Strange Happenings

[Apex]

On my way home from the frozen woods in Essex tonight, McDonalds looked good, but after eating my food and re-starting my Green Machine i was somewhat surprised that my Head lights would only go onto side lights then the wipers failed to work!!!. Thinking i might have blown a Fuse i pulled over and turned the engine off, before getting out in the ensuing blizzard and owning this since new i thought i would restart and try everything again, as if by magic all was now working.
Has anybody else ever had this happen, or do you think i'm in for a bigger surprise??
As im back out into the outback of Essex again at 4.30am tomorrow is there anything to check first. the AA can't get to where i go.

Apex

[Jeff J]

I think your ignition switch may have not been making properly but I'm not sure whether that affects the wipers or not. If the heater blower was not working either then it is definitely your ignition switch.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Sticking relay? Not coming back on when key returned.

[937carrera]

I'd go with ignition switch. When the ignition is off headlights don't work only sidelights and no wipers. Headlight relay is powered by terminal X on the ignition switch.

Quick 'n dirty fix (the type you may never need to do again). You need to spray some contact cleaner into the switch, operate it a few times and make sure the connecting terminals are clean. Disconnect battery first if being done in situ.

Once done, give it 10 minutes before you restore power and start the van to be sure the solvent has evaporated.

[Apex]

Thanks guys i will give the switch a good spay up tomorrow, really appreciate your help. had the green machine from new and take it for granted some times, always fires up first go and wakes the wife up when ELO burst's into song.

Apex

[tonytech]

As above. I had a similar experience. I found that jamming a credit card thickness of plastic between the ignition switch and the steering column fixed the problem for several years.

T