While doing the LeLog2023 with Martin’s 1971 Mini Cooper S I fell in love with the (old) Minispares intermittent wiper unit he had retrofitted to his car. Nowadays, MiniSpares is selling a different unit (new) – which features a pontiometer to control the delay. The two reasons why this was not what I wanted were a) I would like to control the function via the column switch and b) it was not available right now.
I remembered an older MGDC forum post that mentioned a similar unit from Smart-Screen in the UK. As my son came over for the holidays, I hoped that the units would be delivered within two weeks. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Multiple emails & calls were left unanswered – so I cancelled my order. After another post on the German MGDC forum I received the recommendation to use the Volkswagen Standard Relay 99 as alternative.
In theory testing and fitting this should be a nice, quick and easy task – something that I could do over Christmas I thought. In order to get the relay intime – I called the local parts shop and asked for a VW Standard Relay 99. Just a bit later I was told that a “MEYLE 100 830 0014” is on its way. As I found out now – this is Standard Relay 19 not 99!!!. Also an intermittent wiper relay but with a fixed interval of about 8sek - where as relay 99 is programmable.
The wiring diagram below is my quick and dirty version of the screenshot provided in the MGDC forum. As you can see there is an additional switch, which is connected to the Interval (I) connector on the relay. The relay gets power on connector 15, ground on 31. What is essential happening is that in an interval given from the relay, the connection for the Park position cable (brown-lightgreen) is being cut. The Washer cable spliced and connected to connector T. This allows that the wiper will start after you applied the washer switch.
During my first test the Wash-Wipe function worked straight away, but the intermittent function did not. It took me a while to figure out that one of the old test cables that I used was broken. After I changed this with another piece – the setup works. But: I don’t like it. I don’t want an additional switch for the function – I want to be able to trigger this from my wiper stalk. At least in the Mini. In my 1967 MGB with an older single speed wiper motor and a Lucas toggle switch in the dashboard – I might use the relay option.
It is helpful to study the excellent summary page on MGB wipers over here. Most of the information can be used for other British cars with the same wiper – it is almost identical on my Morgan and Mini. At the very end of the article there is also a link to a page that has more details on the “Smart-Screen”
After reading this and getting confirmation that it works really well with the wiper stalk – I decided to dump the idea with Standard Relay 99 and try to get device next spring 🙂
Fixing C6622 
Goodness. Good ol Joe Lucas eh?
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