Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Charging, starting, lighting, gauges, HVAC

Moderators: FORDification, Thunderfoot

Post Reply
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

Howdy!

I have been trying to troubleshoot my wiper motor. I picked up a new motor but before I pull the dash totally apart I wanted to slide by and get some opinions.

The wires that went to the washer pump were disconnected so I fixed that problem and ended up with rust red sludge all over the windshield :roll:

Well I know that the washer function works but the wipers still wont fire up..
Just to make sure I covered all my bases I swapped the fuse with a new one and still no wipers.

OK so I start to trace wires and find that the Orange/white has 12 volt..
I checked the red,black,blue,white and none had any voltage what so ever.

So to try and isolate between switch and motor. I figure I would send some voltage down the red,white,blue... I assumed that black is my ground. I get a spark from the blue and the white and no motion to the motor..

I then assumed that the red is hot the black is ground the blue and white are my 2 speeds.

Nothing...

SO now I figure its time to slip in here and ask the gang...

And another question... ALL my inside and outside lights are surging with the lobe of the motor and get dim on a lower RPM and get brighter when the RPM is higher...

I assume that this is the sign of a weak altinator?
User avatar
l1k2gadd
Preferred User
Preferred User
Posts: 266
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:49 pm
Location: Florida, Summerfield / Belleview

Post by l1k2gadd »

The lights surging could be a bad alternator and / or a bad voltage regulator.

Did you buy a used wiper motor from another truck with the wiring connected to it?
Too many projects, too little time, but.. lovin' it!
2-1966 Mustangs (one 289-2V and one 200 6 Cylinder),
1-1990 7-Up 5.0 Mustang LX Convertible (second one),
1-1990 7-Up 5.0 Mustang LX Convertible (third one, for parts only)
1-1990 7-Up 5.0 Mustang LX Convertible (fourth one, best of the bunch).
1-1992 "FEATURE" 5.0 Mustang LX Convertible (only one)
1-1993 "FEATURE" 5.0 Mustang LX Convertible (one of the yellow ones)
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

I picked up a re-ferb motor from the Zone and yes the wires are connected with about 36" pig tale and are the same color code red,black,white,blue.
fordman
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 22329
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:17 pm
Location: Kansas, Ottawa
Contact:

Post by fordman »

yes that is the way to test the switch to see if its bad is to connect the new motor to the old switch and turn it on. if it works then both the ols switch and the new motor are bad. if it doesnt work then one of them is bad. try tracing these wire on the diagram. this will tell you which wires do what.

http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... washer.jpg
User avatar
Thunderfoot
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2207
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Idaho, Boise

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by Thunderfoot »

Just re-read this

Code: Select all

So to try and isolate between switch and motor. I figure I would send some voltage down the red,white,blue... I assumed that black is my ground. I get a spark from the blue and the white and no motion to the motor.. 
The Blue and White should have made the wipers move so I would say that you have both bad, the switch and the motor... The motor probably smoked the switch when it went out.
Or the wiper arms are stuck / froze so that the motor can't make them move.
Shayne
I'm not "Brand Loyal" Ford-Chevy-Dodge-Toyota I have them all, one even cross mixed...
If it Looks good and Works good then it's ok by me. Everything has its issues from time to time...

69 SWB (project) & 69 Highboy (driver/project)
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa29 ... d%20truck/
http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... ?cat=10399
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

Cool deal.... Thanks alot guys this helps allot..

Oh ya anyone have a spare wiper switch...LOL
fordman
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 22329
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:17 pm
Location: Kansas, Ottawa
Contact:

Post by fordman »

yea i do
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

Should I run a ground to the body and attach it to the new motor in order to try and fire it up?
fordman
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 22329
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:17 pm
Location: Kansas, Ottawa
Contact:

Post by fordman »

yes you have to ground the motor some how.
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

Well well well!
Its the motor... I did as you guys said and lo and behold the new motor works great...

Man thanks a bunch guys the information I just got would have taken much more time if I had not become a member...

:thup:
fordman
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 22329
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:17 pm
Location: Kansas, Ottawa
Contact:

Post by fordman »

wow thats the first motor i have ever heard of going bad.
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

Man,

Now I have to pull the dash apart.... But the cool thing is that this is the last thing I had to fix in order to get the safety inspection :D

A bit off topic but yesterday when I was replacing the plugs,wires,rotor and cap... I guess the old water pump felt a bit left out and asked for some attention by bleeding out some coolant!

So today I picked up a bunch of new stuff and ended up with a much quieter/smoother running motor...

A little rattle can work and she is coming along rather nice...
Image
Last edited by RWG on Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Thunderfoot
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2207
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Idaho, Boise

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by Thunderfoot »

Let us know how it goes as I'm a little curious as to if the motor is really bad or arms attached to the motor are froze up... I have never pulled one apart but I think you have to pull the wiper motor out to get to them anyways...
Fordman is that correct or is there a way to disconnect them from the motor without pulling it?
Shayne
I'm not "Brand Loyal" Ford-Chevy-Dodge-Toyota I have them all, one even cross mixed...
If it Looks good and Works good then it's ok by me. Everything has its issues from time to time...

69 SWB (project) & 69 Highboy (driver/project)
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa29 ... d%20truck/
http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... ?cat=10399
fordman
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 22329
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:17 pm
Location: Kansas, Ottawa
Contact:

Post by fordman »

i have always pulled the bracket out and took the arms at the same time. it seemed easier to do it that way to me. the arms ar held on by some wierd type of clips that aldie over the arm ends and then clip down over the pins. i'v never tried to remove those clips yet. i have two motor in the garage like that. with arms still attached.
User avatar
RWG
New Member
New Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Katy Texas

re: Wiper Motor or Wiper Switch?

Post by RWG »

I will take pics as I pull it apart and stick it back together and post them here when im done... Might do a lil video just for the reality TV thing :thup:
Post Reply