can anyone help with a relay problem

[richard s]

i have a problem with thw wipers on my wifes 1998 passat 1.8t sport
when car is started wipers start going on their own for a couple of mins and every time wipers are used they work fine until turned off then they keep going and usually come to rest in a vertical position
when this was happening i could hear a relay clicking so i had a look and when i removed relay 213 and the wipers stopped working
so i phoned vw and gave them the part number from the relay (443 951 253) and they gave me relay 202 with part number (8A0 951 253) after i questioned the difference in part numbers and relay numbers and one was bigger and two of the pins instead of being opposite each other were next to each other they told me this part number superceded the original
so imagine my suprise when i got home tonight only to find out the relay doesnt fit because the pins are in the wrong place
does anyone have a idea as to why vw would change a part to one that doesnt fit or have a solution
thanks

[russ-vdub]

only thing i can suggest is hit the scrappy and hope for the best.

[Diamond Hell]

I might have a couple of these relays lying around.  Let me know if you want one of them.

[richard s]

went down to see them thursday morning and when guy was shown relay he said that the letter was missed from the part number but on phone when ordering i was only asked for 9 numbers but such is life
and and when new relay arrived it made no difference so went to scrappers this morning and got a wiper switch and no difference so it looks like i will have to get it plugged into a diagnostic machine
thanks for the replies guys

[Witchwood]

Sounds like the limit switches inside the motor itself have got their knickers in a twist. Theoretically, it is possible to strip the motor dow, clean all of the old gunk out and regrease, but I have to confess I've never had any long term success doing that.

Cough up for a new motor, or better still a decent second hand one from Ebay.

Not sure how easy it is to change on a 1998 Passat, but on a 1995 model it's a sod!