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SteveT247

Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 491

2002 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey

Wiper park switch question

My wiper park switch packed up a few weeks ago. My local main dealer and independent both say that they are only showing replacement switches for post 2002 vehicles (part # 520160). I took a chance and bought a non genuine one as I wasn't sure it would work (mine's a 1999 Td5) and it was cheaper (less of a loss if it didn't work). With the replacement switch in place, the wipers won't turn off and start as soon as the dash lights come on, irrespective of what position the wiper stalk is in. I've tried another one of these replacement switches just to rule out the first one being faulty but the same result. Putting the old switch back in place everything is fine (except for the parking). I did wonder if pre 02 Td5's had the same park switch as the 300 Tdi but a google search has shown the same part # for both Tdi & post 02 Defenders. My question is, are there any differences between pre and post 02 switches and if not, any ideas why they're not working as they should?

Steve

3rd Feb 2013 11:27am

lambert.the.farmer

Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

I have a 98 300 and when my park switch died i took it off and gently split it open and replaced the sprung copper strip with a bit of steel from a frameless picture clip and gently glued id back up. Been fine for 18 months now. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.

3rd Feb 2013 1:44pm

SteveT247

Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 491

Cheers Lambert, I may crack it open tomorrow.

3rd Feb 2013 5:45pm

lambert.the.farmer

Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

Be careful though cos there is a little coil spring under the plunger bit that the motor acts on just waiting to escape. Also the moving contact is pretty fine. Open it up and see, if you have not returned the ones you bought they may contain enough parts to rebuild yours. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.

3rd Feb 2013 6:36pm

SteveT247

Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 491

Still got them mate so hopefully should be able to come up with a decent one.

3rd Feb 2013 8:04pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

Airlocker, the symptoms you describe are consistent with the park switch not interrupting the power when the wipers are in the park position. There is a live-with-ignition-on feed to the motor, separate to the stalk-switched feed, to park the wipers for obvious reasons. When the wipers are switched off but are not in the parked position, the ignition-live feed via the park switch powers the motor until the park position is reached. When this happens, the switch is operated mechanically from the motor gearbox and the live is removed from the motor, and the motor terminals (note not the feed side, but the motor side) are shorted together so that the back-EMF from the motor brakes the motor to stop almost instantly (in effect it uses regerative braking).

In your case for some reason the switch is never opening, so that the permanent live feed is never bing removed from the motor. The most likely reason will be that there are dimensional differences in the cam and the pressel on the switch between the different generations of motor.

4th Feb 2013 10:59am

SteveT247

Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 491

Many thanks for the explanation blackwolf. I stripped the Britpart item down last night and couldn't see any difference until I read your post, then noticed the dimensions of the plunger are slightly different. I've used some of the internals from the Britpart item and now the original works. Before I read your post however, I went to a local Mini specialist this morning and picked a switch up from there (same switch) which also works a treat, so now I've got a spare. Many thanks guys.

4th Feb 2013 11:54am

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