Getting wipers fully operational
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Austin, TX area
Getting wipers fully operational
Hi all
Took the truck out yesterday for its maiden cargo carrying voyage. Quickly learned the wipers are hurting.
In addition to the blades needing to be replaced badly, the motor seems to have significant problems.
At first I thought it was set to intermittent but it appears the motor is simply starting & stopping on its own, often with the blades smack in the windshield in various positions. It did so even while cranked to maximum. They would often pause for a random amount of time - generally a few seconds at most. But doing that while at 55+ mph even a light rain could make it hard to see very rapidly.
Sinc he wasn't driving, my son managed to notice the wipers, towing brake energizer and glove box light would all turn off or on together. The glove box cover is gone so it was easy to spot it.
So, it sounds like a short or loose connection somewhere and might be an easy fix.
Suggestions on where to start?
I will read the owners manual to see how the wipers are *supposed* to work.
Took the truck out yesterday for its maiden cargo carrying voyage. Quickly learned the wipers are hurting.
In addition to the blades needing to be replaced badly, the motor seems to have significant problems.
At first I thought it was set to intermittent but it appears the motor is simply starting & stopping on its own, often with the blades smack in the windshield in various positions. It did so even while cranked to maximum. They would often pause for a random amount of time - generally a few seconds at most. But doing that while at 55+ mph even a light rain could make it hard to see very rapidly.
Sinc he wasn't driving, my son managed to notice the wipers, towing brake energizer and glove box light would all turn off or on together. The glove box cover is gone so it was easy to spot it.
So, it sounds like a short or loose connection somewhere and might be an easy fix.
Suggestions on where to start?
I will read the owners manual to see how the wipers are *supposed* to work.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Dallas, TX
Your wipers show the same symptoms mine, and many others here have shown..
I fixed mine by replacing the old wiper motor with a new one. I had previously replaced the multi-function switch, which had no effect. With the new motor, the wipers function perfectly per design.
Swapping the motor is easy and relatively cheap, so that may be worth looking into.
I doubt it is related to the brake controller issue, as that sounds like a wiring problem somewhere on another circuit.
I fixed mine by replacing the old wiper motor with a new one. I had previously replaced the multi-function switch, which had no effect. With the new motor, the wipers function perfectly per design.
Swapping the motor is easy and relatively cheap, so that may be worth looking into.
I doubt it is related to the brake controller issue, as that sounds like a wiring problem somewhere on another circuit.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Austin, TX area
Went to the local auto parts store up the street a bit from my house to get replacement blades.
First the budget pair - nope won't fit. Then the mid-range pair - still nope. Went to Walmart and got a cheapie set - fits right on.
$8 out the door instead of $28 and they fit in 5 seconds. The others (despite being exactly the right model per the selection criteria machine) didn't even come close.
I'm down to fixing that motor or the board whichever that turns out to be. We'll see which it is this weekend. I'm going to try to get parts from the local salvage yard.
There's one WAY out from where I live, but it's not far from a couple gun ranges I have visited. But if the pricing on their website is right, I'd be better off buying from a store and saving the trip. The difference was tiny on the parts they even had.
First the budget pair - nope won't fit. Then the mid-range pair - still nope. Went to Walmart and got a cheapie set - fits right on.
$8 out the door instead of $28 and they fit in 5 seconds. The others (despite being exactly the right model per the selection criteria machine) didn't even come close.
I'm down to fixing that motor or the board whichever that turns out to be. We'll see which it is this weekend. I'm going to try to get parts from the local salvage yard.
There's one WAY out from where I live, but it's not far from a couple gun ranges I have visited. But if the pricing on their website is right, I'd be better off buying from a store and saving the trip. The difference was tiny on the parts they even had.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 908
Likes: 119
Hi all
Took the truck out yesterday for its maiden cargo carrying voyage. Quickly learned the wipers are hurting.
In addition to the blades needing to be replaced badly, the motor seems to have significant problems.
At first I thought it was set to intermittent but it appears the motor is simply starting & stopping on its own, often with the blades smack in the windshield in various positions. It did so even while cranked to maximum. They would often pause for a random amount of time - generally a few seconds at most. But doing that while at 55+ mph even a light rain could make it hard to see very rapidly.
Sinc he wasn't driving, my son managed to notice the wipers, towing brake energizer and glove box light would all turn off or on together. The glove box cover is gone so it was easy to spot it.
So, it sounds like a short or loose connection somewhere and might be an easy fix.
Suggestions on where to start?
I will read the owners manual to see how the wipers are *supposed* to work.
Took the truck out yesterday for its maiden cargo carrying voyage. Quickly learned the wipers are hurting.
In addition to the blades needing to be replaced badly, the motor seems to have significant problems.
At first I thought it was set to intermittent but it appears the motor is simply starting & stopping on its own, often with the blades smack in the windshield in various positions. It did so even while cranked to maximum. They would often pause for a random amount of time - generally a few seconds at most. But doing that while at 55+ mph even a light rain could make it hard to see very rapidly.
Sinc he wasn't driving, my son managed to notice the wipers, towing brake energizer and glove box light would all turn off or on together. The glove box cover is gone so it was easy to spot it.
So, it sounds like a short or loose connection somewhere and might be an easy fix.
Suggestions on where to start?
I will read the owners manual to see how the wipers are *supposed* to work.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Austin, TX area
OK, so I am researching part numbers now.
This is what's in the truck now that is all herky-jerky.
Wiper motor
I found one on Ebay for $27 from a 1992 with free shipping. Didn't really find that one anywhere else. New ones are $42 + free shipping.
Hopefully this will be an easy fix. I'd bet the mechanical motor is dead before the electrical / wires / switch went. So I'll try that first.
This is what's in the truck now that is all herky-jerky.
Wiper motor
I found one on Ebay for $27 from a 1992 with free shipping. Didn't really find that one anywhere else. New ones are $42 + free shipping.
Hopefully this will be an easy fix. I'd bet the mechanical motor is dead before the electrical / wires / switch went. So I'll try that first.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Austin, TX area
I will try to diagnose the problem a bit before I order parts. But just from the photo I can see part of the motor looks almost crusty. I will look at the switch for sure since I have to open up the dash again anyway.
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Senior User
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From: Austin, TX area
Found a compatible wiper motor cheap online for a new one, so I ordered that from Amazon. Going to be doing a bunch to the truck this weekend but this will probably be the last bit since it's due to be delivered on Sunday. I still can't get used to Sunday delivery but I'll take it.
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From: Austin, TX area
OK, this one is half-finished.
Wiper motor
The new motor is in & functions. I had to break the (ground?) wire star ring terminal on that post to get it apart, but that's easily fixed. The fun part was trying to get the motor itself detached from the arms assembly within the recess on the dash.
I had kept one bolt still fully tightened (top left) thinking I would need the leverage because the arm had rusted so badly at the rear of the motor. I figured there was no way I could get that off - and that proved right. The angle you have to work at if you don't remove ALL 3 bolts is stupid, and of course is alleviated by removing all three bolts.
I was staring at one problem (the horrible rust seize-up) and not paying attention to the other. Note to self: next time remove all three bolts.
Now all I need to do is re-install the arm/blades and close it all back up.[***************]Save[/COLOR]
Wiper motor The new motor is in & functions. I had to break the (ground?) wire star ring terminal on that post to get it apart, but that's easily fixed. The fun part was trying to get the motor itself detached from the arms assembly within the recess on the dash.
I had kept one bolt still fully tightened (top left) thinking I would need the leverage because the arm had rusted so badly at the rear of the motor. I figured there was no way I could get that off - and that proved right. The angle you have to work at if you don't remove ALL 3 bolts is stupid, and of course is alleviated by removing all three bolts.
I was staring at one problem (the horrible rust seize-up) and not paying attention to the other. Note to self: next time remove all three bolts.
Now all I need to do is re-install the arm/blades and close it all back up.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Austin, TX area
And I call this one done. The wipers are on, all the metal housing pieces are back in place, the electrical ground has a permanent fix, and the wiper fluid nozzle even got cleaned out. Everything works as it should.
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