1969 Wiper Door Problem
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,326
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
1969 Wiper Door Problem
When the car is started the wiper door opens and stays open. You can push it close after the engine is turned off. Any ideas what the problem is?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
When the vacuum signal to the top of the wiper relay valve is lost or when the valve is bad the wiper door will open and stay open.
Check the relay valve by sucking on the little 3/16" nipple and see if it'll hold vacuum. If it does hold vacuum suck on the large center nipple while plugging the bottom nipple and if it leaks the relay valve is leaking. The relay valve is the most common cause of headlight or wiper door failures so always suspect a bad relay valve first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
If none of the above it could be an issue with the valve in the wiper trough, the one which is closed when the wiper arms are parked. This valve is designed to keep the wiper door open until the wiper arms park. Could be a bad valve, hose disconnected or broken, etc.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 154
From: Deplorableville Nebraska
1 - Make sure the override valve is pushed all the way in.
2 - Most of the wiper door issues lie in the wiper door override valve located under the passenger wiper arm base. If you have had your car very long, has it ever been replaced?
You can override and test the safety valve by simply disconnecting the middle and lower vacuum hoses from the valve and joining them together. You only need to remove the wiper grill to do this. If the safety valve is the issue the wiper door will stay down. If it does, use the override valve to raise and then lower the door.
If this is your scenario, you need a new safety valve. Get the good one from Willcox. If you are going to Carlisle, lets look each other up and I can help if needed. This will be my first trip.
(Bringing my pickup truck to load up on some of you guy's beer!)
2 - Most of the wiper door issues lie in the wiper door override valve located under the passenger wiper arm base. If you have had your car very long, has it ever been replaced?
You can override and test the safety valve by simply disconnecting the middle and lower vacuum hoses from the valve and joining them together. You only need to remove the wiper grill to do this. If the safety valve is the issue the wiper door will stay down. If it does, use the override valve to raise and then lower the door.
If this is your scenario, you need a new safety valve. Get the good one from Willcox. If you are going to Carlisle, lets look each other up and I can help if needed. This will be my first trip.
(Bringing my pickup truck to load up on some of you guy's beer!)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,326
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I'll add you should have vacuum going to the small hose on the vacuum relay for the wiper door. If not, you can check the items others have suggested or you could follow the path back, see where you lose vacuum.
I don't recall whether the vacuum relay is mounted for the 69, could be on the firewall, near the master cylinder or on the right wheel well. It's on the firewall on my 70.
I don't recall whether the vacuum relay is mounted for the 69, could be on the firewall, near the master cylinder or on the right wheel well. It's on the firewall on my 70.