windshield wiper switch keeps falling apart
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windshield wiper switch keeps falling apart
Well I was driving along one day and I hit my wiper switch to wash my windshield off when all of a sudden the switch just up and broke on me
. So not long after that I pulled the dash apart a bit and found my switch broken in half and part of it just hanging. so I pulled the front half (the half with the **** shaft in it) out of there and took it to shuck's and ordered a new one. Well I got said new one and installed it and it worked fine for a while but it pops out again almost every time I release my e-brake, as the force of the e-brake pedal banging against the dash shakes the whole dash something fierce and causes the dang switch to pop out. Now the old busted one had some type of glue on it, but I wonder how I would be able to get up in there with both of my hands to glue it withouthaving to completely pull the dash apart. And should my e-brake slam into my dash that roughly upon release? anybody else ever have these problems???? any help much appreciated, winter's coming, and I need my wipers.....
. So not long after that I pulled the dash apart a bit and found my switch broken in half and part of it just hanging. so I pulled the front half (the half with the **** shaft in it) out of there and took it to shuck's and ordered a new one. Well I got said new one and installed it and it worked fine for a while but it pops out again almost every time I release my e-brake, as the force of the e-brake pedal banging against the dash shakes the whole dash something fierce and causes the dang switch to pop out. Now the old busted one had some type of glue on it, but I wonder how I would be able to get up in there with both of my hands to glue it withouthaving to completely pull the dash apart. And should my e-brake slam into my dash that roughly upon release? anybody else ever have these problems???? any help much appreciated, winter's coming, and I need my wipers.....
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Lebanon
i am sitting at my comp and not in my truck......but, couldn't you keep your hand or foot on your e. b. so it didn't bang so hard? i dont know about accessing the switch, but if you can, gorilla glue is what i use professionally. i had the **** come off the 4X4 shifter and wuz gonna glue it, but i sold the truck first.
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funny, cause my 4x4 shifter **** comes off too! That's what I've been doing, putting my foot over the pedal to try to deaden the blow every time I release the e-brake. But that get's old and what if I forget to do it or I let someone borrow my truck and they don't know??? Plus the fact that I wear a size 13 boot and even after deadening the blow with that heavy clunker the switch still likes to fall halfway apart and only the "slow" setting will work on the wipers....
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I already got a new switch it's just that the back of the switch has all the wires for the wipers going in to it so you can't take it out. The switch comes in two halves, I bought a new front half (the part that broke) but my problem is that I can't get the two halves to stay together. I would gorrilla glue it but it's all way up in there where my hands can barely reach. whatever I do it's gonna be a tight one....
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btw, does anybody happen to know what an intermitent wiper switch box dealy looks like or where it's located at, because there's a black plastic box with a disconnected wire plug hanging down next to it and I'm wondering what that is. I do believe I have the non-intermitent wipers though, possibly it was disconnected over the years???
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Lebanon
look below at TAGS and click on wiper and it will give you all kinds of info on wipers. i believe you are probably right, tho...about the intermittent w box.
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Are there any advantages to having intermittent wipers if I were to somehow hook it up again if that's what it is??? btw thanks for the replies and suggestions, and thanks for making me a friend 
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Lebanon
hey, we need all the friends we can get. lol int wipers...depends on how finicky you are. sometimes i gripe about all the newfangled bells and whistles they put on the new vehicles, then catch myself appreciating elec windows at times, and cruise control at other times. i like the fact that my truck is real simple, but on a long trip.....my sisters Buick is hard to beat.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Well I was driving along one day and I hit my wiper switch to wash my windshield off when all of a sudden the switch just up and broke on me. So not long after that I pulled the dash apart a bit and found my switch broken in half and part of it just hanging. so I pulled the front half (the half with the **** shaft in it) out of there and took it to shuck's and ordered a new one. Well I got said new one and installed it and it worked fine for a while but it pops out again almost every time I release my e-brake, as the force of the e-brake pedal banging against the dash shakes the whole dash something fierce and causes the dang switch to pop out. Now the old busted one had some type of glue on it, but I wonder how I would be able to get up in there with both of my hands to glue it withouthaving to completely pull the dash apart. And should my e-brake slam into my dash that roughly upon release? anybody else ever have these problems???? any help much appreciated, winter's coming, and I need my wipers.....
. So not long after that I pulled the dash apart a bit and found my switch broken in half and part of it just hanging. so I pulled the front half (the half with the **** shaft in it) out of there and took it to shuck's and ordered a new one. Well I got said new one and installed it and it worked fine for a while but it pops out again almost every time I release my e-brake, as the force of the e-brake pedal banging against the dash shakes the whole dash something fierce and causes the dang switch to pop out. Now the old busted one had some type of glue on it, but I wonder how I would be able to get up in there with both of my hands to glue it withouthaving to completely pull the dash apart. And should my e-brake slam into my dash that roughly upon release? anybody else ever have these problems???? any help much appreciated, winter's coming, and I need my wipers.....Parking Brake
The Parking brake controls are mounted under the instrument panel to the left of the steering column. F-Series trucks have a foot pedal-type apply mechanism with a lighter pedal feel and a hand operated release lever. Even if you have an automatic transmission, put it in park, and set the parking brake before leaving the vehicle.
To set the brake, push firmly on the service brakes with your right foot and hold whie you apply the parking brake with your left foot by pushing down firmly and fully.
To release, apply the service brakes with your right foot, and depress the parking brake pedal with your left foot while pulling the release lever; lift your left foot slowly from the parking brake pedal untill it's fully released.
CAUTION: Always make sure the parking brake is released before driving the vehicle. Faliure to release the parking brake will result in poor fuel economy and rapid brake wear.
If you don't follow the proceedure above, damage can be done to the parking brake pedal, the dash, the cable, or other components. The preceeding proceedure is to eliminate the pedal from slaming into the dash.
As for the intermittant wiper module. It is black and located right under the wiper switch held onto the dash lower support with a bracket.
Wiper Switch and Modules are still avaliable from ford, and are abundant in the wrecking yards as well.
Wiper switch (Non-intermittant):
Motorcraft number: SW1571A
Ford Number: E7TZ 17A553 B
Engineering Number: E7TB 17A553 BA
Wiper Switch (Intrermittant):
Motorcraft Number: SW1572A
Ford Number: E7TZ 17A553 A
Enginnering Number: E7TB 17A553 CA
Intermittant wiper module (Govenor):
Motorcraft Number: SW2259
Ford Number: E9TZ 17C476 A
Enginnering Number: F0TF 17C476 AA
Fits and are interchangeable with the following vehicles:
1980-1983: F-100
1980-1991: F-150/F-350
1980-1991: U-150 (Bronco)
1980-1999: F-600/F-900
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Thank you very much sir. As this is my first 80-86 ford pickup, I wouldn't have known about that foot release trick. I know on my dad's 95 f150 when you release that e-brake it only makes a light tap against the dash and does nothing. As for the wiper switch, I have fixed that by strategically jamming the proper length of 1/2" ID PVC pipe between the truck's firewall and the switch to hold the switch back plate in place. Works Great! and now even if I do let the e-brake slam the switch stays intact. Problem Solved!!! thanks you guys for all your replies and help
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
to the dash.
I have never seen one of those WW switches that comes apart, nor have I ever
heard of buying half of a replacement. Live & learn, I guess....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
Page 15 of 1981 owners manual, FPS 365-10981-B, november 1980 edition, second printing. There is an earlier edition than the one I have.
As for buying half of a replacement, the only thing I can think of is where the switch and the plug connect together to the intermittant module, then the module to the main underdash harness. Those are seperate components. Otherwise the switch is one unit. Part numbers above.