I know this sounds crazy but here it goes. My mom just called me from California (I'm in Indiana)! Its raining and she cant find the wiper controls on her 1986 Ford Tempo. I cant find a manual or good picture to help me guide her through this over the phone nor can I get an exact location of where they are, can someone help me please. Frustrated Jerry Indiana

Yes, I have a few, but please be patient.
1) We are in the U.S.A., so we are not familiar with your vehicle.
2) In the USA, 59 would mean a 1959 vehicle. Your vehicle was not produced in 1959.
3) Your symptom is indicating a defect in the wiper motor, the relay, the wiring,or the "turn on/turn off" switch.
Most likely would be the parts I have listed in the order I listed them.
4) In the USA, we have a product just exactly for your problem, it is called "Rain-X".
When your windshield is dry , you coat it with this liquid, and later, when it rains, you can see through the windshield without your wipers being on.
I don't know if they sell it in your location.
It is available by order on your computer from this country.
God bless your efforts.

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Either the wiper arms are loose or stripped on the pivots or the wiper linkage is broken. Try tightening the arm to pivot bolt. If that doesn't work, remove the plastic cowling and examine the linkage. You can buy new linkage for it.

Hey Rk_
The switch may have gone bad.. or the module that controls the wiper... if the fuse went bad, it would not work.. REMOVE the fuse if you want it to stop...

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Definitely sounds like the the PDB is getting wet. Simulate rain with a water hose w/ a nozzle gun. Spray it on the windshield and around the hood area and track where the water goes to determine what's getting wet.

its part of combination switch need to remove steering column cover to get switch off

Your windshield wipers come on because of the position that the wiper control is set. Wipers will come on intermittently if you set it for light rain or snow or it can be set to come on immediately and fast for hard rain or snow. Please make your windshield wiper adjustments by turning the control knob or lever to the desired position.

you can try using rain-x on the windshield. or buy the next size smaller replacement blade assembly. i.e. if you use a 22" blade install a 21" blade.

Sounds like the wiper lever is broke on the inside of the colum.

Sounds like you just nee to remove them and reinstall them in the correct position. Take them off, run the wipers for one cycle until they park. Install the arms so the blade is about an inch above the bottom of the windshield.

the reason for your wiper speed change is due to the rain sensor which controls the speed of your wipers,determined by how much rain is comming down.the rain sensor is located behind your rear view mirror.