[Chewy]

Hello, I have a 2015 smart Fortwo Pure hatchback 2DR.
After starting the car, when I turn the light switch on the wipers go into intermittent mode and stay in that mode as long as the headlights are on.
If I do not turn on the headlights the wipers do not turn on unless I turn them on manually and they work as they should!
When the lights are on I can still change the wipers from intermittent mode to normal or fast mode but they default to intermittent mode and in the off position they still work in intermittent mode!
Also a new issue, when the light switch is on and I put the car in reverse the rear wiper will turn on. But the rear wiper will only turn on when the car is in reverse not in Drive. But the rear wiper can still be operated as normal in drive mode.

I have disconnected the battery and let the car sit but after reconnecting the battery the car still does it.

Thanks for you help!

 

[Dazzaman1969]

It sounds like you might have a bad earth. I have seen this on some other cars mainly with the lights where the rear light might go out or dim down when breaking. It might be worth checking the earth connections down by the battery or try to see if there is an earth cable coming from the wiper motor.
Undo the connection, see if there are any signs of rust if there is give it a clean wire brush/sandpaper.
Hope you get it sorted.

 

[jwight]

The rear wiper operates in reverse if the windshield wipers are on - a Mercedes feature.

 

[smark]

The rear wiper operates in reverse if the windshield wipers are on - a Mercedes feature.

It seems to be a feature on lots of European cars. My Abarth does the same thing. The thing I don’t like about that. If the rear window, is really dirt. it can scratch the window.

 

[Chewy]

Hello again.
So
#2 I have checked the ground and there was no rust or green stuff but I did still clean and put dielectric grease on the connection. Thanks for your time
#3 The rear wiper never did that before and would only turn on if you physically turned the wiper on Thanks for your time
#4 Same as #3 Thanks for your time

On another note, I took the cover off the steering wheel and check the connections on both switches. nothing was worn or broken and all switches work as normal

I did notice that, with the car running and you put the wipers in intermediate mode, now the daytime running lights will come on but they go off when the wipers are off or if the wipers are in slow or fast mode.
Also when I disconnected the wipers and turned the headlights on(with the car running) the wipers still went into intermittent mode!

Still fighting the issue but I am starting to think its a computer issue. Anyone???

 

[Chewy]

I have just checked the battery and ordered a new one, I will keep you posted!

 

[Chewy]

So new battery didn't change anything other than the rear wiper now goes once when the car starts up!

Does anyone know how much a SAM is worth??

 

[jwight]

Does your car have the auto lights and wipers?

 

[Chewy]

Does your car have the auto lights and wipers?

No it does not. It is the basic model, no paddle shifters, nothing special on the car but heated seats! LOL

 

[Dazzaman1969]

Hello again.
So
#2 I have checked the ground and there was no rust or green stuff but I did still clean and put dielectric grease on the connection. Thanks for your time
#3 The rear wiper never did that before and would only turn on if you physically turned the wiper on Thanks for your time
#4 Same as #3 Thanks for your time

On another note, I took the cover off the steering wheel and check the connections on both switches. nothing was worn or broken and all switches work as normal

I did notice that, with the car running and you put the wipers in intermediate mode, now the daytime running lights will come on but they go off when the wipers are off or if the wipers are in slow or fast mode.
Also when I disconnected the wipers and turned the headlights on(with the car running) the wipers still went into intermittent mode!

Still fighting the issue but I am starting to think its a computer issue. Anyone???

Well I'm not sure if you need an auto electrician or a priest 😱! It certainly seems to have some gremlins in there!. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Mjolinor]

No it does not. It is the basic model, no paddle shifters, nothing special on the car but heated seats! LOL

The heated seats are by far the best "extra" you can have. The paddle shift is bad. The paddles should be fixed to the column otherwise you have to look at it to decide which is up and which is down. Not a problem on a racing car as the wheel doesn't turn far enough so one hand does up and the other does down, not so in a Smart car. They really do not like going into first when you meant third.

I don't know what car you ahve but on the 450 (and I think the 451) the controls were analogue so different resistances for different function all down the same wires. This is a really stupid idea because as the vehicle ages and connections get less than perfect the switches change function.

You could try unplugging stuff and re-plugging it back in. I would disconnect the battery first or you will get a bucket load of fault codes.

 

[Chewy]

The heated seats are by far the best "extra" you can have. The paddle shift is bad. The paddles should be fixed to the column otherwise you have to look at it to decide which is up and which is down. Not a problem on a racing car as the wheel doesn't turn far enough so one hand does up and the other does down, not so in a Smart car. They really do not like going into first when you meant third.

I don't know what car you ahve but on the 450 (and I think the 451) the controls were analogue so different resistances for different function all down the same wires. This is a really stupid idea because as the vehicle ages and connections get less than perfect the switches change function.

You could try unplugging stuff and re-plugging it back in. I would disconnect the battery first or you will get a bucket load of fault codes.

Thanks for reaching out. I have taken the cover off the steering column and check the connectors on both the wipers and the lights, I have unplugged them and put a new battery in the car and plugged it all back in and same results. I have unplugged everything again and will let it sit for 24 hours and see what happens! LOL

 

[Chewy]

Well I'm not sure if you need an auto electrician or a priest 😱! It certainly seems to have some gremlins in there!. Hope you get it sorted.

Going for a Priest! LOL going to take it to mercedes as they have a drive up diagnostic center for free. See what they say!

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

2015, is that the last of thr 451s or first of 453. It sounds like auto lights and wiper programming. Do you have a sensor puck in the center of your windscreen, just below the mirror?

 

[Mjolinor]

Squirt switch cleaner in the switches.

If that doesn't work then rip the SAM out and look for crap in there.

 

[Chewy]

2015, is that the last of thr 451s or first of 453. It sounds like auto lights and wiper programming. Do you have a sensor puck in the center of your windscreen, just below the mirror?

No sensor puck