Windshield wiper question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Windshield wiper question
For those of us who dare to drive our C6s in the rain, I have a question about the operation of the windshield wipers. The intermittent wiper setting has five different frequency levels with the top one being just short of full time low speed operation. When I have the wipers set on the highest frequency setting they sometimes begin to operate at the low speed constant level on their very own. If I switch down to the next lower frequency they operate at the high frequency level for a bit and then slow to the lower frequency. If I then shift to the higher frequency they will operate there normally until they decide to resume low speed constant operation. If I operate the low speed constant wipers and then switch to the intermittent function set on the highest frequency it will continue to operate in the constant low speed mode. This is the first car with intermittent wipers that I have ever had that "works" this way. Is it an intentional thing or just some sort of electrical whoopsie?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 1,680
From: Pearland / Houston Tx
Intermittent Operation
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Maybe my '09 1LT isn't equipped with the speed sensitive setting because it only seems to have a pull down for one time operation, push up for intermittent, push up again for low speed and push up yet again for high speed operation. Where would I find the control for the speed sensitive setting?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Intermittent Operation
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Last edited by RagTop69; May 16, 2017 at 10:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 787
From: Las Vegas NV
Maybe my '09 1LT isn't equipped with the speed sensitive setting because it only seems to have a pull down for one time operation, push up for intermittent, push up again for low speed and push up yet again for high speed operation. Where would I find the control for the speed sensitive setting?
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 10
From: Bettendorf IA
I experienced something similar once. I found the following statement online that helped explain my scenario.
"There is a feature on wiper intermittent delay fastest speed: When one goes over 50mph in this setting, the wiper automatically switches to constant on (normal speed). C6 has speed sensitive intermittent delay, but no rain sensor."
I'm not sure if it's accurate or not, but you can find the reference at http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=165831. (Post #2, #16 in the list)
"There is a feature on wiper intermittent delay fastest speed: When one goes over 50mph in this setting, the wiper automatically switches to constant on (normal speed). C6 has speed sensitive intermittent delay, but no rain sensor."
I'm not sure if it's accurate or not, but you can find the reference at http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=165831. (Post #2, #16 in the list)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I am. 
From the shop manual:
Nothing in there about changing intermittent speeds based on car speed. Yes, there are many cars that change speed based on vehicle speed. But the C6 is not one of them.
From the shop manual:
Intermittent Operation
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Windshield wiper delay operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The delay interval is determined by a series of 5 resistors within the wiper/washer switch. The body control module (BCM) monitors the voltage on the wiper switch low signal circuit to determine the delay interval between the low speed wiper motor cycles.
If the wiper switch is moved from one delay interval to another, the BCM will command an immediate wipe cycle, and reset the delay timer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
OP, if your wiper speed is changing without you changing the speed selection, then you have an intermittent loss of connection in the speed selection resistor array switch. Try just twisting it back and forth several times which may clear a piece of dirt or corrosion in the switch.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Las Vegas NV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Looks like it might depend on the year. What manual is that from? I see where the 2005 owner's manual said it would have speed sensitive wipers but they were never built. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ld-wipers.html and https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ng-wipers.html
So what years have this feature? I can't find any.
So what years have this feature? I can't find any.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 787
From: Las Vegas NV
Looks like it might depend on the year. What manual is that from? I see where the 2005 owner's manual said it would have speed sensitive wipers but they were never built. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ld-wipers.html and https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ng-wipers.html
So what years have this feature? I can't find any.
So what years have this feature? I can't find any.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Cape Canaveral Florida
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '26
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
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From: Lincoln CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
The owner's manual must be available when the first unit rolls off the line. That means it has to be sent to the printers before the design is finished. There are often errors in the owner's manual especially in the first edition of changes. Another example is the 07 manual shows the new FOB design which turned out to not work and was held until the 08's were built. The shop manual, on the other hand, is not published until almost a year after the model year goes into production. It, consequently, is more accurate although there will even be errors in it also.
It is rather easy to test. Drive slow in the rain and speed up. Does the wiper speed change? So far I have never seen anything that says any C6 was ever actually built with speed sensitive wipers. I know for a fact that my 3LT 07 doesn't have that setting and that 05 (prior to the first C6 being built) is the only place it was ever mentioned. But, yes, there are several people here that claim they have that feature and love it or hate it while others with the same year and model say it doesn't exist.
It is rather easy to test. Drive slow in the rain and speed up. Does the wiper speed change? So far I have never seen anything that says any C6 was ever actually built with speed sensitive wipers. I know for a fact that my 3LT 07 doesn't have that setting and that 05 (prior to the first C6 being built) is the only place it was ever mentioned. But, yes, there are several people here that claim they have that feature and love it or hate it while others with the same year and model say it doesn't exist.
Last edited by FortMorganAl; May 19, 2017 at 08:33 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 489
Likes: 63
From: Mason OH
for those of us who dare to drive our c6s in the rain, i have a question about the operation of the windshield wipers. The intermittent wiper setting has five different frequency levels with the top one being just short of full time low speed operation. When i have the wipers set on the highest frequency setting they sometimes begin to operate at the low speed constant level on their very own. If i switch down to the next lower frequency they operate at the high frequency level for a bit and then slow to the lower frequency. If i then shift to the higher frequency they will operate there normally until they decide to resume low speed constant operation. If i operate the low speed constant wipers and then switch to the intermittent function set on the highest frequency it will continue to operate in the constant low speed mode. This is the first car with intermittent wipers that i have ever had that "works" this way. Is it an intentional thing or just some sort of electrical whoopsie?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA