All Wagon Owners, Intermittent Rear Wiper!

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:05 am

Edit!

As I have stated in the past I was laid off in December and have not been able to find work. So rather than spending 12 hours a day surfing uselessly on 4 different job sites and not finding any work I decided to look into a little project that I’ve been meaning to do when I had time. What’s that you ask?

Intermittent rear wiper feature on my wagon!

Ok, sorry I’m pretty excited about it. So, I did some searching around and found some circuit out there in Google land, http://www.elecfree.com/electronic/inte ... by-2n4401/. No author that I can find is mentioned anywhere. I have built one of these but not exactly the same design. I am thinking about making a bunch of these up and trying to sell them.

Installation:
The unit will include everything needed to install it including detailed directions and hardware. I’ve already found everything needed to interface with the car side and installation can be done in probably 15 minutes. I’d be happy to work with anyone on integrating with other makes or models. I would just have to research the wiring schematics for that vehicle.

Thanks,

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:05 am

As much as I LOVE to see anyone go out and make their own stuff like this (and I applaud you), I highly doubt you'll sell them for $50.

Here's why...I used to sell these in the parts store years ago...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Windshie ... enameZWDVW

They were a pretty good-selling item 15-20 years ago, but a lot of places dropped them once just about every new car started to come with wiper delays from the factory. I am in NO WAY trying to dissuade you from your project, (yours will probably be better quality) but you may want to work on that price point.

-Greg

BSOD2600 · Post by **BSOD2600** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:17 am

Option 1 sounds the best... BUT, I honestly have more important things to spend $$ on my wagon than the wiper control atm. Right now, when it's wet/cold out I leave the defrogger on instead to help clear the rear window.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:12 pm

OK well after modifying the design slightly by removing some components and adding others I have come up with a basic design that looks like option 2.
The whole thing is literally the size of a quarter and has 2 wires coming off of it. It has a PCB micro switch that lets you select 5 or 10 second intervals.
Installation would be cutting 1 wire under the dash and putting these two wires (IN and OUT) in place in the circuit. There is also a diode required so that the functionality of the wiper remains when using the rear washer feature. I may just add this diode to the board and ad a wire to the harness to make installation a little easier. I'll post up a wiring diagram soon. This unit is not like the others out on the market because it utilizes the cars wiper circuit to do the work and this unit acts as a trigger. I haven’t seen anything like this in my searches. Based on the more simple design and lack of potentiometer I can make and ship these to anywhere in the continental US for $25.00 shipped.

Install pictures to come and small video.

How does that sound?

PM me if you want one.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:19 pm

You need to look into applying it to the Impreza and Forester.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:42 pm

n2x4 wrote:You need to look into applying it to the Impreza and Forester.

Do you know what year range specifically? I plan to post this on nasioc also.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:05 pm

As far as I know from personal experience, the 93-01 Impreza Wagon and the 98-01 Forester didn't have intermittent rear wiper.

In addition to NASIOC, I suggest posting on subaruforester.org

I'd say rs25.com, but they want "vendors" to pay $500 a year to sell stuff. A bit much in most cases if you ask me. Maybe try and post one or 2 in the classifieds there?

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:23 pm

n2x4 wrote:As far as I know from personal experience, the 93-01 Impreza Wagon and the 98-01 Forester didn't have intermittent rear wiper.

In addition to NASIOC, I suggest posting on subaruforester.org

I'd say rs25.com, but they want "vendors" to pay $500 a year to sell stuff. A bit much in most cases if you ask me. Maybe try and post one or 2 in the classifieds there?

Thank you, I appreciate your input!

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:39 am

Option 2 is the most appealing. I would make something like that, where the user could choose the interval during install and keep it hidden.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:47 am

Update!

I am working on a quick webpage but until then I am updating you guys on here. I currently have the parts left over (from buying the smallest quantities allowable) to make 4 more of these. I have updated the design to include an additional wire to connect to the washer circuit as I described in the above post.
This module integrates with the factory wiper module and essentially controls the factory relays. I am working on figuring out how to integrate this on other makes and models but it’s just a matter of finding which wires to splice into.

Introducing the BF/BJ IRW1.0
Here is the final product:
The micro switch allows a setting of approximately 8 seconds or 16 seconds (to be set at time of installation).
The ribbon cable is 6 inches long.

This is millimeters which equals very close to 1.25 inches.

Price is still $25.00 Shipped!

Please PM me with any questions or if you want one.

Thanks!

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:12 am

Bump for pics

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:09 pm

Awww, it's so cute and tiny.

Mike you need to get on a a SF and GF revision. I think you'd do well in those markets.

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All Wagon Owners, Intermittent Rear Wiper!

All Wagon Owners, Intermittent Rear Wiper!