Crap ! My wipers ain't workin' !!!!!!!!

3407 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Sixlitre, Dec 20, 2004

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2004

Went to try the wipers tonight and no joy !

You can see the voltmeter spiking as it pulses power to them, but they won't turn the wheelboxes (british car term for the toothed gears below the wiper posts).

Shut the wipers off before I burned out the motor, but I guess I need new (from junkyard) wheelboxes, correct ?

What years can I snap them from for an 86 ? All ?

Yes I did try pull starting them with my paws/mitts, no joy

Thanks in advance, as I'll head out to the yard tomorrow afternoon, after reading all the pearls of wisdom posted here.

Much obliged

Wiperless Sixlitre

p.s./
Should I score an extra wiper motor while I'm there ? Do they go often ? Are they pricey re-manufactured ?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

MatthewC

· #2 · Dec 17, 2004

I would say that the motor itself it shot. The motor on my 88 F150 used to make lots of noises but not operate the wipers. Turned out there was a crack in the casing, some water got in and destroyed it. Boucht another from the junk yard dirt cheap. Cant remember exact $$ amount.

-Matt

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 17, 2004

MatthewC said:
I would say that the motor itself it shot. The motor on my 88 F150 used to make lots of noises but not operate the wipers. Turned out there was a crack in the casing, some water got in and destroyed it. Boucht another from the junk yard dirt cheap. Cant remember exact $$ amount.

-Matt

Thanks Matt

Maybe I'll score everything wiper related that I can tomorrow.

Sixlitre

Str0ud

· #4 · Dec 17, 2004

I just did a reman for $40 lifetime warranty. $20 Core. Careful with that new paint when replacing. :thumbup

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 17, 2004

Str0ud said:
I just did a reman for $40 lifetime warranty. $20 Core. Careful with that new paint when replacing. :thumbup

Thanks StrOud

You bet I'll be careful ! Do I have to pull my cowl/valance panel to change it ?

Sixlitre

84x4bronco

· #6 · Dec 17, 2004

nope... just gank that POS right out of the firewall... but then again, you should read a book :toothless

Str0ud

· #7 · Dec 17, 2004

Sixlitre said:
Thanks StrOud

You bet I'll be careful ! Do I have to pull my cowl/valance panel to change it ?

Sixlitre

I did on my 93. If I had fresh paint, I would pull off the hood first, then the cowl. In order to avoid any mishaps.

Str0ud

· #8 · Dec 17, 2004

Maybe even the lower portion of the windshield trim.

JDApollo

· #9 · Dec 17, 2004

The contacts that leave the wipers in the parked position when you put the switch in the off location have a tendancy to wear out. I don't recommend a junkyard part for these unless it looks like its a recently replaced part. A rebuild is the best way because the new ones are a bit expensive. Seems like I had to pay $60.00 plus a core charge on the rebuilt one that I bought.

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 17, 2004

JDApollo said:
The contacts that leave the wipers in the parked position when you put the switch in the off location have a tendancy to wear out. I don't recommend a junkyard part for these unless it looks like its a recently replaced part. A rebuild is the best way because the new ones are a bit expensive. Seems like I had to pay $60.00 plus a core charge on the rebuilt one that I bought.

Thanks JD

I'm assuming the contacts are in the motor, so maybe I'll go grab a rebuilt like you say. They want $70 CDN (@$50 American) for a rebuilt and $50 CDN for the core, like you said.

I guess 20 years service is acceptable.

StrOud you sure I really have to pull the cowl/valance to change it ?!

Sixlitre

Str0ud

· #11 · Dec 18, 2004

On my 93 I had too. You can undo the bolts but there is a clip behind the cowl the secures the motor to the two rods that connect the two wipers together. No way around it on mine. Yours may vary.

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 18, 2004

Str0ud said:
On my 93 I had too. You can undo the bolts but there is a clip behind the cowl the secures the motor to the two rods that connect the two wipers together. No way around it on mine. Yours may vary.

D'oh !!!!!!!!!:duh:duh:duh

Thanks for the advice StrOud

Sixlitre

miesk5

· #13 · Dec 18, 2004

whOOps!...http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/0a/73/52/0900823d800a7352.jsp :clap

maybe this will help too..for a 92 F tho..http://www.faqfarm.com/Car/Repair/55652

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 18, 2004

Good man Miesk5 !!!!!!!!!

Coming through again for me !!!!!!!!

Thanks to your post's 3rd instruction I won't have to undo the hood hinges and totally remove the cowl !

1.

Disconnect the battery ground cable.
2.

Remove both wiper arm and blade assemblies.
3.

Remove the cowl grille attaching screws and lift the cowl grille slightly.
4.

Disconnect the washer nozzle hose and remove the cowl grille assembly.
5.

Remove the wiper linkage clip from the motor output arm.
6.

Disconnect the wiper motor's wiring connector.
7.

Remove the wiper motor's three attaching screws and remove the motor.
8.

Install the motor and attach the three attaching screws. Tighten to 60-85 in.lb.
9.

Connect wiper motor's wiring connector.
10.

Install wiper linkage clip to the motor's output arm.
11.

Connect the washer nozzle hose and install the cowl assembly and attaching screws.
12.

Install both wiper arm assemblies.
13.

Connect battery ground cable.

Just got back from picking up the rebuilt wiper motor and wasn't looking forward to swapping it out (worried about scratching my new paint). Thanks to your tip I'll be done in a jiffy so I can get at the 3 rear speaker installs and rear quarter insulating.

MUCH OBLIGED !!!!!!!!!!

Sixlitre :chili:

p.s./
No doubt I'll get to try my new magnetic pickup tool when I drop the rear clip down the cowl.

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84x4bronco

· #15 · Dec 18, 2004

umm.... did you read step 4?

ssgtdirt

· #16 · Dec 18, 2004

4 only says to "lift the cowl grille slightly" does that mean remove it, or just lift it up and outta the way?

Str0ud

· #17 · Dec 18, 2004

Step 11 is where you'll be like f-it I'm gonna have to pull the hood and cowl. :thumbup

Steve83

· #18 · Dec 19, 2004

I've removed the motor arm without even loosening the cowl, then attached it to the replacement motor. The clip is a PITA anyway, so I just leave it alone.

Pull the motor off the firewall & see if the wiper arms move. That'll tell you if the motor is locked, or the posts.

At the moment, my '83 has rods & posts from a '92-96 in it. They only have 2 mounting screws ('80-86 have 3), but they work fine.

Sixlitre

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 20, 2004

Steve83 said:
I've removed the motor arm without even loosening the cowl, then attached it to the replacement motor. The clip is a PITA anyway, so I just leave it alone.

Pull the motor off the firewall & see if the wiper arms move. That'll tell you if the motor is locked, or the posts.

At the moment, my '83 has rods & posts from a '92-96 in it. They only have 2 mounting screws ('80-86 have 3), but they work fine.

You were dead on right Steve !

I was anal and loosened my cowl, as I already had no windshield trim, having just been painted. Took the bolt off by reaching down through behind the cowl.

However I used your method to reinstall the motor to post rack bolt and it worked great !

I think I'd have still had to loosen the cowl as it gives access to the top R/H motor mounting bolt, ehich was too long to extract without it hitting the inner cowl (IMO);

As you might guess I did a quick write up of the job, with a few pics for anyone interested;

http://www.superford.org/registry/vehicles/detail.php?id=4970&s=21912#content

Thanks everyone for all the advice and help. It's so good to have the wipers back with a pile more snow being forecast this week.

Much obliged

Sixlitre

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