Wipers only work on high setting...Switch?

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Oct 7, 2015 | 07:26 PM

Danglin

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From: Frazier Park California

Wipers only work on high setting...Switch?

Now that I'm getting ready for the first rainy season in my '84, I need to find out why the wipers only work on the high setting, and nothing else.

Is this generally a switch issue, or could it be the board that I see everyone commenting about. Also, the wipers don't park unless I time turning off the switch or shut the car off.

Any thoughts?

Oct 7, 2015 | 10:39 PM

jv9999

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From: Lunenburg MA

It could be a bad connection or the motor, but the switch is the most likely culprit.

Oct 8, 2015 | 01:35 PM

86corvetteguy

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From: Princeton West Virginia

Danglin, I had this exact same issue about a month ago. Long story short I went through everything trying to figure out what it was, I took it to a guy here where I live, Higgin's Corvettes. Mine was actually two different issues. First there is a black box on your wiper motor that has the board in it. That was bad on mine. Also inside the motor there is this little white plastic piece that stops your wipers when you turn it off. If you look close at it, I would say its cracked, which mine was. It only takes a small crack to do it. I would check there the easiest way to change that small piece is to get a new motor and if you can find a used black box they work just as good as a new one, I know Zip Corvette online has the black box to purchase. You can get a nice acdelco motor from Rockauto for a decent price to.
Hope this helps

Oct 8, 2015 | 10:14 PM

Danglin

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From: Frazier Park California

Well, I guess I need to pull the switch and test it before I start spending money on parts, since this could easily end up being a $300+ job.

Oct 8, 2015 | 10:54 PM

ccrazor

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From: Whitefish Falls Ontario

St. Jude Donor '08-'09

Here is the setup to test the motor, when I had a problem I didn't worry about #4.. You need some jumpers but if they all work the motor s/b ok..

Oct 9, 2015 | 03:27 AM

crowz

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From: Ashland Alabama

Mine does the same thing. Works on high most of the time, low if you leave it in the low position and drive a few miles it might wipe a few times, timer setting same as low as in it might wipe after a few miles.

Just haven't had a chance to fool with it yet.

Oct 9, 2015 | 03:29 AM

crowz

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From: Ashland Alabama

Following that test chart it seems testing wire 3 to see if it goes 12 volts positive when in low position should rule my switch out.

Oct 10, 2015 | 09:15 AM

HlhnEast

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From: Jacksonville FL

Your old switch can be carefully pried apart and cleaned. It is basically a copper slide on a printed circuit of copper "steps" if you will. Carefully separating, cleaning with contact cleaner and a pencil eraser, a small amount of dielectric grease and careful assembly should make it as good as new as long as it isnt too badly corroded. I did mine several years ago and its still working fine. I still need to replace the board on the motor to fix the "no shut off" I occasionally run into.