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'69 wiper issue

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Old Dec 20, 2005 | 05:44 PM
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Default '69 wiper issue

took the '69 for a drive today (it was sprinkling) and had no problems until I had been driving for about 45 minutes.
I had been turning the wipers on and off intermittantly because it wasnt coming down that hard. All of the sudden, the wiper door just shut on the wiper arms.
I pulled over, and pulled the door open to let the arms retract.
I sat for a minute and tried again: door opened, wipers went a couple of times, I turned it off and the wipers retracted and the door closed.
I didn't try the wipers again until I was almost home. I turned it on and everything worked fine until the wipers had gone maybe a 8-12 times then the door closed on them again!
Why would the door close on the arms like that?
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Old Dec 20, 2005 | 08:58 PM
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I think the relay that controls the door opening and closing must be getting vacuum on the control side when it shouldn't. The wiper switch cuts vacuum to the relay to signal it to open the door. My guess would be a slow vacuum leak in the wiper switch (meaning it isn't able to completely cut off the vacuum). But, its purely a guess. Does it stay open when you pull down the override switch under the dash?
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Old Dec 20, 2005 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by yukon988
I think the relay that controls the door opening and closing must be getting vacuum on the control side when it shouldn't. The wiper switch cuts vacuum to the relay to signal it to open the door. My guess would be a slow vacuum leak in the wiper switch (meaning it isn't able to completely cut off the vacuum). But, its purely a guess. Does it stay open when you pull down the override switch under the dash?
No it doesn't.
I know the relay itself has a slow leak (I pulled it off and bench tested it) but I don't know if the switch has a leak or not.
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Old Dec 20, 2005 | 11:40 PM
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You also need to look at the wiper parked interlock. The wiper door is prevented from closing until the wipers are parked if adjusted and working properly.
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Old Dec 21, 2005 | 04:13 AM
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sounds like your "wiper door vaccum switch" .Mounts near the RH wiper arm.
(Releases vaccum when wipers are turned on, acts as a wiper door saftey switch.)

Corvette central part #593127 $24.95
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Old Jan 2, 2006 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by StickShiftCorvette
You also need to look at the wiper parked interlock. The wiper door is prevented from closing until the wipers are parked if adjusted and working properly.
Ok, where is this "wiper parked interlock"??
This is what i need to adjust on my '72.
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Old Jan 2, 2006 | 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by driver68
Ok, where is this "wiper parked interlock"??
This is what i need to adjust on my '72.
I think driver68 is refering to the wiper door vac switch. It's located on the passngr side under the wiper arm. Black plastic, plunger on the end, and has three vac ports sticking out. Your pasngr side wiper arm activates this switch when the wipers are at rest....telling the door to close. Here is a great troubleshooting guide for vac problems.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/68wiperts.xls

Eddie
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Old Jan 2, 2006 | 03:21 PM
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This valve prevents the wiper door from closing unless the RH wiper arm is fully parked. It doesn't tell the wiper door to close it only PERMITS it to close - there is a difference.
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Old Jan 9, 2006 | 10:42 PM
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Ok, bought a new relay (old one leaked) and a new check valve (old one inoperative).
Same problem.

removed-cleaned-tested-replaced wiper door 3port interlock switch.

Same problem.

cleaned-tested wiper door actuator.

Same problem.

to recap, the wipers run 5-6 strokes, then the door closes on the arms.

I have replaced 98% of the vac hose, and checked the connections and routing using Doc Rebuilds Troubleshooting guide and poster (Thanks Doc!).

I haven't tested the wiper door solenoid valve switch or the manual override switch yet.

Frustrating.
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