Since we've been in a drought in central Texas for several years, I have put off solving my wiper woes while working on other more pressing projects. Mine would work - sometimes - but only when the glass was wet. Even then, they would sometimes stop in mid stroke. Most of the time they would start up OK, then get progressively slower until they just stopped.
BUT...
Since the Monsoons seem to have hit us in the last couple of weeks, I've been working to solve some of these gremlins that have plagued the '88k5.
Wipers ran slowly and would sometimes stop in mid-windshield.
Recently, the column switch bit the big one, and went "clicky" no more.
Steps to solve...
_A year or so ago I had installed a new wiper motor.
Result: Helped for a while but got slow again.
_Ordered & installed a column multi-switch from NAPA -
Result: I had clicky but still slow/stopping wipers.
_Pulled the wiper motor assembly
_removed the armature
_cleaned up the commutator and brushes with some 1000 grit sandpaper, and hit it with some contact cleaner.
*I didn't think the motor it was old enough to be wo' out.
_Installed a braided grounding strap from the wiper motor to fender.
_Pulled the cowl and cowl screen and checked the wiper mechanism for freedom of movement. It was OK.
_Used a digital fish scale (in oz), to measure the force needed to lift the wiper blades from the glass. Blades were 18", so using a reference from another post here a CK5, I lightened them up (by bending the arms) to as close to 18 oz as I could get each of them, since they were measuring 1lb.12oz each.
Result: worked 60 miles thru the biblical flood this morning.
Except - wipers went all phantom on me. Would turn on even when the wiper switch was off. They also made one swipe whenever I first turned on the key. Hmm this is new. Didn't have Phantom wipers before.
_On the way home today, I installed a new (reman, Cardone) wiper motor assembly from O'reilley.
Result: STILL had phantom wipers, making one swipe every 4 minutes even with the switch off (I know - I timed it)
_Pulled the park switch out of the just-installed wiper motor assembly and cleaned the contacts.
Result: no change
_When I got home tonight, I pulled the "NEW" Gen-U-Wine AC/Delco Delay module I had installed Saturday, from under the dash and plugged the connectors together.
Result: Phantom wipers disappeared.
_Re-installed the OLD delay module I pulled Saturday
Result: Phantom wipers are still gone. AHA! The dern module was defective!
Since they are forecasting daily monsoons for the rest of this week, I guess I'll see if the combination of fixes has done the trick. as of tonight, the wipers come on when they are supposed to, do intermittent like they are supposed to, and WORK ON DRY GLASS!
BUT...
Since the Monsoons seem to have hit us in the last couple of weeks, I've been working to solve some of these gremlins that have plagued the '88k5.
Wipers ran slowly and would sometimes stop in mid-windshield.
Recently, the column switch bit the big one, and went "clicky" no more.
Steps to solve...
_A year or so ago I had installed a new wiper motor.
Result: Helped for a while but got slow again.
_Ordered & installed a column multi-switch from NAPA -
Result: I had clicky but still slow/stopping wipers.
_Pulled the wiper motor assembly
_removed the armature
_cleaned up the commutator and brushes with some 1000 grit sandpaper, and hit it with some contact cleaner.
*I didn't think the motor it was old enough to be wo' out.
_Installed a braided grounding strap from the wiper motor to fender.
_Pulled the cowl and cowl screen and checked the wiper mechanism for freedom of movement. It was OK.
_Used a digital fish scale (in oz), to measure the force needed to lift the wiper blades from the glass. Blades were 18", so using a reference from another post here a CK5, I lightened them up (by bending the arms) to as close to 18 oz as I could get each of them, since they were measuring 1lb.12oz each.
Result: worked 60 miles thru the biblical flood this morning.
Except - wipers went all phantom on me. Would turn on even when the wiper switch was off. They also made one swipe whenever I first turned on the key. Hmm this is new. Didn't have Phantom wipers before.
_On the way home today, I installed a new (reman, Cardone) wiper motor assembly from O'reilley.
Result: STILL had phantom wipers, making one swipe every 4 minutes even with the switch off (I know - I timed it)
_Pulled the park switch out of the just-installed wiper motor assembly and cleaned the contacts.
Result: no change
_When I got home tonight, I pulled the "NEW" Gen-U-Wine AC/Delco Delay module I had installed Saturday, from under the dash and plugged the connectors together.
Result: Phantom wipers disappeared.
_Re-installed the OLD delay module I pulled Saturday
Result: Phantom wipers are still gone. AHA! The dern module was defective!
Since they are forecasting daily monsoons for the rest of this week, I guess I'll see if the combination of fixes has done the trick. as of tonight, the wipers come on when they are supposed to, do intermittent like they are supposed to, and WORK ON DRY GLASS!
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