W124 windshield wiper turns on itself

[chiwanga]

I have a 1995 e320 estate that will sometimes run the wiper once or twice without being activated. Is this most likely a combo switch problem or something else?

[mespe]

could be combo switch, might also be auto wipe, I think some cars have a sensor to detect water on the windshield, I might be wrong, but it's worth taking a few minutes to find out if that is the case.

[jay_bob]

I thought auto wipe was first introduced on the W210.

I would first suspect the combo switch, sounds like the push-to-wash'n'wipe feature is getting activated.

[Ferdman]

Rain sensor feature was not available on a 1995 E320.

[COLDSTART]

try cleaning all the grounds in the engine bay area ,I have seen this happen with another 1991 124 when you put the lights on the wiper would work somehow it uses the wiper for a ground and powers it up.

[liquiddog]

One thing you could do is tape the stalk up so it can't move, and see if it stops.

[jc300e]

this may sound silly.... but.... have your alternator checked.
Are you experiencing "any" other electrical gremlins? Losing light bulbs more frequently than usual? Radio acting strange...(speakers cutting in and out.. due to amps turning off)

I had a flakey voltage regulator that was allowing slight surges through the system... It would trip my radio amps, cause my tail lights to fail prematurely, and cause a phantom wiper symptom as you described...

it might just be a bad stalk on the column.... but if you are seeing any other odd things, I'd suggest a voltage check... it doesn't take much to cause a lot of crazy in those cars. Good luck

[vstech]

Originally Posted by chiwanga

I have a 1995 e320 estate that will sometimes run the wiper once or twice without being activated. Is this most likely a combo switch problem or something else?

This sounds like a good horror film title...
It'd be interesting to watch the wiper fighting itself ala fight club...

[andreiwright]

Happens to me all the time. The fix for this issue is you have to check the switch because they stick together, you have to and replace it to a new one. Its cheap I got mine from husqvarna trimmer heads .

[bigshineybike]

I fixed mine today. I think. The end of the stalk comes off very easily with a flat blade screw driver. there is a spring in there that can fly out (will fly out) keep the door and window closed!
slide the sleeve down carefully taking care of the way it all lines up.
clean the contacts and check the spring and plunger are free I didnt find anything wrong but having taken it apart and put back together again the phantom wiper action has stopped.

[Maxbumpo]

Originally Posted by bigshineybike

I fixed mine today. I think. The end of the stalk comes off very easily with a flat blade screw driver. there is a spring in there that can fly out (will fly out) keep the door and window closed!
slide the sleeve down carefully taking care of the way it all lines up.
clean the contacts and check the spring and plunger are free I didnt find anything wrong but having taken it apart and put back together again the phantom wiper action has stopped.

Bingo, this should be the first step. Use a good electrical contact cleaner (DeOxIt or whatever Radio Shack sells) and clean up the internals. I fixed a 123 combo switch this way and saved $70 on a new part.