Windscreen wipers

[Donald]

When I started my Mk1 roadster it was running fine, then after a few minutes the windscreen wipers came on. The wiper switch had no effect. I turned the ignition off and the wipers stopped. the wipers then went off and on with the ignition. I'm baffled. Any ideas?
Donald Carmichael

[Vic Butler]

I'd check the wipers switch. It seems that it's permanently on . Is it a column switch or on the dash?

[Donald]

Thanks for the reply. It is a dash mounted toggle switch.
Donald

[Peter Cresswell]

This sounds like a bad earth from the wiper motor - a bit like the strange things that happen to the lights when the light unit is not earthing properly. Try earthing the wiper motor by running a wire from the body of the motor to an unpainted bolt under the dashboard (there are quite a few. A bit of wire with crocodile clips will do. Then try the switch to see and ignition combination to see if it works properly. If it does you will know what the fault is. if not we need to think of something else!
Was it ok previously?

[Donald]

Thanks Peter. I rigged up a temporary switch and that seemed to work so have ordered a new one.
Donald