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69 Washer Pump help

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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 03:31 PM
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Default 69 Washer Pump help

Late 69 with air conditioning.
I am trying to get the windshield and headlight washers working. When I bought the car I found the washer bag wasn't there, along with any hoses. The windshield wipers themselves work, so at least that part of the motor is working (and vacuums). I got a new bag and hose but am now trying to piece together which hoses connect where to see if it is working or not. Attached are some pictures with some clues to problems. On the forward facing front of the motor there was a piece of black coated wiring that was fraying and actually broke off. There are no hoses connected to any of the visible inlets and I can't find any obvious diagrams online or in the books to indicate the hose layout.
I got the windshield and headlight washer hose kit from Willcox in hand and have tried various setups but nothing seems to work. I would expect if the pump is working and I got the hose from the reservoir connected correctly that I would see water shooting out of the other hoses that aren't connected, but didn't see that, so I but don't have anything obvious to figure out if this is just a hose problem, or an electrical problem with that wire disconnected. Any pointers appreciated.


View from passenger side


View from driver-side fender

Broken wire, was partially connected to the other side of the connected that is visible at the top with the blue covering, but under that black shield

View from the side, there are more inlets on the right hand side coming in from the right and the two underneath
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 03:47 PM
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Quick update, found this map and ran the hoses for the windshield washers as directed. I don't see any water coming through

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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 04:14 PM
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Remove the black cover.
Did you repair the broken wire?
When you press the wiper switch in do you hear/see the washer cam rotating ?
Did you try priming the pump by holding the main supply hose high and feeding water into the hose?
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 04:21 PM
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thanks for the reply. Is there an obvious way to remove that plastic cover other than by hand? I don't see any screws but it is starting to crack in my hand as I pull it off.
I don't hear the washer cam rotating, so that is why I suspect the broken wire (obvious, right!) but didn't know that cover came off. Once I get it off I will try to jump the broken wire from where it's broken into the motor. Is that wire the power source for the washer pump?
I didn't try priming the pump but will do so too.
thanks again, will reply when I get the above done, but if you have a quick answer on a non-destructive way to get the plastic cover off that is the first step. Will keep trying here.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 04:52 PM
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Adding notes in case anyone follows later; got off the cover through wiggling and pulling. Behind that black wire is a connection to the motor that needed to be worked around to get the cover off. Now to try various sets of things to get the wires connected and see if anything works.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 05:22 PM
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The cover as you found out is only held on in the center.
The two black wires trigger the washer pump solenoid which pulls a spring loaded ratchet arm that turns the pump cam.
Look through this link

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-tech-performance/4161921-windshield-washer-pump-question.html

Last edited by MelWff; Jul 25, 2020 at 05:23 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 06:30 PM
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Thanks, those links were very helpful. So a couple of things happening now:
1. When pushing the switch, the little arm doesn't lift up to start the cog rotating. When I lift it by hand it turns a full rotation and then stops as expected. I suspect this is because of some power issues to the electromagnet related to that broken wire (pictured). However when I hold the wire in place it doesn't work either. Does it need that little metal jacket over it to connect?
2. Even when I manually lift the arm to start the cog rotating, I don't see water being pulled into the pump from the hose/reservoir. Assuming it should be the middle of the 3 inlets, which is slightly larger than the other two.
For next steps I will try to find a metal jacket to connect the wire the same as the one above it

Added a video for display;

Last edited by sdeasy; Jul 25, 2020 at 06:33 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 06:36 PM
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The original two wires that activate the washer solenoid are both black. Be careful with that red wire.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 07:23 PM
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This should help with your hose routing. Note the the "Y" hose, letter G, is not reproduced anywhere. If you need the check valves "F", make sure they do not leak. ,

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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by sdeasy
Quick update, found this map and ran the hoses for the windshield washers as directed. I don't see any water coming through
That drawing is wrong. it is showing a 1970 + 5 port washer pump. 69's are a 3 port and for 69 only.
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Old Jul 26, 2020 | 09:06 AM
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Once you get the hoses connected correctly, and make sure that water is in the hoses, primed, when you activate the pump, if it doesn't pump water, the pump might need to be rebuilt. This is easy. There is a kit with O rings that you can install. Yes, the center nipple is for suction, the smaller nipples are for blowing, water. The electrical connections are strange. Find a good schematic.
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Old Jul 26, 2020 | 03:50 PM
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Thanks for the links and advice, super helpful. Especially the fact that the wiring diagram was wrong.
After priming the pump and manually lifting the arm to start the cog turning I do have water pumped through the 2 outlets, which is great. So this means the problem I have is getting the electromagnet activated to lift the arm. I tried putting a bullet connector from the broken wire into the open spot but that doesn't seem to work. Looking at the wiring diagram from Willcox on the other pages it looks like shared power to the whole unit so that is working (as the arms are all working etc) and it must be something to do with this connection. I think from the wiring doc that it is a ground that gets unset to power the electromagnet, but am still trying to confirm. Any other suggestions on the physical wiring there that might explain why it's not turning on?


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Old Jul 26, 2020 | 05:11 PM
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I can't remember exactly what I did but I think you are on the right track with the ground thing. I remember there was something goofy with the ground powering the electromagnet. I don't know if this will help. There is a yellow on one side and a black wire on the other of powering the trigger. Mine is a 68 without headlight washers, seems each year is different.

Last edited by kodpkd; Jul 26, 2020 at 05:18 PM.
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