I've been away for awhile and low and behold some things on my truck which used to work have quit. Case in point, my windshield wipers. When I turn on the switch, I got nothing. Is there anyway to tell if it's the motor without pulling it out. How do I tell if it's just a bad switch. It worked about a month ago and basically the truck has just been sitting in the garage collecting dust in the interem. Any suggestions?

 

Oh man, sorry to hear about that. Didn't you just get the whole wiper conversion up and running?

I'd start with the basics;
Check the fuse, check the ground, check all connectors


With volt meter or a test light check to see if you are getting power to the switch. If you are check to see if you are getting power THROUGH the switch and out to the motor.
With a volt meter or a test light see if you are getting power to the motor when you turn the switch. If you are then make sure the motor has a good ground.

Good luck with it
Bobby

 

Thanks for the rapid reply but you forgot who you were talking to. How do I do what you suggested? I need sort of step by step instructions. Thanks.

Chris

 

LOL....don't sell yourself short Chris

OK, do you own a test light or a volt meter? if not, either one can be picked up at your local parts store. A test light is basically a 12Vlight bulb attached to what looks like an awl with a test lead and alligator clip on the other end. Its a great tool for quick and dirty tests for power. (when using a test light make sure you have it connected to a known good ground.....do this by connected the clip and probing a connected you know is hot (12volts)...the light should light up...if not wiggle the clip around until it does

I would start by using a test light with the alligator clip connected to a good ground (clean metal surface) then probe both sides of the fuse for the wipers. the light should light up on both sides of the fuse...if only on one side then the fuse is blown and you have a short in the system somewhere.........if thats the case, get back to us and we can help track it down.

After checking the fuse I would move to whatever part was easier to get to or see, either the wiper motor or the switch. Probably the connections at the motor are easier to see. I'm guessing that there should be 3 wires at the motor; 1 ground, 1 power for high speed, and 1 power for low speed. Again with testlight connected to good ground I'd probe all 3 of the wires with the swtich on low and see what you get (you should have power on at least one wire) try it again on high speed (again, should have power on at least one wire)

If you have power going into the motor (test light lights up) and the motor is not running then you might try running a jumper wire from the ground wire to a known good ground...if still not running then the motor is probable bad....try tapping on it with the handle of a screwdriver (sometimes the brushes can get dirty and need to be jarred a bit)

If the switch is easier to get to then....again with the test light on a known good ground. probe the connector. I'm guessing that there is approx 5 wires at the switch; a 12v input, a low speed output, a high speed output, a ground, ground, and....uh...well...who knows
Basically you should have a wire that is hot with the key on. When you switch the switch you should have the 12v input and another wire that is hot going out, same thing with the high speed setting (if you have one)


If you are using a voltmeter instead of a testlight you use the same principal. Put the ground lead on a known good ground and probe with the positive lead witht he voltmeter set on 20V DC. You are looking for battery voltage.

Bobby

 

OK, maybe this shoult be step 1

With the key on, try tapping on the case of the wiper motor with the handle of a screwdriver. Sometimes the brushes inside a motor can get dirty and lose contact and a little jarring can get it runnign again. Keep in mind that you aren't trying to beat the thing into submission...just jar it a little bit

Bobby

 

That's more like it. Thanks for the instructions. If it ever stops raining around here I may even get some work done on my truck and be able to take it out. I will work on it this weekend.

Chris

 

Chris,

I don't even have wipers yet...its a good thing it doesn't rain much here in NM.

I'll get them fabricated someday.....

Keep us posted on what you find and hopefully we can steer you in the right direction
Bobby

 

Bobby, THanks for your help. I located the problem which turned out to be a blown fuse. Kind of embarrassing to ask for help for such an easy problem but the truth is I didn't even know ahead of time that it had a fuse! I used the bulb tester plan and located it pronto. After I fixed that then I had to readjust the whole wiper mechanism since when I had replace the firewall and put the levers back they were not in the correct position so the blades were going all over the place. Finally they work and all is good. Of course I don't like to drive it in the rain but in case I get stuck in a monsoon I'm ready.

Chris