wiper confusion

[martydonna]

I have just purchased a 1987 Golf 1.6 and can not work out the wipers.
When I pull the stalk towards me nothing happens at all, but when I push it away it squirts the windscreen instead of putting the rear wiper onto intermittant!
I've looked at the wiring but nothing obvious is apparent and now dont know what to do next other than pay someone else to fix it which I can barely afford!
Any input would be very appreciated,
Thanks
Martin

[boschmann]

Pulling the lever should activate the front washer motor & turn on the front wipers for a few seconds if neither work then start with the fuse #5 (do the wipers work in the on positions?). Pushing the lever for just a second activates the intermittent rear wiper, pushing it again deactivates it. Holding in the pushed position is the rear washer. If the rear wiper doesn't work start with fuse #3, but since the rear pump motor works it's probably a bad relay or wiper motor. Intermittent relay is position #1 (top row first on left) the rear wiper relay is #5 (top row fifth from left). Just to make it more confusing know that the intermittent relay controls the rear relay. Therefore I'd reccomend replacing the intermittent relay first since you seem to be having problems with both.

[martydonna]

I have changed the relays but still to no avail, everything still works backwards, the rear washer only comes on with the front wipers working and still no rear wiper!!
I think I will go for the wiper switch next as it sounds a bit strange when I push it up, only has 2 clicks, sure its supposed to have 3????!!!!

[boschmann]

Lowest position is intermittent, one up is off, next is low & top is high. That's four positions.

[martydonna]

Had it all to bits, rear wiper was seized, had to dismantle and free it up, the motor I think is now overcooked, front wipers work fine, there was a plastic clip in the wiper switch preventing the intermittant function, removed it all works fine , swapped pipes over at washer bottle, now sprays front when wiper stalk pulled towards me and also puts wipers on for about 5 seconds+, rear washer works when lever pushed, relay clicks but no wiper

[boschmann]

As stated above there are two relays involved it the rear intermittent, do both click?