Wipers won't turn off!

[Docwyte]

Headed up the hill this past Thursday to go skiing. Turned the wipers on to clean the windshield and they wouldn't turn off, no matter that the switch was in the off position.

They'd continue wiping for quite a while, then stop, then randomly starting wiping again on their own.

Is this a bad switch, or ???

[mbgt72]

I'd be willing to bet you've got them on "rain sensing auto mode" and there was probably something frozen up near the sensor that made it think there was still rain. (sensor is behind the rearview mirror against the glass)

Are you 100% certain you had the wiper stalk all the way down to off, and not just to auto? The "off" is one click below auto.

[SoCalS4Avant]

^ I don't believe the '04's had the rain-sensing as a standard equipment. It may have been an option, but I'm not sure. I know I didn't have it on my '04, though. I also know my 2010 has it, so I'm familiar with how they work. That said, Doc, is it possible you pulled the stock out - and that you need to push it back so that you can control the system? It used to happen on a Toyota pick-up I had.

[noznab]

^ I don't believe the '04's had the rain-sensing as a standard equipment. It may have been an option, but I'm not sure. I know I didn't have it on my '04, though. I also know my 2010 has it, so I'm familiar with how they work. That said, Doc, is it possible you pulled the stock out - and that you need to push it back so that you can control the system? It used to happen on a Toyota pick-up I had.

Rain sensing wipers didn't come standard until 05

[Docwyte]

The stalk controls the wipers just fine as far as turning them on and being able to cycle between the speeds. It's just that with the stalk in the "off" position, the wipers continue to wipe.

I checked the window sticker on my car and it doesn't list rain sensing wipers as an option.

[Docwyte]

Anymore thoughts?

[Apat]

Looks similar to this: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...pers-wont-stop

[Docwyte]

That sure sounds like the problem, thanks! My search skills need some work, I didn't find that thread when I was looking yesterday...

[Docwyte]

Update! It was the linkage. Replaced it and all is well in the wiper world.

[haygood]

So, how did the linkage go bad, doc? Mine started doing the exact same thing on the way home from the slopes this week. Please resurect this thread to describe the problem with the linkage, if you can.

[haygood]

So, how did the linkage go bad, doc? Mine started doing the exact same thing on the way home from the slopes this week. Please resurrect this thread to describe the problem with the linkage, if you can.

Did the linkage replacement include replacing the motor; that it could have just been a problem in the motor vs. the linkage arms?

[Docwyte]

Audi didn't put booties over the splines. So water/salt/etc eventually gets down there and gums them all up. The fix is to replace the linkage, it's not an issue with the motor.

[LJH]

I did not have the none stopping wipers but I did have VERY slow wipers. When I finally switched out the transmission I was shocked how strong that motor is. I could not budge the wiper arms at all.

Cheers,
Jim