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I installed Speciality Wipers in my truck and of course it goes in first and everything is layered over it. It uses a cable/transmission arrangement the the motor (in the kick panel pushes and pulls the cable through a soft aluminum tube that actuates the wiper transmissions.
The motor end of the tube is flared and mounts in a slot in the motor housing.
well something got hung or fouled and causes a problem.. the cable fouled (or something) and when the motor pushed against the cable it had enough umph to push the cable and tubing out of the motor housing tearing the flare off and mangling the end of the tube. Seems a simple fix except to repair properly I'd have to remove the center console, remove the a/c cover place, remove the a/c-heater unit to get to the piece of tubing between the motor and the right hand transmission. That ain't gonna happen. I have been able to cut the bad end of the tube and reflare (that was fun ...not) but when trying to put cable back in the tubing I found it was damaged enough that the cable won't pass easily... or actually at all... I need a way to get the tubing reshaped so the cable will slide easily thru it. I can only move the tube about 1" away from the motor. I tried passing a 1/4" diameter rod thru and it works but when I try the actual size thru the tube (5/16") it binds up in the first two or three inches of the tube. I tried to tap a 5/16" rod thru the tube to stretch it back in shape but I have no way to hold the tube steady (one hand) hold the rod at the mouth of the tube (second hand) and tap the rod with a hammer (third hand) to reshape the tube. All while laying on my side between the seat and the door jamb. and working sideways toward the kick panel area. I'm looking for enlightenment and innovative solutions. Keep in mind that the interior is finished so heat is probably out of the question.
Can Specialty Wipers provide a new section of tubing? I would think you would be able to worm the old piece out and get the new one in without removing all that stuff, but I know how hard that may be. I had my wiper system in/out 6 times at least, no fun at all.
hi Ross, change out would be impossible without removing all I mentioned above.
Then the tube has to be shaped, flared on each end, the transmission back lossened or removed and the tube inserted into it so it's flare sets in the notch in the transmission
I'll do without wipers if that is the only option . It's not a back to square one option, but it is back to square 1.5 !!! I'm thinking about a 5/16 or maybe 9/32 drill bit pushed thru
the tube at slow revolutions to try to clear the obstruction or to 'reround' the tube...
Do you think that this where the problem is or as 56panelford suggested possibly a result of a problem elsewhere ? I am assuming you ran them previously . Is it possible you pinched or blocked them with other later added interior pieces ? Can you move the wipers by hand with the motor disconnected ? Just thinking out loud .
I am trying to understand the cable is it in a housing like a brake cable on your bicycle? Or is it an open cable that works like a rack pinion pushing pulling turning a gear wheel
I am trying to understand the cable is it in a housing like a brake cable on your bicycle? Or is it an open cable that works like a rack pinion pushing pulling turning a gear wheel
tried the transmissions and everything works smoothly without binding... so that eliminates that... I'm trying to figure out a way to cut off the bad section and couple a good end onto my existing tube. Made a tubing coupler with set screws from a all thread rod coupler drilled out to 3/8 o.d. of the tube, but got little space to work with. Minimum removal is the underdash panel and right side a/c hose. then I have the kick panel braces to deal with..
You may have to dig deeper anyways John if the problem started at the wiper arms..
I hate it when John is right !!
Well, it was deeper than first thought....found a sheet metal screw that holds down the defroster vent cover strip had pierced the first tube and caused the cable to hang sometimes. I replaced that aluminum tube with Stainless tube and things worked much better. (and will use a shorter screw) Then I realized I hadn't set the motor up properly to park on the pass side and to get the sweep right... to me its a confusing combination of stuff. while doing that the left wiper didn't want to cooperate and stay in sync.. Keith at Speciality Wipers are on a first name basis now !. The cable was slipping in the transmission.. after trying all his suggestions we determined that the clearance where the cable goes thru the transmission was gaped too wide letting the cable ride up over the gear in the transmission and slip . I hadn't disassembled anything on the drivers side of the dash so after doing that I corrected the gap on the transmission and while I was in there I wanted to replace the center tube with stainless ... bent a new tube and while putting the flare on one end my flaring tool bit the dust ... bar clamp bolt broke and they don't offer spare parts, you have to buy the complete bar assembly.
With a little Rube Goldberg engineering I fashioned a new clamp bolt and got the flares done. At this point, my enthusiasm and energy were drained so I stopped for the evening. I find when I hit the wall to walk away before I do something stupid (er)
tomorrow is a new day with rain forecasted ... so a good inside shop day. It's been real and fun, but it ain't been real fun... to get to the passenger side transmission I have to remove the seats and reposition the drawers, take out the armrest and the center console then the lower dash panel and all the a/c connections, move around the wiring and snake my arm up thru the ac ductwork while trying to hold a flashlight with the other hand. The drivers side is accessed thru the steering wheel and dash panel opening .
