Intermittent problem with wipers, windows

personoid · Post by **personoid** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:59 pm

I have an odd problem with the electrics of my 1990 MX5.
Sometimes some of the electrics , eg the wipers and the windows, don't work until the car has been running for a few minutes.

Eg the other day after work, I started the car , turned the lights on OK, but the wipers didn't work. They started working after approx 2 minutes.

My wife has reoprted a similar problem with the electric windows.

This doesn't happen every time I start the car.

Any idea what may be causing this, and how to fix it?

Thanks
Persoinoid.

RD5T3R · Post by **RD5T3R** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:39 pm

EARTHING!!

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PLSEME · Post by **PLSEME** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:51 pm

I've had a similar problem with my car some time ago, witch turned out to be the ignition switch in its acc position .
was also having a problem with it starting witch was deffinatly a problem in the switch.

New switch cleared my problem up, could be worth a look.

personoid · Post by **personoid** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:56 pm

Thanks.
But why does the problem go away?
And how do I fix it?
Which part is earthing or failing to earth?

Personoid

RD5T3R · Post by **RD5T3R** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:32 pm

Probably find once the engine has been running for a few minutes something
warms up, expands and makes the connection again. It's not unheard of in
cars that age!

I would definitely check all the earth points and someone on the Miata
website in the USA will have doubtless recorded it for you

Cheers

RD5T3R

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Post by **zorruno** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:10 pm

I would go with ignition switch problems - have a search on this site for "ignition switch" - as it heats up the contacts likely move. There have been a number of people over the years with ignition switches causing electrical problems.

You could pull it apart and clean it (contact cleaner) which is a fiddly job - or replace it.

A telling factor would be what else fails at the same time - if you look at the electrical diagram for your car you'll see what is connected to the ACC circuit and what is powered on run/ignition.

cheers

personoid · Post by **personoid** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:05 pm

Thanks very much. I'll take a look at the ignition switch.
Personoid