1977 IN-OP windshield washer pump Help!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnton NC
1977 IN-OP windshield washer pump Help!!
Hi guys, this is the situation. Pushing in the lever to get the washer pump to work yeilds nothing. The wipers work fine though.
Took the washer res out of the car, tested pump with 12volts and the pump works fine (pump is located on the bottom of the res).
With volt meter, tested connector, nothing. Stripped some insulation from wires , tested with volt meter, nothing.
I believe that the wipers are on the same fuse as the washers so thats not the prob.
Tried to disassemble column but ran into roadblocks:
Tried to take the plastic cover off but it won't come off until you remove the cruise lever, but can't unscrew lever because there is a wire attaced to it.
After more probing with key on, not activating wipers or washer, I get 12v when I connect the pos probe to the yellow wire, and the neg probe to chassis ground.
If I connect the pos probe to yellow and connect the neg to the blue (as before), I get no volts. Help!!
Matt
Took the washer res out of the car, tested pump with 12volts and the pump works fine (pump is located on the bottom of the res).
With volt meter, tested connector, nothing. Stripped some insulation from wires , tested with volt meter, nothing.
I believe that the wipers are on the same fuse as the washers so thats not the prob.
Tried to disassemble column but ran into roadblocks:
Tried to take the plastic cover off but it won't come off until you remove the cruise lever, but can't unscrew lever because there is a wire attaced to it.
After more probing with key on, not activating wipers or washer, I get 12v when I connect the pos probe to the yellow wire, and the neg probe to chassis ground.
If I connect the pos probe to yellow and connect the neg to the blue (as before), I get no volts. Help!!
Matt
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: RTP NC
Hi guys, this is the situation. Pushing in the lever to get the washer pump to work yeilds nothing. The wipers work fine though.
Took the washer res out of the car, tested pump with 12volts and the pump works fine (pump is located on the bottom of the res).
With volt meter, tested connector, nothing. Stripped some insulation from wires , tested with volt meter, nothing.
I believe that the wipers are on the same fuse as the washers so thats not the prob.
Tried to disassemble column but ran into roadblocks:
Tried to take the plastic cover off but it won't come off until you remove the cruise lever, but can't unscrew lever because there is a wire attaced to it.
After more probing with key on, not activating wipers or washer, I get 12v when I connect the pos probe to the yellow wire, and the neg probe to chassis ground.
If I connect the pos probe to yellow and connect the neg to the blue (as before), I get no volts. Help!!
Matt
Took the washer res out of the car, tested pump with 12volts and the pump works fine (pump is located on the bottom of the res).
With volt meter, tested connector, nothing. Stripped some insulation from wires , tested with volt meter, nothing.
I believe that the wipers are on the same fuse as the washers so thats not the prob.
Tried to disassemble column but ran into roadblocks:
Tried to take the plastic cover off but it won't come off until you remove the cruise lever, but can't unscrew lever because there is a wire attaced to it.
After more probing with key on, not activating wipers or washer, I get 12v when I connect the pos probe to the yellow wire, and the neg probe to chassis ground.
If I connect the pos probe to yellow and connect the neg to the blue (as before), I get no volts. Help!!
Matt
I had a very similar problem after changing the washer pump on my '76. I ended up taking a small screwdriver and cleaning (scraping) the build-up of gunk on the connector and that fixed my problem. I too was reading voltage but when I connected the connector to the washer pump it would not work. I must have taken that thing off 4/5 times before I finally fixed it!! Kind of a PITA.... Just an idea....
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Oh my.. a 7 year old post.. lol..
Ajacks.. most peeps won't even look at a re-post from seven years ago.. it's always best to start your own new thread.... But what year is your car.. the OP's was a 77 so I'm going with this until further notice... and I don't mind how old the thread is.. that's why I troll the threads..
Ordinarily I'd dig right in to this but I just got home after a 13 hour day... Send a reminder message to me at support@willcoxcorvette.com and tomorrow when I arrive I'll take a look at this.
What I can tell you from memory is that the yellow wire at the motor is the same yellow wire at the pump.. so if you have power at the motor you should have power at the pump... But the pump, like the motor works off grounding... So you need to take a closer look at the blue wire at the washer pump. So take your probe (test light) and hook it to the yellow wire if you have power there. Hit the wash function on the switch and see if the light comes on at the pump. If it fails trace the blue wire back to to the bulk head connection and test it there or at the switch connection at the bottom of the column.
I hate to say it but in most cases on a 77.... It's a switch failure....
Ajacks.. most peeps won't even look at a re-post from seven years ago.. it's always best to start your own new thread.... But what year is your car.. the OP's was a 77 so I'm going with this until further notice... and I don't mind how old the thread is.. that's why I troll the threads..
Ordinarily I'd dig right in to this but I just got home after a 13 hour day... Send a reminder message to me at support@willcoxcorvette.com and tomorrow when I arrive I'll take a look at this.
What I can tell you from memory is that the yellow wire at the motor is the same yellow wire at the pump.. so if you have power at the motor you should have power at the pump... But the pump, like the motor works off grounding... So you need to take a closer look at the blue wire at the washer pump. So take your probe (test light) and hook it to the yellow wire if you have power there. Hit the wash function on the switch and see if the light comes on at the pump. If it fails trace the blue wire back to to the bulk head connection and test it there or at the switch connection at the bottom of the column.
I hate to say it but in most cases on a 77.... It's a switch failure....
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 7, 2014 at 08:39 PM.
Cruising
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Washer pump not engaging
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have a 1977. I have power at the pump on the yellow wire with the key on (not pushing on the washer handle). I just went out and did some more testing. If i unplug the connector at the motor and connect a test light from the blue to the yellow (with the wiper handle twisted) i get power. However, if i do this at the pump, i get nothing, even pushing in on the wiper handle. I've read that the switch is like $150 IF you can find one. Is that the case? Thanks!
Last edited by ajacks87; May 7, 2014 at 10:41 PM. Reason: Wrong info
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You can't compare the two... one is light blue (motor) one is dark blue (pump).
Go inside the car with the key on and attach your test light at the connector for the dark blue wire to the switch... this is the ground that operates the washer. Touch the other end to a 12 volt supply... if this lights up your switch is fine. If it fails you need a switch.
The dark blue ground is for the washer.. the light blue is the ground for the motor.
here is how it works.
When you turn the switch to low you should have continuity between light blue, black and black/white.
When you have the switch in hi you should have continutity between lt blue and black.
When you have the switch in wash you should have continuity between Dark Blue and black. If you have continuity between these two wires in Wash, the switch is working fine. If you do have continuity between the two, then you need to test the wire for continuity from the switch connection to the pump connector. If it doesn't have it there, unplug the bulk head connector and test there forward..
Willcox
Go inside the car with the key on and attach your test light at the connector for the dark blue wire to the switch... this is the ground that operates the washer. Touch the other end to a 12 volt supply... if this lights up your switch is fine. If it fails you need a switch.
The dark blue ground is for the washer.. the light blue is the ground for the motor.
here is how it works.
When you turn the switch to low you should have continuity between light blue, black and black/white.
When you have the switch in hi you should have continutity between lt blue and black.
When you have the switch in wash you should have continuity between Dark Blue and black. If you have continuity between these two wires in Wash, the switch is working fine. If you do have continuity between the two, then you need to test the wire for continuity from the switch connection to the pump connector. If it doesn't have it there, unplug the bulk head connector and test there forward..
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 8, 2014 at 03:21 PM.
Cruising
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Washer Pump Wiring
I appreciate your help on this! I'll do some more testing tonight and hopefully rule out a switch If it is a switch, do you have any ideas of where to find one. I have T&T, and can't seem to find one at the major websites.
Thanks again! I'm a new Vette owner and really appreciate all the help and encouragement
If it is a switch, do you have any ideas of where to find one. I have T&T, and can't seem to find one at the major websites.Thanks again! I'm a new Vette owner and really appreciate all the help and encouragement
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I appreciate your help on this! I'll do some more testing tonight and hopefully rule out a switch If it is a switch, do you have any ideas of where to find one. I have T&T, and can't seem to find one at the major websites.
Thanks again! I'm a new Vette owner and really appreciate all the help and encouragement
If it is a switch, do you have any ideas of where to find one. I have T&T, and can't seem to find one at the major websites.Thanks again! I'm a new Vette owner and really appreciate all the help and encouragement
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I wish it was... it's close but nope but it won't work.
I made a pivot for a 77 from one from a 79 (I think) once by machining the aluminum part... it worked but this was ridiculously hard and expensive.
I did this about four years ago when they first discontinued and I don't remember exactly what all it involved I just remember it talking me three days to get it right.
I made a pivot for a 77 from one from a 79 (I think) once by machining the aluminum part... it worked but this was ridiculously hard and expensive.
I did this about four years ago when they first discontinued and I don't remember exactly what all it involved I just remember it talking me three days to get it right.
Cruising
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Is this right?
See the picture. I dropped the cover at the base of the steering column and found a connector with 8 or so wires running through it, one was what seemed to be the dark blue wire. With the key turned on, I was able to get a "light" when connecting to 12v. Is this the right place to test? I'm guessing that I was not testing at the actual switch? I tested at the bulkhead and also had no connection when pushing in on the wiper and connecting one end to 12v. First of all, do you think i'm testing at the right place? Secondly, if i am, and i got the "light", what's the next step?
Thanks a bunch!
Thanks a bunch!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You need to go to the end of the wiper switch connector. It should look like the one pictured below. Find the dark blue wire at this connection and then see if it is a good ground when the switch is in the wash position. If it's not, then the switch is the problem.
If all the other functions are working properly on this switch, I'd think hard before I tore the column apart to repair. You can bubba a wash button or switch for a temporary fix.. it just takes 12 volts and a ground to the pump.
Willcox
If all the other functions are working properly on this switch, I'd think hard before I tore the column apart to repair. You can bubba a wash button or switch for a temporary fix.. it just takes 12 volts and a ground to the pump.
Willcox
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 269
From: S.E. MI
St. Jude Donor '15
You need to go to the end of the wiper switch connector. It should look like the one pictured below. Find the dark blue wire at this connection and then see if it is a good ground when the switch is in the wash position. If it's not, then the switch is the problem.
If all the other functions are working properly on this switch, I'd think hard before I tore the column apart to repair. You can bubba a wash button or switch for a temporary fix.. it just takes 12 volts and a ground to the pump.
Willcox
If all the other functions are working properly on this switch, I'd think hard before I tore the column apart to repair. You can bubba a wash button or switch for a temporary fix.. it just takes 12 volts and a ground to the pump.
Willcox
I had the same problem. I just put in a momentary contact
switch under the dash. You just have to ground the dark blue
wire off the column to make the pump work.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Seems a bit bubba.. but considering the alternative bubba gets a pass. 
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
