Here is the problem:
When I bought my vette (1988) a couple of weeks ago, the wiper switch had to be played with to get the wipers to come on, but they would come on and work. I thougt then that is was probably a switch, but now now I am not so sure.

Now I have to push the switch all the way to "hi" and then push it down to "wash" at the same time in order to get the wipers to do a complete wipe, but they will only wipe across the window once and then stop. If I let off the switch while they are going, then they stop where they are on the window. And if I don't push down on the switch (wash), the wipers turn on but only come up about 4 inches and then back down (continuously). :confused:

The wiper motor "sounds" healthy, and so does the washer motor. Could somebody please tell me what the problem is?


[Modified by Wasemiller, 6:18 PM 5/10/2002]

 

HELLO??? ANYONE.... ANYONE???

 

Hey, this is crazy. The exact same thing happened to me last Saturday in the rain(Prom night) while I was taking my date out(horrible timing). The symptoms are identical. I refused to pay $110 for a new motor and I knew it wasn't the switch because I could get them to turn on. I don't know exactly how I fixed it I'll just tell you everything that I did, and one of the things should fix it for you. I pulled the windshield wiper motor, If you have a shop manual like a Haynes or Chilton manual then they tell you how to do that. After you pull the motor, leave the electrical conncections hooked to it. Turn your car key to on and turn the windshield wipers on without the motor being hooked up to the wipers. Toggle through all of the wiper functions and make sure everything works. The motor should run, it will just run slow, like it's low on power or weak. Disconnect all of the switches from the motor and pull the motor out. Take off the plastic cover and you'll see the circuit board on one side, and the gears on the other. Take Contact Cleaner (cleans electrical stuff, is really cold when you spray it and it evaporates imediately) and clean off the circuit board (should have grease on it) and all other electronic connections. Make sure to clean off the connections for your 3 switch wires. Then use the Cont. cleaner and spray any excess grease off of the gears, and whatever else looks dirty (mine had a dirt/grease mix in some places, not just grease). Still leave plenty of grease on the gears, because they need the lube. Put the cover back on and put it in the car. Pray that it works. I did all of these things. I don't know what fixed it, I might have just bumped a wire or something to make it work, but I think it was cleaning out the motor. If you don't know how to pull the windshield wipers I'll tell you. It sounds like alot for just w. wipers, but if it keeps you from spending 100 on a new motor than I think it's time well spent. Now you can put a 1/30th deposite on a new blower. Hope it works out.

Post once your done with it to let me know if that fixed it.
Oh yeah, If you know how to get the windshield washer pump to work let me know


[Modified by tarheelracer, 4:46 AM 5/11/2002]


[Modified by tarheelracer, 4:48 AM 5/11/2002]

 

Thanks alot "tarheelracer". I will try anything to get these things to work, I hope your method works, that was going to be my first plan - to take it all apart, clean it, and put it back together. I wanted to see what others had tried. I appreciate all the typing you did. I will let you know how it goes.

Sorry to hear it happened to you on PROM night, I know how important it is to look like "the man" on that night, but what can you do? Besides, you took your date in a CORVETTE, and that makes you the man!!!! :cool:

 

I had trouble with mine running continuosly and spraying wiper fluid. Turned out to be the switch. Runs fine now.

 

I like the way you think!! Just if only you could convince all the girls around here to think the same way.

 

Mine does the same, i have to play with it to make it work. Best bet is to replace the motor, then replace the switch second. As old as the car is, it wont hurt to just go ahead and replace things like that anyway.

BTW, i have yet to replace mine, bc i have to save money for a new AC Compressor.

 

I just replaced the pump from o Reilly's $40.00 works fine but still not gett water to windshield it was working fine till the pump fell to pieces what's up with that?

 

You should have started a new thread. This thread is from 2002. You need to check the hoses. Is fluid is getting to pump? Is it getting from pump to wiper arms. If it's getting to arms and not spraying nozzles are restricted. Sometimes they can be cleared with compressed air.