Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-10-2010, 03:58 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posts: 31
Question Variable Wipe Control??

Can anyone please tell me, what the function of the round rotating knob, beneath the PSM button, to the right of the main radio/CD/Audio/SAT Nav Console, is for.

It appears from the picture on it to be a variable control for intermittent wiper speed, but I seem to only have three settings on my wiper stalk: all the way down = rain sensor & variable wipe depending on amount of rain, half-way up = wipers off, all the way up = wipers on. I have tried rotating the knob with all three settings and it doesn't seem to do anything.?

Yes, I'll try to remember to look in the manual next time I am in the car, but joy-of-boxstering makes me forget to check!

__________________
My Other Porsche Is A Ducati
BoxsterDuke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2010, 06:09 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago suburbs
Posts: 1,675
The knob changes the speed of the intermittent wipers when the stalk is parked in the intermittent position; so you have it correct. I rarely drive my car in rain, but I know it works from the few times I've used it.
__________________
JGM
2002 Boxster S
1973 911 Green FrankenMeanie
PCA DE Instructor circa '95
jmatta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2010, 08:59 AM   #3
There Is No Substitute.
 
rick3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
Garage
When you set the stalk to variable (all the way down), you can adjust the wipers from 4-30 second wipe intervals with the dial. As far as I know Boxsters never came with the dial from the factory, and if it isn't doing anything you might pop it out and see if it is hooked up, maybe a previous owner just put the dial in to get rid of the dummy cover. I figured out how to add the dial and to be honest rarely use it, but I like not having any dummy button covers on my dash.

I have more information on my website if you want to know how to hookup the dial:
http://www.bluboxster.com/Mods/Variable_Intermittent_Wiper_Hack_-_Primer.html
http://www.bluboxster.com/Mods/The_Porsche_Way.html
__________________
1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com

Last edited by rick3000; 08-10-2010 at 09:05 AM.
rick3000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2010, 12:41 PM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posts: 31
Thanks Guys, I'll have another look when I'm next driving, but I think my model comes with a rain sensor which is selected when the lever is all the way down. So when driving in rain on the Motorway (Highway) it sweeps fairly fast under normal rain, but if the rain turns heavy or you overtake a Truck, it automatically speeds up the wipe to the max, if the traffic slows down to almost a stop, it goes intermittent. It's an excellent tool for variable rain. The switch doesn't seem to affect this at all, so I may just take your advice and gently pull it out to see if it is connected to anything.
__________________
My Other Porsche Is A Ducati
BoxsterDuke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2010, 01:18 PM   #5
Registered User
 
tonycarreon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 1,396
It may have come with the adjustment knob, and then the rain sensor was added, making the knob useless.
__________________
"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you."
tonycarreon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2010, 02:49 PM   #6
JTP
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MD
Posts: 628
Quote:
Originally Posted by rick3000
As far as I know Boxsters never came with the dial from the factory
Maybe that was the case for earlier non-S models? My 2000 S has it and is described in the owner's manual so it must be factory equipped. The manual also states that "In vehicles with a rain sensor, the wipe interval control is without function. The windshield wipers are automatically adjusted in intermittent operation."
JTP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2010, 04:09 AM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posts: 31
Wink Sorted - Thanks JTP.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JTP
....The manual also states that "In vehicles with a rain sensor, the wipe interval control is without function. The windshield wipers are automatically adjusted in intermittent operation...."
.

That would explain it then. All I need to do is get a nice "Nitros" sticker to put over the top of it and then make up another label above it saying "Caution Do Not Activate Under 150MPH".
__________________
My Other Porsche Is A Ducati

Last edited by BoxsterDuke; 08-11-2010 at 04:12 AM.
BoxsterDuke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2010, 06:32 AM   #8
JTP
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MD
Posts: 628
Yeah, I know it's pretty dumb how Porsche couldn't be bothered to remove a part they made nonfunctional by the addition of the rain sensor option. It would be nice if you order optional wheels, they gave you the stock wheels since they're now "nonfunctional".
JTP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2010, 04:22 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posts: 31
Failing the NITROS sticker idea, I could always get a PASSENGER EJECTOR SEAT sticker instead, that might get a few interested looks!

__________________
My Other Porsche Is A Ducati
BoxsterDuke is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page