2013 F150 STX 4x4 5.0 Flex. I notice the wipers always run in the longest delay selection. No rain sensor here.

My steering stalk switch is a combo turn signal, high/low beam and wiper control with the washer fluid pushbutton on the end. Until today it worked fine but I got a surprise when they operated when I thought I had them turned off. Did a little testing and sure enough, that's the case. I've ordered a new switch from Tasca and am researching which fuse to pull to keep them from operating when not needed. Here's what I found, wouldn't mind opinions:

- Wipers never shut off completely, they are always in the longest delay mode when off is selected;
- all other delay mode durations and both continuous operation modes seem appropriate;
- normally when I select a faster delay mode position, and when I select from off up one position, the wipers will operate one time immediately then go to the selected delay;
- now when I select from OFF to the first delay position, the wipers do not operate immediately. This leads me to believe the switch may be showing selected all the time.

Hopefully it's as simple as this. I really don't want to deal with a wire bundle with shorted (damaged & connected) wires in it. Opinions?

 

Common issue that is resolved with a replacement, although I completely disassembled the switch and found it to have brown goo on the connections. Gave it a thorough alcohol and cotton swab treatment and the problem was resolved.

 

I replaced the switch even though the factory one began working again. Time will tell! I might go through the trouble of pulling it apart but will likely do the man thing- keep it until I've convinced myself the new one works reliably then chuck, probably 5 or 6 yrs from now .

 

Well, that didn't work as planned. Wipers seem to be working correctly, as is washer and high/low beams but now I have no continuous turn signals. I have the tap-limited number of flashes but neither side works continuously. Is anything ever simple anymore? Good thing I didn't chuck the old switch out. Geez......

 

I'm telling you...Alcohol and q-tips. You might be surprised. Very easy to disassemble and you are already halfway there once you remove that arm and switch assembly!

 

I attempted disassembly of the old one but it flew apart and I think pieces were lost.

 

Not sure how that would have happened as I do not recall any springs in it. It kinda goes without saying, you should always take pics to refer to after. With that said, spring-loaded or not, I am affected by flying parts all too regularly and feel your pain, lol! At least you have the other to refer to. Here is what you are trying to get to and clean. I took these pics when I disassembled mine.

 

When I removed that little circuit board the little slide things under it popped out and hit the floor. For the life of me I can't figure out how they go back together. I really didn't want to disassemble the new switch but it looks like I have no choice.

 

Your switch internals look the same as mine but the "OE Motorcraft" replacement part from Tasca looks totally different. Here's a pic, right is original.



I tried everything I could think of to get the replacement to work correctly. It simply won't. I cleaned the original and reinstalled it hoping I don't fall back into my original problem with the windshield wipers. I'm failing to see how cleaning the goop from the moving contacts will "fix" my wiper problem since the wipers are connected directly to the circuit board via a ribbon. But hey, at least it looks like I got properly functioning turn signals back!

 

And the electric signal changes according to the contacts before it goes to ribbon...Depending on what the goo is, it will interfere with or combine signals preventing wipers from turning off. As a last resort, if the wipers continue to stay on, immediately after turning the switch off, flash your high beams. Oddly, this has been known to correct the problem by turning wipers completely off. At least till the next time you use them :/

 

I tried the flash thing when the original problem showed up. It didn't help then but I'll try it again if needed. Thanks for your help!

 

Welp, disassembling and cleaning didn't work. I'm right back to the original problem with the windshield wipers not shutting off completely. I guess I'll start hunting for the correct replacement switch and hope for the best.

 

I think I got really lucky. Advance Auto website said they had a Motorcraft replacement switch in stock locally. I bought it and when I picked it up I disassembled it in the parking lot. It's the same construction as the original switch and works fine. I'm hoping to forget about this for another ten yrs!

 

This thread brings back memories. Had a customer at my dealer come in with a wiper problem I narrowed down to the multifunction switch, iirc it was late 90's. Anyway I worked up an estimate and the customer didn't like the $80 price tag on the new switch and asked me if I could repair it. Told them I had no experience doing something like that but would try if they signed off on unexpected #$^T happening.

They agreed so I sat down at a work bench and started taking it apart, got to the last screw and began to separate the halves when springs went flying! DOH! Installed a new switch and sent customer on their merry way. That was the 1st and ONLY time I'ver attempted taking one of those things apart. Just isn't worth the aggrevation. Almost reminds of buiding a Glock style handgun. I've still got springs in my house somewhere I will never find until I step on the damned things.

 

I discovered the one way the switch has to be held during disassembly to keep the internals internal. Pressure on the pickups makes them like springs and boing!