Anybody have any ideas on why this is where it is? I have a theory I will post later on. :)

 

My guess is because the stalk on the steering column was chosen for the high beam, turn signal, and cruise control and not enough other directions of movement were practical.

 

Well the new ones have all the functions including wipers on the turn signal lever, so why would you put it anywhere else? My old car had the wiper control on the dash and I hated it, I also didn't have pulse wipers. So it was mist, off, low, high. It's so much more convient on the lever.

 

We have "GOT" to find someone to keep you in bed longer...Your mind is working in mysterious ways lately :lol:

 

Don't know why but I'm glad it is there. During autox events so many guys end up turning their wipers on while on course because their hands bump the stalk. It always gets a good natured laugh from the course workers. No risk of that with the door mounted switch.

 

I think it was simply a gimick to locate it where it is. Sort of futuristic stuff that went hand-in-hand with the digi dash. .....btw, when you have that switch out, replace the bulb with a high intensity white LED. You won't be sorry. :chevy

 

where do you get high intensity white led's?? i got to replace the buld in my switch if ya recommend this i might aswell do it. won't it blind you though?? :D

 

hmmm well i think its all GM's styling at the time. I mean if you look at my 1985 cadillac it has the control on the dash. and the cruise controls at the time were always on the turn signal stalk so theres no room to add a twist function to flick on the wipers. though if the ignition woulda been installed onto the dash area like c5 they could have a stalk on the right of the steering column to just move up and down for the wiper controls and have a push button for the washer fluid and the left stalk would be for turn signals, high beams and cruise control.

so to prove you guys that said the c5 had it we should have it too. well the c4 couldn't have it simply because of where the ignition is located. look at where the ignition is on the c5. my sisters 99 malibu has the same setup as the c5 she has the ignition of the dash and she has two stalks one for just wiper controls (which rocks cuz she has so many interval settings it really makes me wish i had it in the c4 as it'd make the wiper intervals so much easier to set) and the other is for turn signals and highbeams her cruise controls are on the steering wheel.

so thats how i see it, that GM didn't feel like redesigning their existing components they want to make some of the stuff interchangeable why would they need so many different turn signal stalks when they could design one and use it on a bunch of different cars of the various GM divisions?

seems right to me, keeps costs down while getting the job done. now if you look GM is still doing the samething they've just moved all their cars' ignitions to the dash and added two stalks. heck even the keys are all identical looking now. its all about costs and i'm sure the engineering and manufacturing buffs out there know what i mean.

 

I read ina book once that was written specifically about the development of the C4 that they put it there as a convenience to the driver. The thought was that it would be easy to reach and activate it quickly. It may not be as convenient as on the stalk but I'm not sure that had been developed yet way back in 82' when the C4 was designed.

 

Whoa... that is almost exactly what my theory is.

It is super easy to take your hand off the wheel, slap the switch for a single wipe of the blades, and return to the wheel. I figured during competitive driving this was found to be much easier than having to twist the stalk. :)

 

Agreed on the theory.
Btw am I the only one..When I first got my Vette and it began to rain,I reached for the lever on the steering column to turn on the wipers then realizing it wasnt where it was supposed to be?
Happened a few times before I could break the habit.

:)

 

no yer the only one :jester

 

now to think of it you two are right
it is pretty darn convenient where its located
i know in my cadillac i gotta lean forward to reach the switch and all.
here its so easy drop yer hand down hit mist or quickly set the interval you want and bang get both hands back on the wheel.

cool