Wipers don't return to bottom
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MF Administrator
Joined: May 2005
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From: South Carolina
Wipers don't return to bottom
I replaced my 2-speed wiper switch (OK, it's 3 speeds if you count OFF!) on my '66 coupe about 18 months ago. Now when I turn the wipers off, they stop at that point and do not return to the bottom of the windshield. Am I looking at a bad switch or is something else wrong?
Thanks in advance!
Bill Jr. - 28hopup
Thanks in advance!
Bill Jr. - 28hopup
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 490
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RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
IIRC there is a separate parking circuit. When you select the off position on the switch the circuit stays hot until a sensor near the motor senses the wipers are in the parked position. The a switch in that circuit cuts the power to the wiper motor. Will give you something to think about. Hopefully others will chime in.
I ♥ Acer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,565
From:
RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
I was thinking the same thing but afraid to chime in because I really don't know. But, it doesn't sound as if it is the switch or the motor. See if you can trace from the swich to the motor and see if there is something other than wire between them.
Thread Starter
MF Administrator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,193
From: South Carolina
RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
Thanks for the feedback. I will trace the wires from the switch to the motor. If it turns out to be a direct connection, I will opt for a new switch. Strike that - Mine has the swtich that's not being made anymore. I'll get a used switch if needed.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 490
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RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
ORIGINAL: 28hopup
Thanks for the feedback. I will trace the wires from the switch to the motor. If it turns out to be a direct connection, I will opt for a new switch. Strike that - Mine has the swtich that's not being made anymore. I'll get a used switch if needed.
Thanks again!
Thanks for the feedback. I will trace the wires from the switch to the motor. If it turns out to be a direct connection, I will opt for a new switch. Strike that - Mine has the swtich that's not being made anymore. I'll get a used switch if needed.
Thanks again!
The wiper switch is just that, a switch. Embodied in the case for the switch is a 12 amp circuit breaker to protect the curcuit. If the wipers start moving when you turn on the switch, then the switch was successful at sending electricity to the motor. When you then select the off position, the switch cuts the power on that circuit. This appears to be functioning on your car since the wipers immediately stop. There is nothing in the switch to sense the position of the wipers and keep them moving to the park position.
In order for the wipers to get to the park postion, there must be electricity to the motor after the switch has been moved to the off position. To accomplish this there is a currcuit in the wiper motor body. It gets turned on by the switch and then turns off when it senses the wipers are in the park position and the dashboard switch is in the off position. Check this out
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/wiper1.htm
Hope this helps.
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MF Administrator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,193
From: South Carolina
RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
highhilleer Date 5/8/2006 12:22:44 PM
Changing parts without understanding how the system works is one approach.
The wiper switch is just that, a switch. Embodied in the case for the switch is a 12 amp circuit breaker to protect the curcuit. If the wipers start moving when you turn on the switch, then the switch was successful at sending electricity to the motor. When you then select the off position, the switch cuts the power on that circuit. This appears to be functioning on your car since the wipers immediately stop. There is nothing in the switch to sense the position of the wipers and keep them moving to the park position.
In order for the wipers to get to the park postion, there must be electricity to the motor after the switch has been moved to the off position. To accomplish this there is a currcuit in the wiper motor body. It gets turned on by the switch and then turns off when it senses the wipers are in the park position and the dashboard switch is in the off position. Check this out
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/wiper1.htm
Hope this helps.
Changing parts without understanding how the system works is one approach.
The wiper switch is just that, a switch. Embodied in the case for the switch is a 12 amp circuit breaker to protect the curcuit. If the wipers start moving when you turn on the switch, then the switch was successful at sending electricity to the motor. When you then select the off position, the switch cuts the power on that circuit. This appears to be functioning on your car since the wipers immediately stop. There is nothing in the switch to sense the position of the wipers and keep them moving to the park position.
In order for the wipers to get to the park postion, there must be electricity to the motor after the switch has been moved to the off position. To accomplish this there is a currcuit in the wiper motor body. It gets turned on by the switch and then turns off when it senses the wipers are in the park position and the dashboard switch is in the off position. Check this out
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/wiper1.htm
Hope this helps.
The reason I had been focused on the switch being the culprit here was because of other "expert" advice I had rec'd off-line saying that on older cars like a '66 Mustang, the parking circuit was built into the switch, not the motor. I was told more or less "when you turn the switch off, the switch has killed main power to the motor and the switch completes another circuit 'telling' the motor to park the wipers". I can understand the logic of both arguments. Now I need to decide on which expert advice to follow...
Thanks again!
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RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
I decided to double check my memory and yes wiper parking is controlled in the motor. There is a tension spring that is usually the problem. If you want to fix yours the spring is available from
http://www.fomoco.com/ (I didn't check for any other source).
Article on R&R of wiper motor.
http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/...otor_installs/
HTH
http://www.fomoco.com/ (I didn't check for any other source).
Article on R&R of wiper motor.
http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/...otor_installs/
HTH
Thread Starter
MF Administrator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,193
From: South Carolina
RE: Wipers don't return to bottom
highhilleer Date 5/11/2006 3:06:46 PM
I decided to double check my memory and yes wiper parking is controlled in the motor. There is a tension spring that is usually the problem. If you want to fix yours the spring is available from
http://www.fomoco.com/ (I didn't check for any other source).
Article on R&R of wiper motor.
http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/...otor_installs/
HTH
I decided to double check my memory and yes wiper parking is controlled in the motor. There is a tension spring that is usually the problem. If you want to fix yours the spring is available from
http://www.fomoco.com/ (I didn't check for any other source).
Article on R&R of wiper motor.
http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/...otor_installs/
HTH
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