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.
Hey nutsy, just for giggles I tested my actuator today. I removed the passenger side grill today to get access to the vacuum hoses at the wiper door relay since the bottom one on the actuator is hard to get to. I removed the green striped hose and the red striped hose from the wiper door relay and pulled them up above the fender. I followed Alan 71's (my hero) instructions below. It doesn't take much vacuum to open and close the wiper door. Suck on the green hose and you can see the wiper door open and the wiper limit switch gets pushed in. Suck on the red hose and the wiper door closes. I use a Mighty Vac for vacuum testing, but since it didn't take much vacuum I used the Bubba method.
After conducting Alan's actuator test, I determined that the diaphragm is good, but the rod seal has a slight leak. It's the original actuator from the factory.
From Alan 71: The wiper (and headlight) actuator is easy to test.
First block the nipple on the side of the actuator that the arm comes out of. Connect your pump to the other nipple. IF the vacuum holds, the plenum seal in the actuator is good. If it doesn't, the actuator needs to be un-crimped to replace the plenum seal…. not easy to do.
Then block the other nipple and connect the pump to the nipple on the side of the actuator with the rod. If the vacuum holds, the actuator is good. If the vacuum leaks down the small seal on the rod needs to be replaced. This is an easy job.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
71 Geeen 454, i sucked on front hose and door closed, when I did back one it opened to about where it does with switch, about 3/4 the way. When wipers try to come out there hitting and going back. I took a pic of wipers previous owner put on and there really thick looking. I think with a thinner wiper blade they will come out. What do you think?
I don’t even think it’s right arm is it? can I get a blade with the pin like this one?
Last edited by nutsy; Feb 25, 2020 at 05:50 PM.
Reason: add
71 Geeen 454, i sucked on front hose and door closed, when I did back one it opened to about where it does with switch, about 3/4 the way. When wipers try to come out there hitting and going back. I took a pic of wipers previous owner put on and there really thick looking. I think with a thinner wiper blade they will come out. What do you think?
I don’t even think it’s right arm is it? can I get a blade with the pin like this one?
After I fixed my override switch a few years ago, I went to NAPA and bought some wiper blade refills. Sure enough, they were too thick so I returned them. I still have the original wiper arms on my '71 and the last time I purchased wiper blade refills was probably in the late '70's.
I'm going to see about getting some refills for my original wiper arms. Hopefully someone will post something on this thread.
I would think that some of the suppliers on the forum would carry the correct wiper blades/arms for our C3's.
Don't forget our pal Ebay. Sometimes you can find things not easily available elsewhere. I bought refills a few months ago this is the new listing so check it carefully before ordering:
If the blades are too tall/fat, they will get caught up and not let the wipers function properly. You must use the old style thin blades. Not always easy to find but out there. Ike
Thanks for the compliment. Greatly appreciated!!! Still going through the 1969. Needs some fine tuning and cleaning up to get it to a certain standard that I want. I am still debating how much to clean up the undercarriage. I will post a poll to see what everyone thinks. Ike
Hey nutsy, my wife received a $15 off of $15.01 coupon last Thursday from Eckler's so I ordered a set of those blades and an air filter.
I also installed a new wiper door actuator rod seal and rubber plug today. The original rod seal had a tear in the rod shaft area causing a leak.
Now she's nice and tight. Should get the wiper blades tomorrow.
Originally Posted by nutsy
Just ordered these from ecklers I think there what we need.
