When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well I just got my second safety switch and still no success with my wipers ,door will open with the override pull down valve under the dash but wont open with the wiper switch and if that safety switch is not holding vacuum will it make the car run rough? thanks sug
Ok, I see you have a '69. If I understand this right, you have vacuum going to the wiper door relay to keep the door closed. This normally means that the series of components are not leaking vacuum from the vacuum source to the relay. This includes the solenoid, over ride switch, and the safety valve. The door is designed to remain closed when all components pass through the vacuum signal to the end component, meaning the relay. When the over ride switch is pulled, the vacuum signal is interrupted, venting the vacuum present in the vacuum circuit in the remaining components. This moves the internal piston in the relay directing actuating vacuum to the side opening the door. When you activate the wiper switch, the solenoid should also vent the vacuum in the circuit the same way. It would be my guess that your solenoid is not working properly. A quick test would be to listen for a "click" from it when it is activated. The solenoid is located behind the tach on the lower right side looking from the front. There is also a 2 prong connector attached to the solenoid. Make sure it is connected. If this still doesn't correct the issue, the solenoid will need to be tested. There is a way to test it without removal from the car. Let me know if that is needed.
Just make sure you have the check valve installed on the vacuum source coming from the manifold. This isolated the vacuum system from the engine in case of a massive leak. You'll see it on the source line. You should have a filter with an in and out fitting and the check valve has one inlet port and two outlet ports.
Thank you dave j I will check the solenoid today and if it is bad I have a couple more I can try .Thanks theandies I have checked the filter and check valve and they are good .Thank you guys I will let you know the results
I forgot to add this. If your solenoid doesn't click when you hit the switch, check for 12 volts at the connector. You can also touch a 9 volt battery to the solenoid contacts to test it's electrical function.
Up date found the issue like Dave said the solenoid was not working so changed it out and whoo hoo I have wipers .First time since I have had the car.New hose kit,NOS wiper switch ,NOS wiper motor .NOS override switch .new pull down vacuum switch, new vacuum safety switch and new harness .I was running out of options and money .Again another big thanks to Dave j and this great forum .
I am also having an issue with my wipers. They will work when I push the washers but not when I turn them on low or high. I can feel the vacuum control solenoid by the tach click when I push the washer button but it doesnt click when I try the wipers. I can hear a click somewhere in the engine compartment when I turn them on low and high but the door doesnt open and they wont operate. The connector is connected to the solenoid. I installed a stereo and speakers so I did have the dash pad off and the right side pouch panel off but everything went pretty well there. I know the switch is connected so where to start?
I am also having an issue with my wipers. They will work when I push the washers but not when I turn them on low or high. I can feel the vacuum control solenoid by the tach click when I push the washer button but it doesnt click when I try the wipers. I can hear a click somewhere in the engine compartment when I turn them on low and high but the door doesnt open and they wont operate. The connector is connected to the solenoid. I installed a stereo and speakers so I did have the dash pad off and the right side pouch panel off but everything went pretty well there. I know the switch is connected so where to start?
Check to see if you plugged the connector at the center console switch in correctly. It can be plugged in backwards and cause issues. You'll see that the connector has a tab on one side and the switch has a post on it. The tap and post are suppose to keep you from plugging it in backwards but it's a poor orientation design as the tab can slip past the post allowing you to plug it in backwards.
Checked the switch and its plugged in correctly. Had it out this weekend and the wipers worked sometimes and not at other times. The wiper door always opens but the motor will run sometimes normally. I will shut them off and try them again 2 minutes later and then they dont. Since the door always opens I think the electrically controlled vacuum switch behind the tach works but what makes the motor work intermittently? What would be the next thing to check?
Check the electrical safety switch mounted on the firewall. When the door open there is a lever that presses on this switch which sends current to the motor after the door opens all the way. You'll notice one red wire coming out of the wiper motor housing. That is where the switch leads to. There is a plunger that can be adjusted. Maybe it's out of adjustment a little or the switch is going bad. Whats nice is it's easy to get to.
This switch keeps the wipers from crashing into the wiper door before the door is open all the way.
Last edited by theandies; Jun 3, 2019 at 04:57 PM.
I turned on the wipers, not working so I found that switch on the firewall, wiggled the red wire and it started working! I'll check the connections and the switch to see if the connections are bad. If I wanted to replace the switch, where is the best place to get a new one? A couple other questions. The vacuum switch that the wiper arm presses to allow the door to close looks pretty tatttered. Its working but I might want to replace it. Doesnt look too bad to get to. Last one: The passenger wiper arm doesnt want to fully retract and doesnt allow the door to fully close. It hits the arm enough to hold the one side of the door open very slightly. I've tried loosening the 2 small nuts on the slide on the wiper transmission and adjusted it as far as I could. Didnt seem to make a difference. Any better ideas?
My passenger arm sticks up a bit but doesn't hit because Bubba was in there and it appears he ground down part of the door to make it not hit. Also there are wiper door adjustments to raise and lower it. There are what looks like screws sticking out of the back/bottom of the door that if extended will raise the door a bit. One thing to keep in mind if you do raise the door some the vacuum safety switch and electrical safety switch may need to be adjusted too.
Are you doing the testing with a wet windscreen , ? Plus If there is any wear in the rivetted joins of the arm or worn swivel connection on the firewall the arm will tend to drag behind where it should be . Might just be the cause of it getting caught on the door.
Wiper vacuum safety switch ?
