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Wipers not working - Quick question

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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 03:43 PM
  #1  
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Wipers not working - Quick question

This is an 84 F250 Diesel w/intermittent wipers. In Northern California it doesn't rain in the summer, so the first rains just came, and my wipers don't work. I tried jiggling them with the switch on, but nothing.

But my big questions is: When I turn the key on, and the wiper switch is either on slow, fast or intermittent, I hear rapid clicking coming from what sounds like under the dash. Is this normal?

I got some info from this topic: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ty-wipers.html , but nobody mentioned any rapid clicking which doesn't seem right to me.


Thanks,
Sam
 
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 05:14 PM
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The intermittent wipers do have a module under the dash connected to the wiper switch.

Make sure you have voltage on the red wire out at the motor.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 05:41 PM
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The rapid click could be as simple as hte transmission linkage under the cowl being disconnected/broken at the joint...
 
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by fellro86
The rapid click could be as simple as hte transmission linkage under the cowl being disconnected/broken at the joint...
I'm not sure I even know what that is, but the rapid clicking ONLY occurs when the wiper switch is on.

Will test for power on the red as soon as the rains let up.

Thanks for the help.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 09:54 PM
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The linkage under the cowl that actually connects the motor to the wiper arms is called a transmission. If the bushing popped off, the motor will still spin, but is not connected to anything, but may come around and hit the linkage,. The motor itself simply rotates in a circle, it is the arrangement of the transmission linkage that gives the back and forth motion.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 04:13 AM
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The Intermittent wiper module will also click fast if it has a ground fault or if there is a fault with one of the components.

When it works normally, it will sound a "Click-Click" everytime it sends a pulse to the motor to operate.

When it has a bad ground, or other fault, it will sound like, "Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click" etc...

If it's doing that, check the ground wire for the module, then check the motor, then after that, check the module, they do fail with the broken solder joints like was stated in the thread you posted the link from.

Hope this helps
 
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 12:34 PM
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Yes that helps a LOT! Actually I think I may just change out the motor as it has been moving slower and slower and jerkier over the years. It's got to be that.

Originally Posted by 81-F-150-Explorer
The Intermittent wiper module will also click fast if it has a ground fault or if there is a fault with one of the components.

When it works normally, it will sound a "Click-Click" everytime it sends a pulse to the motor to operate.

When it has a bad ground, or other fault, it will sound like, "Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click" etc...

If it's doing that, check the ground wire for the module, then check the motor, then after that, check the module, they do fail with the broken solder joints like was stated in the thread you posted the link from.

Hope this helps
 
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Old Nov 9, 2008 | 07:07 PM
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Ok, I got it fixed. I pulled the wiper motor (not easy... whose idea was it to put one of the mounting bolts UNDER the cowl thing?), and being the poor broke person I am, I pulled it apart and found that it was seized in one of the bearings. I took it all apart, cleaned it and lubricated all the bearing surfaces, and it works better than ever. Thanks everyone for the help!
 
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