Just installed new W.S. wiper switch on my '79. Everything checked good on installation. Turned on wipers yesterday for small rain shower, and now they will not turn off. Switch in lowest(bottom) position should be off, but is now intermittent, I tried all positions, and none will turn wipers off. Lowest position still has wipers in 'ready' position all the time, coming on intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas??

 

Don't know if the '79 wiper switch is the same as the one in the early '70s cars, but....the switch in my '71 CAN be installed upside down. The electrical plug will still install with switch in the wrong orientation. And, when installed that way, IT WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY.

Don't know if that could be your problem, but thought I would share...

 

Sounds like a possibility. I will try a reverse option...

Thnx.

 

My '81 had the same problem. A new switch fixed it. You can't hook the switch up reversed. I think the '79 switch is the same as the '81.

 

Sounds like your switch might be a dud.....that sux.

 

I would think the '79 & '81 might be closer. Will see if it can be reversed. Got the Switch from Wilcox a few months ago. I would hope it is not a bad switch, but that is always a possibility. Hope it can be swapped.

 

You should be able to check out switch function with just an ohmmeter.

Willcox is very good about helping customers who are having a problem with their products. I suggest that you call and tell them your problem. They may even have a video clip on how to install it or how to diagnose a problem with the switch.

 

I don't have a video.. but I do have a simple test schematic at my office. It will be Monday before I can get my hands on it. I don't have it posted to my site, I just looked.

In the meantime, what did the wipers do to cause you to replace the switch?

It could be the relay in the delay module, or the module itself causing the issue and not the switch... Post up what it was doing before and that'll give me an idea where to start.

Willcox

 

Before switch replacement, wipers would work very intermittently in any 'on' position. Had to constantly 'jiggle' the switch to get wipers on. When I first installed the switch, everything worked fine. 2 days later when rain started, worked until I tried to turn off. Then wipers woudl only got to 'Delay' in first (bottom) position. What should be off. Other positions work fine.

 

Sam- Do you have a multi meter? I have some info for you to test the switch with and it will simplify this. But it's not put together yet. I'll try to do this tonight and post it up for you.

Willcox

 

I have a couple of multi/Ohm meters. Look forward to any assistance.
Thanks,

Sam

 

Okay Sam.. sorry for the delay.. I figured I'd do a write up about this on the site. But that will take some time.

I took apart two used original switches today too.. just to make sure my data was correct.

If you take the multi meter and test continuity as stated in the picture below you would be able to isolate if there is a problem with the switch.



I tried to color the terminals to the corresponding color below.

A Gray.. This is a power connection for the wiper lamp. Has nothing to do with the basic function of the switch and only receives power when you pull on the dash lamps or interior lamps.

B is an empty socket in the connector. Nothing happing there.

C is the purple wire.. it is the high and low speed ground. If you test continuity from the purple to E, the black terminal you should have continuity in all positions except off.

D Gray with a black stripe. This is your high speed ground and should pass continuity to the black wire connection E in all positions except Hi speed.

E.. as mentioned above.. is the main ground wire for the switch.

F is the pink wire, and the only time this wire will ping continuity to ground is when you push inward on the switch.

G is the dark green wire and this is the delay control wire. It will ping continuity to black in every switch position except the delay pulse position.

H is the brown wire and it is the input voltage to the delay pot built into the switch.

I is the white with a black stripe wire. This is the output voltage from the delay pot in the switch.

Now what concerns me.. The controller… The delay controller has been an issue for years with these cars and more so than the wiper switch. I’m not saying you couldn[‘t have a bad one, but the only issues you have with the wiper switches is the corrosion that builds up inside of them. When they corrode they don’t make proper contact and fail. Controllers short out, they wires come unsoldered, relays go bad and so on. A shorted controller can take out a wiper switch.

Dale (Wilson) did a great write up about these switches and how to clean them by taking them apart. What was great about this was I was in the process of doing my own write up when I was posted a copy of Dale’s. With his permission, I posted his to my site and probably saved me a couple hours time.

When the repro switches were not available the only thing we could do was to take the switches apart. I’ll probably be doing a write up on these switches soon because in working with a used switch today I realized that cleaning the pot inside the switch was necessary and this isn’t covered in Dales paper… and this is a bit of a task that involves a trick or two to get the pot apart.

If you don’t feel comfortable testing the new switch, send it in to me and I will. I’d be more than happy to test it and if you send in your old one I can take a look inside of it for an issue too. If something is cooked inside it’ll show up nice and pretty.

Willcox Inc.

 

Thanks for the time and effort, for just a little switch. You guys are really GREAT. I will dig in and see what I can find.

 

Let me know what you find..

 

Will do. Plan to get into it this weekend.

 

While this is fresh in my mind, I may start a video on how to rebuild the switches! I kicked it around yesterday and it may be something we do this afternoon.

 

Sounds like a good idea, esp. since these things are so scarce, and def. need replacing. They do not heal themselves....

 

Got the switch pulled, checked and replaced this weekend. After cleaning wires and terminals, spraying a little WD-40(good for everything), tried operation. Got my 'Stop' back. It is still a little touchy(have to move it to stop a bit carefully), but so far so good. If the problem returns, I will do a full open-up as per Wilcox, right now, will let it operate, I hope.....
Thanks for all the good info, esp . Wilcox.

 

Good deal Sam... glad you got it fixed... I've filmed the video on how to open it up and fix the switches. That's the easy part.. putting it all together is next and that is a time eater sometimes.

Willcox

 

If more problems arise, I will look for the Video. I was always good at taking things apart, getting them back together........