[RDKeysor]

I have lost the intermittent and low speed functions on my '92's wiper control.  Has anyone ever accessed and replaced that switch?  Further to that, an eBay vendor offers a stand-alone intermittent switch for 968's.  I have a roller switch that regulates the intermittent function, but it doesn't look like what the seller is offering.  Any thoughts on either question.  I'm afraid I will have to pull the steering wheel to get into the steering column features, but I would like to know what I am looking for before I do that.  I've carefully removed the wheel in the past over concern about air bag deployment.  I saw a mechanic in a large shop jump in my car and pull the steering wheel without disabling the batter or taking any precautions.  I won't do that. 

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[Waylander]

Does the wiper stick feel odd to use like soft and sticky rather than a clean click into place


The 30 year old grease goes very horrid in there, needs flushing out and lubricating


You cannot take them apart they are riveted together


I would pull the wheel off after the safety procedure then remove the switch gear and spray it silly with GT85 and see if it can be recovered

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[RDKeysor]

In the process of removing the steering wheel and will report back.  Hope that works.  Someone on eBay offered me a new one for $139, but I would rather fix the old on.  I can't say that my switch feels sticky, but I had a gradual loss of the intermittent function and then the slow speed.  Looking at the pictures, I suspected the thing was gunked up, as you suggest may be the case.  I'll report back.  By the way, I have had the battery negative unplugged for 24 hours and hope to pull the wheel tomorrow.  I'm not as brave or foolhardy as the mechanic who pulled the wheel from a car freshly driven into the shop after 25 miles on the road. Last time I had the wheel out I restarted car while standing outside and reaching through the window.

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[MCL968]

While you have the wheel off, pull the instrument cluster and do the usual maintenance on it. Light tunnels, bulbs, clean all the post contacts so your gauges will be more accurate, etc. If the odometer doesn't work now is a perfect time to change the gears too.

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[RDKeysor]

Fortunately, I found a You Tube video for an earlier car, a 944 for sure, that gave me the information I needed to remove the entire switching component from the car.  There were a couple of details in those instructions that I had to dope out myself, primarily removing a lock ring around the steering column shaft which allowed the entire component to come out.  To my dismay the entire assembly with levers, cruise control, wiper switch and turn signals, appears to be a single component marked 944.613 313.00  and elsewhere KLS 201.917   I have found a component on line with a completely different number that, as I recall, indicated compatibility only for '94 and '95 (?) 968s.  These pieces are priced from about $350 to something over $600.  I don't want to order one where the seller doesn't agree it is compatible with my car.  My concern is the loss of function for the intermittent and low speeds on the wipers.   I had expected to find a multi-part component that would have the wiper controls separate. Any help will be  appreciated.  I will clean up what I have exposed if and when I get it back together.  I've already been down the road with a failed trip recorder that I had repaired.  Thanks to all;

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[Waylander]

I did warn you it was all one lump,


And do not buy a random 25 year old part from eBay its almost pointless


Go to your local Porsche dealer get the right part number and order it from sunset

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[RDKeysor]

My apologies, Waylander.  You did warn me.  Given the number of functions contained in this switching mechanism, I agree that buying a used component would be exceedingly risky.  However, rather than cough up more than $600 for a new replacement, I will  probably put it back together and let the next owner worry about it.  My car now has just over 165,000, and though I just spent close to $3000 replacing the belts, water pump, etc, the car in probably not worth more than $12,000 at this point.  It is probably doomed, if that is the right word, to live out the remainder of its life on the PCA racing circuit.  I've owned it 20 years and dread parting with it.  

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[Waylander]

I would still pump it full of GT85 and exercise it


My car has done 160,000 miles and I just keep it all moving


I do all the maintenance myself so a belt water pump job costs me less than $600

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[J.Elenbaas]

Same here, just spend a little more than € 2000,00 and have renewed the complete clutch side including seals and bearings engine backside, hydraulic mounts, belts, waterpump, seals frontside, leads, distributor cap and rotor, coolant, oil and filters plus gaskets thermostat housing and a new radiator.

Labour cost was just a lot of fun.

And the best of all, all original parts.

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[RDKeysor]

I inaugurated this discussion by reporting that my '92 968 windshield wipers had lost the intermittent and low speed functions.  Ignoring my own comment and the recommendation of others, I went ahead and paid $120 for a used switch from an Arizona parts business.  I did this because I didn't want to pay more than $600 for a new switch and the one I bought came with a four-month warranty. So, the replacement switch--exactly the same numbers, etc., as the one I removed, was just tested for the turn signal and wiper functions.  Turn signals work, the wiper function is exactly what I experienced with the original switch, no intermittent or low speed function.  Since the steering wheel is still  out of the car, I couldn't test the cruise control.  I am now left with the question: do both of these switches have exactly the same failing, or is there another explanation, possibly the wiper motor?  Has anyone in 968 land been down this road and has the answer?  I will probably pull the new switch out and send it back to the seller, hoping he will give me a refund.

 

One other matter.   The best instruction I found for removing the switching mechanism was for a 944 and was found on You Tube.  The removal for the 968 is largely the same, particularly the need to remove the dash trim, etc.  The You Tube video correctly advises to back off an 8 mm bolt on the bottom of the switch best viewed by getting the head below the steering column and looking up behind the galvanized plate that cover the switch face.  The 8 mm bolt tightens a clamp ring that holds the switch mechanism to the steering column.  The 944 video also says you needs to remove  two screws visible behind either side of the plate. My 968 switch does not have those screws.  What it does have is a lock ring, the type with two small eyelets that aid removal.  This ring encircles the steering shaft just below the segmented part of the shaft that the steering wheel engages.  Removing that ring and backing off the 8 mm bolt allows the switch to pull outward along with the three wiring modules that must be disengaged.  Hope this helps some future 968 owner need.

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[pdxmike]

Pull and test the intermittent wiper relay in the fuse box? 

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[Waylander]

That ring sounds like the air bag ring dont break that,

The motor can be repaired / serviced I would check the plug on the motor, its just under the plastic cover


New motors are very expensive but if the switch made no difference then the intermittent delay switch and the relay should get a contact clean up

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[RDKeysor]

The ring I was referring to simply locks down the whole switch mechanism on the steering shaft.  There is also an 8 mm bolt that tightens a sleeve around the column.  These are the only two lock down points and are unrelated to the air bag ring that also goes on the steering column.  That is out of play while I deal with the switch issue.  I did pull the relay in the fuse box and cleaned the poles, adding a bit of diaelectric (sic) grease.  Also pulled the intermittent wiper switch and did the same.  The wiper switch action was unchanged.  I have yet to check the wiper motor, but will do that when I return home from NY.  I intend to send the purchased used switch back to the seller since it did not solve the problem. I still don't know whether to assume both switches would have the same identical issue or something else is in play.  I might add that the intermittent function had been problematic before the low speed function died.  That prompted me to try to address the issue.

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[Waylander]

the wiper motor, 944 628 303 01 $509.00

 

the switch 944 613 313 00 01C >> updated to 928 613 313 00 01C then updated to >> 928 613 313 01 01C $285 brand new from Porsche

 

the biggest problem with changing the wiper motor is you have to take the lid off the Air box for the heater, and half the screws snap off, but things get a lot more corroded over here so might no be so bad, the other thing that goes wrong is the big nuts that are below the wiper arms, corrode and snap the alloy frame for the wipers, and you can use a 944 one they are different.

 

the frame for the wipers 944 628 920 00 is $450.

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[Ryan]

As Mike said...did you check the relay? Cheap and easy parts first.

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[RDKeysor]

Thanks.  Had the relay checked by a friend who thinks it may be bad. A new one is on its way. Had another issue when I reinstalled the steering wheel etc.  The air bag light came on as well as the one that normally warns the emergency brake is on.  Pulled the the air bag cover and found the plug correctly installed.  Replaced bag, yes, reconnected battery, and got the same warning.  This happened several years ago after I pulled the bag, steering wheel and instrument panel to remove and repair the trip odometer.  When I reinstalled the bag I got the warning light.  Took it to Omega Motorsports here in Jacksonville.  They rant a test on the computer and then pulled the bag--without disconnecting the battery in a car that had just come off the road.  I thought they found the air bag not connected, but that was utter consternation to me.  If you are putting the air bag back in the car, how could you fail to connect and fully seat the single plug?  Now I have had it happened twice at my own hands.  I don't know if a battery disconnect will fix it as sometimes works with warning lights.  I'll report back on whether the relay works.  This has been quite an exploration, as I again removed the instrument panel and took off the clear cover to clean it.  I'm afraid the electrical gremlins only get worse with these aging cars.  Appreciate the input I've received.

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[MCL968]

Just bite the bullet and get a Durametric, I have been trying to get my AB light reset for almost a year.

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[RDKeysor]

What is a Durametric?

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[Waylander]

Diagnostic software and hardware for the 968

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[pdxmike]

If you call Durametric they sometimes have a refurb units on the cheap. 

 

You'll need a Windows laptop (or Mac running windows) to use the software. But you can then reset your own and all your friends'   two of your friend's 
airbag lights until the end of time. 

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