Anyone on this forum found a way to adapt the standard, one interval, intermittant wipers on the 240 to an infinitely adjustable capability? If so, how did you do this? I find the single interval to be too frequent or not frequent enough and have wondered why Volvo never offered this convenient feature on the 240.

I believe you should look for a digital electronic timer circuit. This may then control a relay or solid state switch. Old school technology was analog resistor-capacitor or mechanical thermal relay delay circuits. A library or website may have encyclopedias of circuits.

I just remembered a chip, the Intel 555 timer chip. Its widely use by hobbyists, cheap and easy to use. It is a 4 pin IC. Try searching for "555 timer". The whole circuit could fit in a relay.

Thanks very much for that info. As I'm not particularly knowledgable about "fitting in" such a piece, could you fill in the details on how to do this? Thanks again! Daryl

Daryl:

81242B21FCA was close to correct on his information. Intel hasn't made a 555 in over 20 years (if they ever did). National Semiconductor and TI still do. Here is a link of the NE555 from TI: http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ne555.pdf. For detailed schematics, see the Application Information for Astable Operation. You can follow the calculations to tweak the timing capacitor. Include an adjustable resistor between RA and RB to adjust the timing interval.

The NE555 is in an 8 pin dip package. To build this circuit, you would need a perforated circuit board, a variety of resistors and capacitors, a relay to cycle the wiper, an adjustable pot, and finally, a soldering iron, solder, and wire. Most of these parts can be picked up from Radio Shack, or ordered from Digikey. If you have no background in electronics, this would be an excellent project to start with. If you do have experience, it will be a quick little project.

Hope the above helps.

jorrell
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92 245 245K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently in pieces

jorrell,

I will check it out to see if it is in my ability range. Electronics haven't been a burning desire for me, but this project sounds do-able.

In the meantime, I might order an adjustable wiper control from JC Whitney. Just discovered it yesterday. They have a couple of them for under $20. Maybe not as convenient to locate, but looks like it could work fine.

Thanks.

Daryl

The story came out in one of the Houston, TX papers some 20 to 30 years ago, because of the winnning of a patent infringement lawsuit won by a Housotnian.

Seems this guy invented, and patented, the circuitry for the controlled variable wiper control. Then he submitted it to the then-Big Three of US automakers. GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

They all rejected it, citing some reason or another. A few years later, those auto makers began offering it on their cars, maybe as an extra-cost option, maybe standard on the high-end models. Volvo may have done the same.

He sued. Years in court, but he won. I would guess that Volvo, in the meantime, saw the circumstances and dropped the circuit.

What hit the papers was the size of his award. Though sort of small by today's standards, back then the $15 million was quite a pile.

Surely you can find a way to "upgrade" the fixed interval now on RWD Volvos. I don't know if the newer Forded-up Volvos (sometimes known as F'ed up Volvos) have the option available. If so, there may be a way to adapt one to your ideas.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

i once saw a universal external wiper delay switch in an auto store.

you could adapt any wiper delay set up to a 240, in my opinion, with no problem. perhaps an old SAAB might work.

i googled around and found a ford unit with relay that could be adapted.




if you have a minute check out this web site:

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/wipers/index.html


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Enem cam, adj. cam gear, new head, trans cooler, stainless brake lines, cross drilled rotors, e-fan, braces, IPD sways, 100% poly, Bils, boxed front & rear arms, lowering springs, FWD rims, 25/32mm adapters, powder coated stuff, & more...

This was a feature I found on my first and older Volvo. It was on a 75 240 I purchased in 1980.

At the time I didn't know how special it was until I started to acquire more Volvos, and have never seen another with the same option.

I think it was a dealer added option. It plugs into the wiper control, and has a relay and a rotory knob that snaps into one of the knockouts in the center dash.

I removed it, and have it in a box and hope to some day add it to one of my later model 240's.

Has anyone else out there seen this option? How rare is it?
--
Bruce S. near D.C.

Daryl:

I have not looked into your solution, but agree with the issue you bring up. I'm seriously thinking about gutting an automatic wiper control system out of a later Volvo and adapting it to work in a 240. Might be a big job, might be easy, but heck, not having to dork with a knob or a lever to control the wipers would be pretty cool. Just a thought.

jorrell
--
92 245 245K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently in pieces