Wiper variable speed control

Abbreviated version, the photo is copied from the Miata.net Garage article. Read this
article first, there are more photos and description details.
See; www.Miata.net Garage / interior / variable wiper control article for further details
Reasonable soldering skills are needed for this modification, it is easy to severely
damage the circuit board.

This is written around the NB MX5 but can be adapted to fit a NA (and probably a NC)
Instead of a potentiometer, I used a 4 position switch, with a 10k resistor on the board
and simply removed the 36k SMD resistor. Then a chain of 2 x 10k, and 1 x 24k resistors
on the switch. This gave delays of 2sec, 4sec, 6sec and 12 sec to the wiper. (I could have
used 2 x 15k’s instead of the 2 x 10k’s, this would have given 2 sec, 5 sec, 8 sec and 14
sec delays).
I did the mod by removing the steering wheel, the clock spring, and the wiper switch
board. Be very careful with the airbag !!!
I thus didn’t have to separate the circuit board from the switch assembly and it made
access so much easier.
(But I did have to make a puller to get the steering wheel to come off the column splines).
I mounted the switch beside the power mirror control, to the left of the steering wheel.
Remove the clamshell covers around the switches (3 screws for NB’s and 4 screws for
NA’s).
Remove the steering wheel. Note caution about the Air bag!!!.
Undo and lift off the clock spring unit. (Probably not for the NA’s). Undo and lift up the
switch control panel and flip it so you can remove the plastic cover , and gain access to
the rear of the circuit board.

This is the rear of the switch control panel

Remove the 36Kohm SMD resistor circled in Blue. (Heat both ends at the same time, use
2 soldering irons or a soldering iron with a large enough tip to heat both ends)
Solder a 10Kohm resistor across the pads circled in red. (bend the leads around in small
circles so they can be soldered to the pads). Keep the leads short.
Connect a thin twin wire cable, long enough to get to where you fit the switch, to the 2
pads circled in green.
Wire up the 1 pole 4 position switch as below, and connect the other end of the twin wire
cable as shown, polarity doesn’t matter.

Refit the switch unit, the clock spring, and the steering wheel (+airbag, Caution Here!!!).
Reconnect the battery.
Mount the switch wherever you prefer. Use a suitable knob (small, discreet and black)
Test and if all is ok, refit all covers.
Enjoy

Kevin Scrimgeour
98NB6C