Strange noise when turning on intermittent wipers

I have a gen 3, when I turn on the front wipers on position 1 (intermittent mode) most of the time the circuit makes a noise near the stalk (I think) and the wipers either don't move or move only for a fraction of a second, sometimes they work fine but when there's this noise they don't move.
any idea what the problem could be?

Also, it has nothing to do with the first question, but does the M13A (non-vvt) have mechanical or hydraulic valve lifters?

M series engines are "solid" lifters, "shim over bucket", as for the noise, without being able to hear it, we can only guess - I believe the intermittent mode uses a relay near the base of the stalk - if the noise s a short duration crackle, the relay contacts maybe arcing rather than making proper contact.

The noise might be relay 'chatter', it trying to engage, but never actually makes it.

I would think it is either a bad contact, possibly on the stalk or a failing relay. If the wipes don't move within the time window the relay will drop out, or perhaps it never engaged in the first place and therefore didn't latch for the wipers to do one cycle.

Robin

Ok yeah that might be the relay, I'll have to remove the "cowl" that's around the steering shaft to check, anyway, the solid lifters means that I'd have to check valve lash every 30k Kms as per manual, right?

wrote:

 perhaps it never engaged in the first place and therefore didn't latch for the wipers to do one cycle.
 

The relay never latches, it just needs to supply power long enough for the wiper motor to move out of the "park" position, once the motor is out of park, a separate set of contacts in the motor assembly is used to power the motor until it returns to the park position.

wrote:

 anyway, the solid lifters means that I'd have to check valve lash every 30k Kms as per manual, right?

Yes, solid lifters will not adjust themselves the way hydraulic lifters so, that is the reason there is a valve lash check in the service schedule.

Ok good to know, thanks for the info guys!