The windscreen wash/wipe system is activated by the lever located on the right of the steering wheel and has four different positions:

• windscreen wiper off (stationary);

Starting from this position, turning the lever clockwise, three operating modes are selected in order

• intermittent/automatic operation (according to whether or not the rain sensor is activated);

• continuous operation at the 1st speed;

• continuous operation at the 2nd speed.

From the windscreen wiper stationary position it is possible, by turning the lever anti-clockwise, to select the last possible position which is temporary fast operation.

This is an unstable position with the windscreen wipers only remaining activated whilst the lever is manually kept in this position. When the lever is released it returns automatically to the windscreen wipers off position.

In the intermittent operation position, four different operating speeds can be selected by turning the ring nut on the right steering column stalk to one of the 4 possible positions.

If a rain sensor is fitted, the frequency of the windscreen wiper strokes, in the intermittent operating mode, is automatically adjusted to the intensity of the rain.

The function is automatically activated by turning the right steering column stalk to the intermittent operating mode. The activation of the sensor is signalled by a "stroke" to show that the command has been acquired.

Turning the special ring nut on the right steering column stalk allows the rain sensor setting to be adjusted. The increasing of the rain sensor sensitivity is signalled by a "stroke" to show that the command has been acquired.

If a rain sensor is fitted, if the ignition is turned OFF and the right steering column stalk is kept in the intermittent operation position, the next time the vehicle is started up the rain sensor will not be reactivated.

To reactivate it, move the lever to a different position other than intermittent operation and later on return it to this position or turn the setting adjustment ring nut.

The rain sensor is capable of recognizing the difference between day and night and making the necessary adjustments automatically.

The windscreen washer function can be activated by pulling the stalk toward the steering wheel (unstable position): this activates the windscreen washer pump.

Keeping the stalk pulled for more than half a second turns the windscreen wipers on as well.

The operation of the windscreen wipers ends four strokes after the stalk is released.

The washing cycle is completed by a stroke of the windscreen wipers five seconds later.

If the windscreen washer is used with the rain sensor activated, the normal washing cycle is performed, after which the rain sensor resumes its normal automatic operation.

The control of the functions described above is carried out by the Body Computer which detects the status of the steering column stalk and produces the intermittent function and controls the operation of the windscreen wiper motor and the windscreen washer electric pump.

The circuit is protected by dedicated fuses and controlled by dedicated relay switches located in the junction units in the engine compartment and in the Body Computer.

If the rain sensor is not working properly, the windscreen wipers operate intermittently, whilst the sensor failure is signalled in the instrument panel by the general failure warning light coming on.