Rear wiper won't stop - dumb user? :)

[cdninsw]

Hi All.

2009 Fit Sport AT
Raining here in southern CA. Turned on the rear wiper the other day (twisted to "on"). Let it swipe a couple times then twisted it to "off", now it won't stop. If the front wipers are on, the rear wiper swipes at random intervals... once every 5 seconds, nothing for 10 minutes, a couple swipes 30 seconds apart, nothing for 2 minutes, a couple swipes... you get the picture.

The rear wiper never does continues swipes (except for either 2 OR 3 the first time), only runs intermittantly.

Rear wiper only stops if we turn off the front wipers, doesn't matter if we twist the setting to "on", "off" or "spray/window wash".

I hope that all makes sense. :) I admit it may be "pilot error", but I don't have access to the manual right now and I'd like to find out if it's me or the car ASAP.
Thanks!

[manxman]

Hi All.

2009 Fit Sport AT
Raining here in southern CA. Turned on the rear wiper the other day (twisted to "on"). Let it swipe a couple times then twisted it to "off", now it won't stop. If the front wipers are on, the rear wiper swipes at random intervals... once every 5 seconds, nothing for 10 minutes, a couple swipes 30 seconds apart, nothing for 2 minutes, a couple swipes... you get the picture.

The rear wiper never does continues swipes (except for either 2 OR 3 the first time), only runs intermittantly.

Rear wiper only stops if we turn off the front wipers, doesn't matter if we twist the setting to "on", "off" or "spray/window wash".

I hope that all makes sense. :) I admit it may be "pilot error", but I don't have access to the manual right now and I'd like to find out if it's me or the car ASAP.
Thanks!
I'm not real sure exactly what you said, but with my '09 Sport, if the rear wiper switch is turned to "on", the wipers sweep back and forth for a minute or so, and thereafter will make one sweep every 10 seconds or so as long as they are "on". They go off when the switch is in the "off" position. By comparison with the GD3 Fits, the fact that when in the "on" switch position, that the wipers continue to work at a slow, long-spaced rate, is a nice feature. With the GD3, you have to manually activate the rear wipers whenever you want to see out the rear during rain.

If your rear wipers do not shut completely off when the control is in the "off" position, there is a problem, but not one that will cause much, if any, harm. Net result would be premature wear on the wiper blade.

Also. the rear wiper activates automatically for a few sweeps if the front wipers are on when you shift into reverse. The little blue glossy, abbreviated ""Honda Quick Start Guide" merely shows you where the wiper control is, but does not tell you what the rear wiper is supposed to do in the various switch positions.

[cdninsw]

:) Ok, let me try again.

We turn on the front wipers. All is good.

We turned on the rear wiper, it swiped 3 times continuous, then every... 10 seconds.

We turned the rear wiper OFF and the rear wiper continues to swipe. Only now it swipes intermittantly anywhere from 5 second intervals to 10 minute intervals.

We turn off the front wipers and both front & rear stop.

Next day..
Turn on the front wipers (rear wiper still OFF) and both front & rear wipers start up. Front wipers act normal. Rear wiper again may swipe, wait 5 seconds, swipe, wait 10 minutes, swipe, wait 2 minutes, etc.

Turn off front wipers, both front and rear wipers stop.

Same thing on day 3.

[manxman]

:) Ok, let me try again.

We turn on the front wipers. All is good.

We turned on the rear wiper, it swiped 3 times continuous, then every... 10 seconds.

We turned the rear wiper OFF and the rear wiper continues to swipe. Only now it swipes intermittantly anywhere from 5 second intervals to 10 minute intervals.

We turn off the front wipers and both front & rear stop.

Next day..
Turn on the front wipers (rear wiper still OFF) and both front & rear wipers start up. Front wipers act normal. Rear wiper again may swipe, wait 5 seconds, swipe, wait 10 minutes, swipe, wait 2 minutes, etc.

Turn off front wipers, both front and rear wipers stop.

Same thing on day 3.
OK, then I think that you have a wiring problem- may be a faulty ground in the rear wiper timer circuit. It would be a good idea to see your dealer for warranty repair. Ths is not a "dumb user" problem- your rear wiper is not working correctly.

[cdninsw]

OK, then I think that you have a wiring problem- may be a faulty ground in the rear wiper timer circuit. It would be a good idea to see your dealer for warranty repair. Ths is not a "dumb user" problem- your rear wiper is not working correctly.

Yeah, Manxman, I agree. Again, a 3 month old new car. At least it's not as major as the loose exhaust valve on #4, broken exhaust valve spring on #3, dead Vtev soleniod and motor mount installed backward.

Every time we say they can't POSSIBLE be another problem. :mad:

[claymore]

Man your luck is running bad it sure sounds like a bad switch never heard of anyone having two different problems on their new Fits. Lets hope this is the last problem you have

[manxman]

Roger-
After the wiper switch is replaced, there can't possibly BE another problem!
Unless, maybe, Pasadena has a 8 magnitude earth quake and the service bay falls down on your Fit while they are fixing the switch.

[EXWRX]

You are just having the worst run of bad luck I've ever heard of for a Fit. Knock on wood, that this is the last time you have to do anything other than modifications or maintenance.

[manxman]

If the dealership collapses on his Fit, he would get a brand new one for free. But, with his outrageous past experience, maybe another new Fit wouldn't be much reassurance.

I joined car forums for the first time while I was shopping in 2006 for my 2007 Fit. I have been reading posts about Fits, particularly posts about potential problems that I should watch out for, for almost four years now. I have read thousands of posts. cdninsw's experiences have been the absolute worst that I have ever heard of. As I previously posted, his story is like a passenger aircraft crash that is broadcast on the TV news the night before you are scheduled to fly cross-country. Instead of being scared out of your shorts, you should merrily skip on down the boarding ramp, or buy your new Fit. The odds are 100% in favor of you having no problems at all because of the recent disaster. The disasters are the anomalies. Perfect quality and safety are the normal conditions.

I am sincerely sorry that you got nailed, Roger, but I thank you for making the "Fit Universe" safer for the rest of us.

[MarkyMark]

You guys actually use your rear wiper? I took mine off because I never use it and I think the rear looks cleaner without it.

[EXWRX]

I use it less than the front, but it is good at clearing off the grunge that accumulates after a week's solid rain.

[claymore]

It is one of the first things I did when I got my brand new Jazz... trashcan the rear wiper and motor. Never used it never missed it in 5 years that I have had my car.

[manxman]

Like EXWRX, I use mine too much to even think about getting rid of it. If it started to malfunction, I would fix it. It is nice though that the rear spoiler on the GE8s are more effective at keeping rain off the rear window than the GD's, but nothing keeps road silt off the rear window in rainy weather. That is the reason why I would not do without the wiper/washer in the rear.