I put the variable intermittent wiper system on my EL GLi today.

To do this, I bought a new column switch from a wrecker. I ran the Brown and white wire to the new blue body computer, but it didn't work.

Checked out the schematics, and discovered that my replacement switch has an orange wire on the new switch that needed to be grounded to make it work.

Anyone else had this problem?

Dang.

Dear Dang,
This is my first time using such a website, so excuse me if I muck up.
I am doing some research on this task for my EF GLi. As winter comes on I would appreciate this feature (variable time wiper intermittant). I will follow your lead on this and hopefully find some success.
Wouldn't it been much easier if a common wiring loom was used for all models?
Paul

Yeah, it'd be so much easier......but do you really think that they'd make it this easy for us?

why are you guys installing this stuff. Isn't variable intermittent when it stops for about 10 seconds then wipes once then stops for tens seconds again. Shouldn't tha already be in.

No your thinking of "Intermittent wipe"- fixed time delay.
They are refering to "variable intermittent wipe" - adjustable time delay
Then there is also "speed sensitive variable intermittent wipe'' - time delay adjusted by vehicle speed.

it's the delay that's intermittent, like, you can make it 3 secons, 5 seconds, 15 seconds, etc

Just getting things straight so I can try and help (I've done this mod too and it worked straight away) ... you have put in the new wiper column switch AND upgraded your BEM to a mid series one yeah?
While mine is an EF it should be the same, I only needed to run one wire IIRC but will have to have a look when I get home this arvo!

okay whats a BEM cos i dont know. why do you want to adjust your wipers for anyway.

Cheers

I believe BEM stands for "Body Electronic Module"

Variable Intermittent wipe is so you can adjust the delay between wipes, depending on the amount of mist or rain on the screen.

Variable Intermittant Wiper Delay was found on everything except the GLi Models.
Basically, there was a ring on the wiper stalk, that you could turn to adjust the wiper delay from 1 second, to 15 seconds.....
The theory with this was if the rain is a fine mist, you could adjust the wiper delay accordingly, so as it didnt wipe an overly dry screen.

EL Models (All except GLi) had speed sensitive variable wiper delay...
Which meant that If the ring was turned halfway, then you would have a 10 second delay between wipe cycles when you are stopped... But when you are doing 100Km/Hr, the delay was cut down to 3 or so seconds....

For EF Models, I am reasonably sure that you only needed to add 1 wire...
For EL models though I am not too sure.... (I dont have a complete EL workshop manual to compare notes with)....
I have started doing this conversion with my boss's work wagon (?? EL S pak ???) which is a GLi with alloys....
Anyway, Ive fitted a mid series BEM (Plug and play - very nice)...
Anyway the speed sensitive wipers only work when the variable wiper stalk is wired up..... (I.E. the BEM is getting a resistance value from the stalk)....

I will be wiring the stalk up some time in the next couple of weeks, until then (or until I have some time to look at what wiring is available) I dont have the foggiest as to what wiring is needed....

Oh, and for those that are little bit lost with BEM, etc.....

Read one of these (Depending on what Model you have)
EF Models
http://www.fordmods.com/phpBB2/documents.php?doc=26

EL Models
http://www.fordmods.com/phpBB2/documents.php?doc=49

Okeys, I just had a very quick look.....
You - M I G H T - need the Vehicle speed signal connected to get the variable feature to work ???????

Again Im not too sure, as I dont have a workshop manual, and I havent successfully got this working yet....
Ill update the doco (EL Smartlock) with wire colours connector pins, and other info in the next week or so (Depending how busy I am with work)...

would this work on earlier models like eb 2-ed