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Hi this is my first post on the form. I have a 1989 regular cab f-150 straight 6. I am trying to get it fixed up so i can get it inspected. I have wired up a temporary push button horn. I am young and have no one to teach me technical skills but im learning a lot but I have no idea where to start with finding out why my windshield wipers wont work and need some starting advice.
Where could I find a good fuse diagram? I google it and there seems to be 2 conflicting diagrams going around which confuses me one has the number 2 spot as the wiper breaker and the other has it set as unused and doesnt seem to say where it is.
How would that work and what exactly do you mean a test light? Could i just take an outlet sniffer to it. I imagine the voltage would be too low.
You'll have to excuse me if I'm not explaining things so clearly. A test light is just a screwdriver looking item with a ground wire, and is used to check whether electrical current is passing through a something. It has a light inside the screwdriver "handle" that will light up when current is present. Here's a photo:
Now, I'm assuming that your wipers just plain and simple aren't working. It would be prudent to acquire a test light (will be very useful for other diagnosing jobs as well) and probe some of the wires/connectors that comprise the wiper circuit. Check for power going into your wiper switch (with the test light) and then check for power on the OTHER side of the switch headed out to the wiper motor. You can also check the plug right at the wiper motor to see if you're getting power there or not. If so, you've got a bad wiper motor. If no power, then you've got electrical issues in the wiring headed to the wiper motor.
This is, of course, the next course of action AFTER you check the fuses that run the wipers and accessories. Don't forget Occam's Scan Tool: we often don't check the simplest causes when troubleshooting, hence we end up getting frustrated and spending a bunch of money when the solution was right in front of us!
When you drop that lower dash cover, there should be a fuse box diagram under there on a big sticker.
Look up how to use a test light, very simple device. They are about $5 for a cheapo. I also recommend a cheap DVOM, $20 or so. This way you can start to check for power and such. Hell, you may have a crapped wiper motor.
Noob needs help diagnosing windshield wipers.
