2000 VDP, SC 4.0, 129k, garage kept.

Situation 1- this is new, driving in a moderate rain with heavy spurts. Wipers on about a 2-3 second delay and suddenly they go into hyper speed. Same day, wipers on constant for a little heavier rain and badda bing, into hyper speed they go again. No control when they go into hyper except to shut them off and reengage them. Even then it sometimes went back into hyper speed directly.
Is there a union short or case leak on the wiper motor perhaps? It only seemed to do it when the rain got a little heavy.

Situation 2- this has been an issue since I bought the car 8+ yrs ago. A/C is on, I press and hold the cabin air recycle button and wait for the double beep telling me its locked. Now if the temp is set above 71 it may or may not hold, usually not. But if below 71 it usually stays locked until I shut it off. Then it sometimes will disengage upon start up. The lower the temp, the more likely it will stay locked.
Is this simply a bad contact button that needs replaced or what?

I appreciate everyones effort to steer me in the right direction.....