I have recently installed a new wiper door actuator and for the first time since I've owned the car got the wipers to work. Yeah!

On a recent post I found out how to make some adjustments to the grill height which I have started doing.

This question is about the actuator itself. I have a '68 and e'69 older style actuator installed. Should the actuator "can" itself move when the wiper door is opening and shutting? By move, I mean it flexes down when opening the door and goes back to a straight direction when it closes the door. Not having ever seen it work before I was wondering if the movement is normal or not. I was thinking that the movement might be caused by the length of the actuator rod being set too "long" perhaps. Maybe it's going too deep into the actuator can and causing the flex?

I was unsure how to set the proper adjustment concerning the length of the actuator rod that connects the actuator to the door opening mechanism in the cowl. How long should the connection be as it's obviously adjustable?

That whole thing should be a chapter in a Corvette book! All the ones I have just gloss over it. My AIM has a diagrahm of it but it's a very poor copy so it's illegible. DOHH!

Anyone ever rebuilt or taken their's apart know what to do?

Also, does anyone who has a C-3 w/the wiper door ever notice any flex in the actuator when opening the wiper door? (Obviously the hood would be up to see it.)


Oh forgot to ask: Is it ok to lubricate the hinges that operate the door? Not sure if this is advised or not. If so would you use WD-40 or perhaps a slicone lubricant?

thanks, mark

 

I can tell you that the early style can on my 69 flexes when it opens. I tried one day to tighten it down REAL tight to make it solid. I did, and my wiper door wouldn't open SO...loosened it up a bit, let it flex, about 1/2 inch or so, and my door works fine. Chuck

 

Thanks Chuck. Guess a little flex is normal.

Regards, Mark

 

Yes, it's supposed to move up and down, but to make sure we're talking about the same thing, it should be pivoting smoothly on the mounting screws. In fact, if you check the mounting tabs, there should be a plastic washer/spacer in each side. It has shoulders on it so that it when tightened, the nut actually rests on the plastic spacer, which allows it to pivot. If you have tightened them too much, you can crush the plastic and freeze the system (as Chuck discovered). On the other hand, if the plastic pieces aren't there, the resulting movement would be more what I would call "flex".

It's a small thing, but since you said you hadn't seen it working before, I thought I'd mention it.

 

Thanks, I didn't know about the plastic washers. This is for the little frame that comes off the firewall that the actuator attaches to right?

I'm saying the actuator "coffee can" moves when the wiper door is opened or closed. Just to make sure I understand.

Thanks, Mark