jag specialist. Car checked out and wiper motor proved to be operational after gaining access and isolating to test. On reassembly wipers still not operational via stalk switch. Specialist suspected water ingress problem in Control Junction Box in drivers footwell but didn't have gear or time to sort out problem and suggested I contact another specialist to fully diagnose problem, change CJB if necessary, and re-programme if necessary. Contacted recommended specialist but booked up over Christmas period. I checked out the various Jag forums and found details of the 'common' water ingress problem with the drivers footwell CJB caused by leaky washer pump 'wicking' internal water ingress via cabling. On pulling the typical connector involved and examining the connector and footwell CJB board socket there was no 'typical' evidence of staining or damage caused by the proposed water ingress problem. I reconnected the connector, turned on the ignition and tried operating the wipers again to no avail. However a warning light came up indicating a parking brake issue which was not there before. 

Can anyone please provide any useful advice on this please as I do not see the point of putting the car into another specialist when it seems that the 'typical' water ingress fault does not appear to apply. Any potential pointers to other causes would be very helpful (have checked wiper fuse but not relays etc.). Thanks in advance. 

Ted 

Has anybody thought to check the fuse? We've had a lot of cold weather lately and it's all too easy for the wiper blades to freeze to the screen without anybody realising and hit the wipers to shift the "condensation". Result - overload the wiper motor and pop the fuse. 

Hi Dave, 

Ted Here, Fuse was checked by Breakdown assistance and later by me and original specialist. Weather wasn't cold when driving and wipers first stopped. Only checked 30A green fuse in engine bay unit.  Thanks for your response, comments on any more possibilities would be welcomed please.

Cheers for now, Ted

Hi Ted

The fact you "generated" a new fault by disconnecting and reconnecting the connector suggests corrosion on terminals which may well be due to water ingress. Have you tried disconnecting, examining and cleaning the terminals and then re-connecting?

John

Hi John, 

Thanks for your response. I visually examined the connector and the in-situ associated socket on the board and they show no signs of staining or moisture ingress. I therefore assumed, rightly or wrongly, that this would tend to suggest that there has been no water ingress. I have attached some extracts from an associated thread from another jag forum which shows the type of socket staining indicative of water ingress.    

I am just trying to establish whether I'm barking up the wrong tree by concentrating on the water ingress fault and should be looking at other potential causes which may be causing the inoperative wiper motor fault.

Thanks

Ted

Drivers Footwell CJB - Extract from Water Ingress Thread .pdf

Hi Ted

On re-reading your original post I think you are saying that the wipers can be operated by applying a live feed to the motor. If your terminals in the CJB look ok perhaps it is the stalk switch itself that is the problem?

My thoughts on the parking brake light is that it may be due to a low battery if you were fiddling about for a while with the ignition on. Low battery voltage is well known to cause random warning lights. Have you read / had read any codes stored? It is always possible that a new parking brake fault developed coincidentally but it does seem unlikely. Have you tried charging the battery and clearing any codes?

John

Hi John,

Apologies for the delayed response and thanks for getting back to me. I've ordered a used stalk from ebay and should get it before New Year. It was a good price, so if it solves the problem I'll let you know and it will save a lot of aggravation down the line. Have a Happy Christmas and New Year and I'll be in touch to let you know the outcome. 

Thanks again,

Ted