Need Help With Windshield Washer
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Need Help With Windshield Washer
I just installed a new windshield washer on my '72 and now whenever the wipers are on the washer is pumping.
Does anyone know what causes this and how to fix it?
Does anyone know what causes this and how to fix it?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 640
Likes: 1
From: Mertztown Pa
Is it a factory pump where it is built in to the wiper motor? If so there is a solenoid that gets energized when you push the wash button in. It holds it in for a certain time then disengages it. The main gear is always turning with the wiper motor, it just will not pump until this solenoid gets energized. My thought is that somehow this solenoid is stuck, or it is installed wrong. If I can recall correctly the way to install the pump you must put a small allen wrench through a hole on the pump assembly to hold the gear at the right location, this may also be the problem.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Where is the solenoid located? I didn't see it when I replaced the pump.
Oh, and it's a factory replacement pump. Like those sold by all the Corvette parts suppliers.
The pump has a coil on it with a pair of blade type electrical connectors that I had to bend down in order to clear the Distributor cap. That wouldn't be the solenoid would it? If so then my harness wiring may be the problem. The blue and yellow wires were never connected to anything when I bought the car. The blade connectors were ripped off the original pump. That's why I had to replace it.
cc
Oh, and it's a factory replacement pump. Like those sold by all the Corvette parts suppliers.
The pump has a coil on it with a pair of blade type electrical connectors that I had to bend down in order to clear the Distributor cap. That wouldn't be the solenoid would it? If so then my harness wiring may be the problem. The blue and yellow wires were never connected to anything when I bought the car. The blade connectors were ripped off the original pump. That's why I had to replace it.
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Dec 17, 2006 at 02:36 AM. Reason: spelling fix
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 640
Likes: 1
From: Mertztown Pa
Where is the solenoid located? I didn't see it when I replaced the pump.
Oh, and it's a factory replacement pump. Like those sold by all the Corvette parts suppliers.
The pump has a coil on it with a pair of blade type electrical connectors that I had to bend down in order to clear the Distributor cap. That wouldn't be the solenoid would it? If so then my harness wiring may be the problem. The blue and yellow wires were never connected to anything when I bought the car. The blade connectors were ripped off the original pump. That's why I had to replace it.
cc
Oh, and it's a factory replacement pump. Like those sold by all the Corvette parts suppliers.
The pump has a coil on it with a pair of blade type electrical connectors that I had to bend down in order to clear the Distributor cap. That wouldn't be the solenoid would it? If so then my harness wiring may be the problem. The blue and yellow wires were never connected to anything when I bought the car. The blade connectors were ripped off the original pump. That's why I had to replace it.
cc
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
The installation instructions that came with the new pump said that some Corvettes have a solenoid that would require two holes to be drilled in the base and they supplied a printed template for locating the holes. But it is mounted on the far left or drivers' side vertically.
I never gave it a thought since my original one didn't have anything in that location. Now I wonder if I need on to disengage the pump.
Thanks, I sure could use that picture.
Do you know if there is a fuse for the washer pump anywhere?
Thanks for all you help.
cc
I never gave it a thought since my original one didn't have anything in that location. Now I wonder if I need on to disengage the pump.
Thanks, I sure could use that picture.
Do you know if there is a fuse for the washer pump anywhere?
Thanks for all you help.
cc
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 640
Likes: 1
From: Mertztown Pa
I don't know about a fuse, but here are the pics.
Pic 1 is of the pump with the cover, you can just see on the top the two connectors for the solenoid.
Pic 2 here you can see what the solenoid looks like. it is on the top of the pic above the wheel. When energized it will pull up and ride on top of that wheel for one complete cycle.
pic 3. This is the bottom of the pump, this faces the motor. If you look you will see the four point cam. This is what the pump rides on. When you select wash it will make one complete turn and squirt 4 times. Also if you look at the top left part of the cam you will see a hole. There is a hole in the metal next to it. When you put the pump on you must line up these holes with a small allen wrench or anything that will fit through both.
Pic 4 has the pump on the wiper motor, you can just see one wire going into it
I hope this helps. When I read it it sounds confusing. Maybe someone else can help.
Pic 1 is of the pump with the cover, you can just see on the top the two connectors for the solenoid.
Pic 2 here you can see what the solenoid looks like. it is on the top of the pic above the wheel. When energized it will pull up and ride on top of that wheel for one complete cycle.
pic 3. This is the bottom of the pump, this faces the motor. If you look you will see the four point cam. This is what the pump rides on. When you select wash it will make one complete turn and squirt 4 times. Also if you look at the top left part of the cam you will see a hole. There is a hole in the metal next to it. When you put the pump on you must line up these holes with a small allen wrench or anything that will fit through both.
Pic 4 has the pump on the wiper motor, you can just see one wire going into it
I hope this helps. When I read it it sounds confusing. Maybe someone else can help.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
The single blue wire is intriguing. My wiring diagram shows a blue and a yellow wire for the washer pump.
It seems that the cam is only engaged when the washer button is pushed and only for a cycle. So, I need to figure out my wiring to disengage the solenoid.
Anyone else have any insight on this problem?
cc
It seems that the cam is only engaged when the washer button is pushed and only for a cycle. So, I need to figure out my wiring to disengage the solenoid.
Anyone else have any insight on this problem?
cc
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 640
Likes: 1
From: Mertztown Pa
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I just spoke with Rik's Corvette Parts (who I bought the washer pump from) and he said that it's either shorted in the wiper/washer switch or in the wiper motor.
I have a new switch on order so we'll find out about that when it gets here and I get time to install it.
I hope I don't have to replace the wiper motor.
cc
I have a new switch on order so we'll find out about that when it gets here and I get time to install it.
I hope I don't have to replace the wiper motor.
cc
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
70Donnybrook, I got it fixed.
I took the pump back off and started turning the cam by hand. I noticed that there was no alignment hole in the cam so that wan't the issue.
Then I looked the ratcheting pawl over and started moving it around very carefully and turning the cam at the same time an suddenly the cam started turning without the pump moving. so i kept turning the cam and it started pumping again. It pumped four times then stopped and the cam was moving freely again.
So I re-installed the pump and it works fine. Apparently either during shipping or my handling (most likely) the ratchet pawl got stuck out of position.
Thank you for all your help and pictures. It helped me to recognize how it was supposed to look.
cc
I took the pump back off and started turning the cam by hand. I noticed that there was no alignment hole in the cam so that wan't the issue.
Then I looked the ratcheting pawl over and started moving it around very carefully and turning the cam at the same time an suddenly the cam started turning without the pump moving. so i kept turning the cam and it started pumping again. It pumped four times then stopped and the cam was moving freely again.
So I re-installed the pump and it works fine. Apparently either during shipping or my handling (most likely) the ratchet pawl got stuck out of position.
Thank you for all your help and pictures. It helped me to recognize how it was supposed to look.
cc
