Wiper switch turns on any time

[calwhite]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum but not new to Toyotas. I have had many Tacomas (still do) and my wife enjoys her 03 Matrix. Now, suddenly the wipers decide when they want to turn on and we can't turn them off. I am away at work and my wife is back at home with the Matrix (that's when this stuff happens). Of course, one shop told her it's a $400 switch plus labour......Any one run in to this yet. I remember seeing a Matrix a couple of years ago with the windshield wipers literally wore right into the glass. At the time I thought How could some one do that to their Toyota, but now I assume they had our present problem........

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[frbl]

It may or may not be the switch - could be a short anywhere along the wiring between the switch and the motor. But I guess it would probably more likely be the switch since wear and tear can happen there and cause a short in the switch itself.

That being said, I'm betting that you could get a used switch on EBAY pretty cheaply - especially if you get one from a Pontiac Vibe. Just make sure it has all the functions of your present one.

Why do I chime in here if I own a Scion xA? Because I was able to install a used switch from a Pontiac Vibe ($25 EBAY) in my Scion to add the functionality of variable timing of the intermittent wiper function. There are discussions about this switch on Scion xA/xB forums.

The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are close sisters and have many interchangeable parts - and Pontiac actually has some parts cheaper (even new) than Toyota. It just so happens that the wiper switch is also shared with other Toyota/Scion vehicles.