Topic

Looking at the wiring diagram it would seem that the intermittent is controlled by the "WK" (white/pink/) wire from the stalk to the control unit.
Does the R800 have a separate control unit for the wipers or is it an all in one BCU?
If it doesn't the quickest solution is to source a control unit from a car that does have a separate wipe control unit and fit that using the feeds from the stalk and to the wipers and washer and a power supply...................
mmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................wonder what's in my shed..............

Earlier 800's used a Pektron DRC 8908 as did later maestros and montegos and probably most 90's Rovers.

I know I have one somewhere, possibly more than one. If I can find it and I can find some plugs that fit it will just be a case of wiring this in instead of the feed going through the BCU.

Later 800's had their own version of the BCU.

There is some info on .org about using relays from a late mini to do the same job.

I have the late mini wiper control relay on my F but all it gives you is one touch wash/wipe, still no true intermittent wipers.
If you go through the whole (very long) thread on .org you will find no-one has come up with a solution. It would be nice if an electrical whiz could come up with a plug in solution, but that's well beyond me.

This thread? - http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=143946
Second post down -

cjmillsnun;1571495 wrote: wrote:

Part 2...

Getting variable intermittent to work (and programmed wash/wipe)

NOTE. This procedure involves a lot of electrical work ONLY attempt this is you understand vehicle electrical systems. I cannot and will not be responsible for your wipers not working after attempting this.

Tools required.

Soldering Iron and heatshrink wrap (or if you must - connector block).
5 15A Spade connectors
1 Mini Spade connector
A front wiper control unit
Crimpers

for the front wiper control unit I have found 2 suitable parts from the Rover parts bin.

DRC8534 - manufactured by Italamec (black relay) - fitted to the Austin/MG Metro
YWC10152 - manufactured by Pektron (red relay) - fitted to the Rover Metro and the (real) Mini (only fitted to the Mini that has the same stalks as originally in the F)

1. Disconnect the battery negative terminal.
2. Unplug the wiper motor.
3. On the loom side of the wiper motor multi-plug cut the green/grey and black wires.
4. Connect the green/grey wire on the loom to the black wire on the multi-plug (and vice versa) I used solder and heatshrink but you can use connector block as an alternative.
5. Plug the wiper motor back into your altered loom.
6. Remove the cowling from the steering column (as described above)
7. Disconnect the wiper stalk multi-plug.
8. Cut the multi plug off the variable delay wires (grey wires in a black sleve),
9. Cut the light green/green wire. connect one light green/green wire to one of the grey wires and the other grey wire to the other light green/green wire.
10. Cut the black wire on the multi-plug. tape up the black wire in the loom.
11. Cut the green/grey wire on the multi-plug connect the green grey wires together with the black wire on the multi-plug and an additional wire that is long enough to run behind the fuse box. Connect a 15A spade to this additional wire. (The additional wire is the power feed for your wiper delay unit)
12. (Optional.) For programmed wash/wipe splice an additional wire into the light green/black wire. This is the washer feed wire and needs a 15A spade connector.
13. plug the multi plug back into the wiper stalk and refit the steeing column cowling.
14. Remove the 2 10mm nuts that secure the fusebox to its mount withdraw the fuse box and unplug the 2 connectors going into the multi-function unit (MFU) (the red ecu on the back of the fuse-box)
15. On the 8 way connector into the MFU splice in a new wire onto the earth.
This is the earth wire and needs a 15A spade connector.
16. On the 8 way connector cut the brown/light green wire and put a 15A spade on the end this wire on the loom.
17. On the other connector into the MFU (26 way) cut the light green/green wire. Put the mini spade on the end of this wire on the loom
18. Cut the light green/purple wire on the 26 way connector and put a 15A spade on this wire on the loom.
19. Connect the spades to the wiper control unit as follows.
Power lead - 8
Earth lead - 4
Light green/purple - 2
Brown/light green - 5
Light green/green - 7 (red relay) 1 (black relay)
Washer feed - 6
20. Reconnect the MFU multi plugs
21. Refit the fuse box to the dashboard and secure with the 10mm nuts.

Yep that's the one, as Rich says, Just wash/wipe, no variable intermittant.

There is a challenge for me than................

Pick up my stalks today from the local scrap yard - "five quid mate but there's no warrantee"

Still not found my control box yet though

The same stalk switches are used in early Land Rover Freelanders, so you should be able to use one of those ECUs.

NB. whilst the stalk switches of the Freelander themselves are the same, the mounting collar that mounts them onto the steering column is different, they click into it.

I suspect the Freelander used a Body Control Unit, same as the F does, they were designed at the same time.
The advantage of the Pektron unit (which I have now found) is that it is a stand alone unit, and are available from Rimmers for £12.

I found that the collar from the Rover 800 and the collar on my F both had pin that needed pressing in to release the arms.

There could well be an issue with using Freelander electric units as the freelander wiper motor and switch is wired differently to the MGF/TF. Ours is switched earth and freelander is switched live. Or the other way around, I can't recall offhand. But I know from bitter experience that the motors, although outwardly identical, are not swappable.