XJ series 2 wipers

[craigjm]

Got a 1975 XJC and the wipers are awful. Very slow and when you turn them off the stop somewhere random on the screen (more often than not right infront of your face) . It has had a rebuilt motor. Is there anything out there that can replace the lot with something more modern and useful?

[JPW69]

Hi Craig - I wonder whether its worth persevering with the existing set up for a little while longer.

Re the slow working - motor has been rebuilt, but have the spindles been cleaned up and lubricated?

Re the random stopping - does the wiper 'park' function work? Did it ever? (As suggests, this seems to be a separate function, iirc initiated by pulling the wiper stalk down, that pulls the wipers beyond their usual arc, and down to the bottom edge of the screen.

I'm sure someone will be along more knowledgeable than me on the circuitry behind this...

Cheers

James

[craigjm]

Thanks James are you suggesting that there is a position beyond the stop setting on the stalk that parks the wipers?

[JPW69]

Yup - exactly that. On your wiper stalk, 'park' will hopefully be written at the bottom.

If so, instead of switching the wipers off by returning the stalk to 'zero' position, pull it bodily down. The wipers will do a repeat sweep, then neatly park at the bottom seal of the windscreen - in theory!!

The late E types didn't have this facility, so I'm guessing the S1 XJ's didn't either (?)

I thought it would have come in with the S2 revisions, so would be interesting to see if your '75 has it....

Cheers

James

[craigjm]

Will check and let you know. Would be great if that's all it is!

[P5BNij]

I've had my '73 S2 almost a year now and only found the 'park' position on the stalk by accident a few weeks back! Works fine but it takes a bit of getting used to. The only things I don't like about the car are the wipers and that damned umbrella handbrake above my left knee...

[craigjm]

Ive had a look after i got home and my stalk seems to have four settings with the lowest being intermittent, the next one being off, then slow speed and finally fast speed. If you push the stalk towards the dashboard you get a one off wipe.

Where is this park setting? i didnt think i could move my stalk in any other position because it felt like it would snap

[JPW69]

Craig,

Ok - it seems you have intermittent wipe, but no park function- yes? 'Most' S2's had no intermittent, but DID park.

Turning to Nigel Thorley's excellent book 'Original Jaguar XJ - the restorer's guide', I read re wipers:

"From the introduction of the series 3 models the shutdown operation was amended, with one stop parking, instead of the 'dancing' arrangement to correct the lie of the blades when switching off. At the same time an intermittent 6 sec wipe facility was added via a delay relay, coloured blue, and situated underneath the passenger side dashboard liner"

Craig - I reckon that when someone fitted your lovely 6 litre, they gave you S3 wiper arrangements too.

As a suggestion, why not google 'series 2 wiper stalks' as I did, and see if that is what you have, as some were for sale on the Irish eBay, and clearly showed the 'park' labelling. At least you'll know what variant you're working on, and can google for pics of how those wipers should sit!

Sorry this isn't fuller - gotta dash for a plane!

Cheers

James

[craigjm]

Thanks James. I googled both and I appear to have a series 3 setup! I am starting to think there is more series 3 on this car that there is series 2!