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Wiper Relay BMW E46

  • 31-07-2008 9:08am
    #1
    bonham23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 113 ✭✭


    Hi,
    Can anyone tell me where the windscreen wiper relay is located on an E46

    thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    MacGyver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 573 ✭✭✭MacGyver


    its in the engine bay on the right hand side http://bmwfans.info/original/E46/Lim/320d-M47/ECE/R/N/2000/05/mg-12/ill-12_0904/


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Out of curiosity what problems are you experiencing with the wipers?

    I ask because from time to time my wipers refuse to work randomly.


  • #4
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    MacGyver wrote: »
    its in the engine bay on the right hand side http://bmwfans.info/original/E46/Lim/320d-M47/ECE/R/N/2000/05/mg-12/ill-12_0904/

    Yep that's the one aright...
    ronoc wrote: »
    Out of curiosity what problems are you experiencing with the wipers?

    I ask because from time to time my wipers refuse to work randomly.

    I have also found this problem, but only happens once / year, so i've never gone looking at it in detail.

    The ZKE5 module behind the glove box is in charge of controlling the wiper relay. When this happens the error code it throw's in the ZKE5 module is that the wipers did not return to their homing contact in time. The ZKE 5 monitors the homing contact to check if the wipers are jammed.

    It seems that the time out for reaching the homing contact might be a little too tight, if they are slightly slower reaching the ZKE5 module will time out and drop out the wiper relay.


  • #5
    bonham23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 113 ✭✭bonham23


    ronoc wrote: »
    Out of curiosity what problems are you experiencing with the wipers?

    I ask because from time to time my wipers refuse to work randomly.


    My wipers stopped working this moning on the way to work. I checked the relevant fuses so i'm guessing it may be the relay.


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    DublinDilbert wrote: »
    Yep that's the one aright...



    I have also found this problem, but only happens once / year, so i've never gone looking at it in detail.

    The ZKE5 module behind the glove box is in charge of controlling the wiper relay. When this happens the error code it throw's in the ZKE5 module is that the wipers did not return to their homing contact in time. The ZKE 5 monitors the homing contact to check if the wipers are jammed.

    It seems that the time out for reaching the homing contact might be a little too tight, if they are slightly slower reaching the ZKE5 module will time out and drop out the wiper relay.

    Food for thought. It stated like that with mine too. Now it happens every other week. Sometimes after the wiper cycle the blades return to the starting position but do not move out again. No matter what the position of wiper stalk.
    The washer jets do not seem to work either when this happens. Manipulating the wipers by hand and moving the indicator stalks seems to get them going.


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  • #7
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    ronoc wrote: »
    Food for thought. It stated like that with mine too. Now it happens every other week. Sometimes after the wiper cycle the blades return to the starting position but do not move out again. No matter what the position of wiper stalk.
    The washer jets do not seem to work either when this happens. Manipulating the wipers by hand and moving the indicator stalks seems to get them going.

    Yea sounds very similar aright... i don't know if there's any adjustment on the "home" switch which is built into the wiper motor, as i've never taken one apart.

    Also i wonder is the time-out value held in ZKE5 EEPROM so it could be adjusted slightly.

    I think any time it's happened the wipers have been at or very near the home position, i guess the zke5 felt that the last sweep of the wipers took too long. From memory i think the time out only happens when they are on intermittent, but once they do time out none of the other settings work.


  • #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    DublinDilbert wrote: »
    Yea sounds very similar aright... i don't know if there's any adjustment on the "home" switch which is built into the wiper motor, as i've never taken one apart.

    Also i wonder is the time-out value held in ZKE5 EEPROM so it could be adjusted slightly.

    I think any time it's happened the wipers have been at or very near the home position, i guess the zke5 felt that the last sweep of the wipers took too long. From memory i think the time out only happens when they are on intermittent, but once they do time out none of the other settings work.

    Yes that's similar to my experience all right. It never happens when the wipers are on full speed but on the first setting (intermittent) or on single sweep it sometimes seems to get stuck.
    I'm hoping its not the motor as they are quite pricey. I'm not sure it is though as the wipers seem fine when they get going again.


  • #9
    Mr.Diagnostic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 937 ✭✭✭Mr.Diagnostic


    The first thing to try on this would be a software update. If the issue is known to BMW they may have fixed it.


  • #10
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    ronoc wrote: »
    Yes that's similar to my experience all right. It never happens when the wipers are on full speed but on the first setting (intermittent) or on single sweep it sometimes seems to get stuck.
    I'm hoping its not the motor as they are quite pricey. I'm not sure it is though as the wipers seem fine when they get going again.

    Yep sounds exactly the same, it's probably the same on all early e46's. From memory on the E36 the wipers are not controlled by the ZKE module, but i'd have to check on that one...

    If it is that close to a limit value, a small shift in the battery/alternator might also have an impact on it...
    Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »
    The first thing to try on this would be a software update. If the issue is known to BMW they may have fixed it.

    This is very possible... When the software was being developed and tested on the vehicle, it probably worked fine 100% of the time, with all the parts been new and in top condition. But as the parts age, everything runs a small bit slower etc..

    The team developing the software should of factored in an allowance for this, chances are they did, but the amount they factored in, just isn't big enough. Also the amount of over head they factored in was probably just made up on the spot, ie we know it nominally takes 4 seconds/sweep, so we'll add on 10% extra for the limit value.


  • #11
    Carel Kuhn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭Carel Kuhn


    Hi All,

    I have a BMW 318I E46, late 2001 model. My wiper blades use to work and then stopped during a rain storm. 2 Days later it was working again for the next 5 months untill it stopped again during a raining trip. 2 day later it was working again only to stop working again during another rainstorm after about 15 minutes.

    When I pull the wiper lever in the car towards me the windscreen water motor works and then dont work either. This is however only a minute or 2 before it works again, so in short it works then dont.

    I see that a lot of the replies on this sort of problem is to look at the Wiper relay/s. The problem is that I dont have a clue where to find them. Can someone please advise me where to find them or if you think the relays are the problem or not.

    Many Thanks
    Carel Kuhn


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  • #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Carel Kuhn wrote: »
    Hi All,

    I have a BMW 318I E46, late 2001 model. My wiper blades use to work and then stopped during a rain storm. 2 Days later it was working again for the next 5 months untill it stopped again during a raining trip. 2 day later it was working again only to stop working again during another rainstorm after about 15 minutes.

    When I pull the wiper lever in the car towards me the windscreen water motor works and then dont work either. This is however only a minute or 2 before it works again, so in short it works then dont.

    I see that a lot of the replies on this sort of problem is to look at the Wiper relay/s. The problem is that I dont have a clue where to find them. Can someone please advise me where to find them or if you think the relays are the problem or not.

    Many Thanks
    Carel Kuhn
    Yeah this is the exact same problem as me to the letter.

    You might try pulling on them or pushing them when you are moving the wiper stalk. That sometimes gets them going again if you are stuck.

    I haven't been to bothered to get this sorted as it only happens once and a while but I'd be curious what the exact cause is! I'd say a worn motor is most likely.


  • #13
    Adamek
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭Adamek


    I have the same problem with my 320d. I took the whole wipers engine and checked it, its working properly, so i tried to find other solution. After few minutes of googling i found that this problem is pretty common, and people were writing that sometimes it's last moment of the engine life, check the relay as well, cause normally the relay box is securely sealed, but these cars has few years already so check for water in there. At this stage, im looking for the relay itself because when i cleaned it, it seems to work better, but it dies pretty often anyway, so when i'll change it and if it wont work, might be the soft than.

    P.s. I just realized that this thread is older than me...sorry


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