Windscreen Wipers out of Whack!!!

[cpab]

G'day all.

We've had this 2016 Ford Focus LZ Trend now for just over 3 months.

After a warranty fix of the RH drive shaft and both front control arms replaced, we were enjoying the car.

Then the bloomin' wipers started to play up:- Starting and stopping at inconvenient times in heavy traffic.

It doesn't help when the wiper control stick has to be pushed upwards to start the wipers, especially when you've been driving for 60 years in Holdens, Ford Falcons and Valiants, where they all push down.

So, maybe I did cause the problem, but after checking out what I can, I'm still left wondering.

I know UK cars have the wiper stick on the rhs of the steering column and indicators on the left, but our Focus has them the usual Aus way of indicators rhs and wipers on the left.

But my next quandry is that the Owner's Manual with the car, depicts the sticks on the UK way.

I've been driving for 60 years in RH drive vehicles, I don't remember ever driving a LH drive vehicle. So my understanding is that here in Aus, the RH side is the driver's side and the LH side is the passenger side.

During my search for answers to my wiper problem, I've looked at Youtube videos, which are invariably of LH drive Focuses or other name of the same or similar models to ours. One such video showed a Spanish speaking mechanic finding that the wiper arms were on the wrong side... LH on right and RH on left:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cyskA6eEHw

Thing is, mine are on the wrong sides!

Thing is, I can believe it, so I'm still unsure whether getting a Ford Dealer workshop to service our car and fix this fault with our wipers, will actually fix the problem.

More to come......., but please jump in if you think you can help.

I'll carry this story on in another post, in a few minutes.
[ATTACH]LH Wiper Arm on RH Side of our Car.jpg

RH Wiper Arm on LH Side of our Car sized.jpg[/ATTACH]

[cpab]

Further to this wiper problem, I checked Ford Owner's Club Forum and found this post from JW1982 - Wilco:

JW1982
•
• True Ford Enthusiast
•
o 3.5k
• Name: Wilco
• Ford Model: Kuga Vignale
• Ford Year: 2018
• UK/Ireland Location: Other/NonUK
•
Posted January 18
Do not remove the wiper arms from the wiper motors to make adjustments. The Focus MK3/MK3.5 has smart wipers that communicate over a LINbus network. The smart wiper motors can detect the wiper position. An initialization procedure is used to program the wiper position into the wiper motor.

The Initialization procedure can be performed using a suitable diagnostic system (for example Forscan).

Initialization:
NOTE:
Do not set the ignition to OFF during the procedure. Setting the ignition to OFF causes the wiper motors to accept the current windshield wiper arms position as the initialized position.
Low battery voltage may prevent the null (body control module) from entering Learn Mode.
Make sure the windshield is clean and dry before carrying out this procedure.

1. Ignition "ON".
2. Cycle the windshield wipers "ON" then "OFF". Make sure the windshield wiper arms park in the correct position.

3. Using a diagnostic scan tool, place the windshield wiper motors in Learn Mode using the WMM Calibration.

4. Press the wiper and washer lever arm down 3 times within 5 seconds. The windshield wiper arms move to a preset or pre-initialization position

5. Gently pull the windshield wiper blades out toward the A-pillar moulding until the distance between the wiper arm and the edge of the windshield is 50mm (1.97in).
NOTE:
If the wiper arms are pulled closer to the A-pillar than the specified distance during this step, do not attempt to move the wiper arms back toward the pre-initialization position manually. Damage to the wiper motor can occur. Pre-initialization can be reset by selecting INTERMITTENT on the wiper/washer switch and then selecting OFF.


6. Press the wiper and washer lever arm down 1 time. This sets the current windshield wiper arm position as the approved position and the wiper arms move back to the PARK position.

7. Using the scan tool, finish the WMM Calibration by placing the windshield wiper motors in Normal Mode.

8. Carry out a low speed windshield wipe and make sure the windshield wiper motors and arms park in the correct position.

9. Carry out a high speed windshield wipe on a wet windshield and make sure the wiper blades do not contact the A-pillar.
Wiper Calibration Diagram.jpg

I have downloaded Forscan software, but before I get a tool to connect with the car and pay for the software licence, I want to be sure whether I'm going to do this myself or take it to Ford.

One Ford Dealer I've used before on our other Ford cars, first told me that it is free if done with our 90,000km service, but when I told them the procedure and the measurements part of the calibration, they said $180 per hour. They did however tell me that updating satnav would be free at service, even though the Ford Manual says "not free" if over 7 years old.

Any suggestions?........

[aussiblue]

I recommend you have a go. The widows version of Forscan used with a laptop and one of the two recommended USB adapter dongles at https://forscan.org/download.html is pretty easy to use and if you need help the Forscan Forum https://forscan.org/forum/ is pretty good with support .

[cpab]

G'day Blue,

Thanks for your vote of confidence; 'wish I had the confidence to take that advice, but I still might.

I'll sleep on it and see how confident I feel tomorrow.

[cpab]

G'day Everyone,
I would like to say a big Thankyou to RussellW and other directors of this great Ford Forums.com.au.

I have found all the answers to my questions at the mo', in the library of technical manuals and stuff.

I may still need to ask some questions, but thanks again for being part of this forum.

I plan to try and fix my wipers,..... in a week or two.

Hopefully it won't rain before I get to the fix.

We have 2 funerals to attend this week, which is saddening and holds me back in case I mess things up and can't use the car.

The other thing is buying a diagnostic tool and making sure of the ForScan software; ie. Can I use the Forscan software in Trial mode or will I need to buy a licence?

Thanks again - Cheers - Chris B

PS - How can I make a Donation to this Forum?