Porsche 991 Wiper Failure: Common Relay Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2013 Porsche Cayman (I have some experience working on cars but nothing too advanced). The symptoms were exactly the same, wipers acting up and warning light on the dash. Took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was just a faulty cable connection. The fix cost me about 155 Euro, and it's been working perfectly since then. To help you better, could you share more specifics about the warning light and if you notice any particular pattern when the wipers malfunction? Also, does this happen when you try all wiper speeds or just specific settings? My Porsche mechanic mentioned these issues are somewhat common in that generation of Porsches, but they're usually pretty straightforward to fix once properly diagnosed.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My latest service was just done two weeks ago at 62096 KM and everything was fine then. The warning light started flashing yesterday showing "wiper system fault" and the wipers only work on intermittent mode. When I try other speeds, they either don't move at all or move very slowly. Haven't tried taking it to a shop yet, but hearing that yours was just a cable issue gives me hope it won't be too expensive. Did your mechanic have to remove any major components to access the wiring?

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get your concern, it's always nerve-wracking when these things pop up right after a service. In my case, the mechanic didn't have to tear apart the whole car or anything dramatic like that. They mainly had to access the wiring harness near the wiper motor, which wasn't too invasive. Since you mentioned it only works on intermittent mode, that's exactly what mine was doing too! Mine also started acting up suddenly, and I initially thought it was the relay too. But when my mechanic checked it out, they found that one of the connector pins in the wiring harness had corroded slightly and wasn't making proper contact. That's why it would work sometimes but not others. The job took about an hour and a half total. They had to remove the plastic cowl cover under the windshield to access everything, but that was pretty much it. Nothing major had to come off the car. Given that your symptoms are so similar to what I experienced with my Cayman, I'd bet you're looking at something similar. Just make sure whoever works on it checks those connections first before replacing any parts, could save you some money! Let me know how it turns out, I'm curious if it ends up being the same issue!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! That's really helpful to know about the cowl cover access and the possible corrosion issue. You've definitely made me feel better about the whole situation. I've just booked it in at my local Porsche specialist for tomorrow morning, and I'll make sure to mention the connector pins and wiring harness to them. Will let you know what they find, fingers crossed it's just a simple fix like yours was! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. These things are always less stressful when you know someone else has dealt with the same problem successfully.