Front wipers only working on high speed + clock resetting to 24-hour — any ideas?

[AtikDrivesPHEV]

Hi everyone, I need some advice about an issue with my car.

My front windscreen wipers are acting strange. They don’t work in the intermittent/auto or normal speed modes. The only time they work is on the highest speed — and even then, only if I push the stalk directly from the zero position straight to high speed. If I move through the lower speeds first (1st → 2nd → 3rd → high), they don’t work.

What could be causing this and how can I fix it? Would this kind of wiper problem usually be covered under warranty?

Also, my clock setting sometimes switches back to 24-hour format by itself. Is that normal, or could it be related to an electrical issue?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ronmaz]

Just to be clear, you mention first, second, third, and high, but the car only has 2 wiper speeds (3 if you count intermittent but intermittent) not 4 which makes me think you are talking about the rotating switch which controls sensitivity when in intermittent mode.

Wiper speed (intermittent, continuous slow, continuous fast) is controlled by pushing the whole lever up, see 1, 2, and 3 in the picture below. From off, push up once to turn on intermittent mode, push up again to turn on continuous slow, push up again for continuous fast. See page from manual below. The rotating switch (5 in the picture) controls sensitivity when in intermittent mode only. There are 4 settings on that which makes me think that's what you are talking about since you mention first, second, third, and high. The 4th setting would turn on continuous mode. For the other 3 settings to work it would need to be raining. It senses if there is water on the windscreen, if not then the wipers don't come on.

Regarding the clock, sorry no idea. Probably just one of the quirks of the car. Sometimes my radio favourites delete themselves and I have to re-enter them. Not often, it's happened maybe 5 times in the 3 years I've had the car. Just another quirk you learn to live with when you have an MG HS.

 

[AtikDrivesPHEV]

Thanks for the clarification — I think there’s been a misunderstanding about my issue.

I’m not talking about the rotating sensitivity switch. I’m talking about the actual wiper running speeds. My front wipers don’t work in intermittent or normal slow speed at all. Even when I spray washer fluid onto the windscreen, the wipers don’t wipe. The only time they work is if I push the stalk directly from the off position straight to the highest speed.

If I move the stalk step by step through the lower speeds, the wipers don’t run. This is a real safety concern for me, especially in rain.

Has anyone had this problem before or know what could cause it? Could it be a faulty stalk, motor, or relay? And would this likely be covered under warranty? I can live with the clock resetting issue, but I really need to fix the wipers. Any advice would be appreciated.