Alfa 156 Wiper Switch Failure: DIY Diagnosis Guide

As someone with moderate experience working on Alfas, I had a similar issue with my Alfa 159 2.4 JTD from 2008. The wiper system completely failed, which turned out to be a damaged wiring harness connection near the steering column. Initially thought it was the wiper switch, but after inspection, the workshop found corroded terminals where the wiring harness connects to the wiper motor. They had to clean the connection points and replace a small section of the damaged wiring. The repair cost was 95 Euro including diagnostic work. Before jumping to conclusions about the wiper switch, would recommend checking: 1. Fuses 2. Wiring harness connections 3. Wiper motor functionality 4. Ground connection points Could you share: Build year of your 156, Whether the wipers stopped suddenly or gradually became problematic, If you notice any other electrical issues, The specific error code showing up This would help narrow down whether your issue matches what I experienced or points to a different problem with the wiper system.

Last service done at 109500 KM, so pretty recent. The wipers worked fine during the service check. The issue started gradually over two weeks, with intermittent function before complete failure. No other electrical problems noted. Upon inspection, found the wiper motor still tries to engage, you can hear it working, but the wiper blades dont move. Error code on the dash is 00324. The wiper switch feels loose when turning, which matches what others mentioned about steering column issues. Thinking about getting the switch replaced first since its more accessible than the wiring harness and less expensive than a full wiper motor replacement.

Thanks for those details. Your symptoms do differ from what I experienced on my 159, and the loose feel of your wiper switch is particularly telling. While my issue was wiring-related, your description points more directly to a failing wiper switch assembly. The gradually declining function combined with the loose feel is a classic sign of wear in the switch mechanism. When these switches start to fail, they often create intermittent contact before complete failure, exactly as youve described. The fact that you can hear the motor engaging suggests your wiring and motor are likely fine. Since your car passed service recently and the wipers worked then, plus the motor seems to respond, replacing the wiper switch is a logical first step. The rain sensor and cruise control functions might also be affected if theyre integrated into the same switch assembly. Had a quote recently for a similar repair on my Alfa: Switch unit: 180 Euro, Labor: 45 Euro Before proceeding with the switch replacement, suggest verifying: 1. All turn signal functions still work normally 2. The windshield wiper fuse is intact 3. The error code persists after a system reset Would be interested to hear the outcome if you proceed with the switch replacement.

Thanks everyone for the input. After considering the symptoms and your suggestions, I'm going to move forward with replacing the wiper switch first. The loose feel and gradual failure really do point to the switch being the culprit, especially since I can hear the wiper motor trying to work. The total cost estimate of around 225 Euro seems reasonable compared to a full wiper motor replacement. Will make sure to have them check the surrounding wiring connections while they're working on the steering column, just to be thorough. Good point about verifying the other functions first, I just tested and all turn signals work perfectly. The windshield wiper fuse is also intact, and the error code comes back even after resetting the system. This really confirms the switch theory. Will update once the repair is done and let you know if fixing the wiper switch solved the problem. Hopefully this helps others who might run into similar issues with their windshield wiper systems.