wipers screwed up!

[low 84]

alright. my winshield wipers are playing jokes on me and its getting old. what is happening is that they will work when first turned on. then about 10 min later they will just stop and wont come back on. then if the trucks sits for an hour or so and you come back they will start working.

the only thing i can think of is that the motors are over heating or something and then stop working. but i really have no clue. its been raining alot lately so i need to fix this. also the wipers have never worked on the intermintent mode. they have only worked at medium and highspeed since i've owned the truck, so i don't know if this is also related.


anyone have any ideas?

[CustomChevy]

Chances are, there is too much water getting into your circuit somewhere. Check your wiper/pump assembly and make sure the covers are nice and water tight (as possible), too much water will short you out. Also check for any breaks in the wiring up to the fuse block. Then, or course, check to see how much water is getting on your fuse block. that area needs to stay nice and dry brotha-man. there is always a possibility that the switch is not working properly as well. try removing it and cleaning off the contacts for the wiring just to make sure. worse come to worse, the wiper/washer unit could be bad.

good luck!

[ironwood]

This happened to me in my Blazer and I never did figure it out I do think that C.C. is right clean off the contacts first thing they may be dirty.
I did had the intermittent wipers also, I think the switches could possibly be bad.
Good luck....

[low 84]

how do i get to the wiper motor assembly's? do i have to go from under the dash? and what covers are you talking about that i need to make sure are tight? thanks

[CustomChevy]

under the hood just above the wiring junction/fuseblock. the wiper motor/washer pump is located right there. there are multiple wires that run into the unit. remove the clusters and check for water damage, corrosion on the copper ends, etc.

the unit itself has a plastic cover that can be removed. you can check and see if there has been alot of water getting inside. if so, heck your cowl area for leak-prone areas. also check your hood to cowl seal, that is where lots of water can flow down.

good luck!

[pkbinplano]

It could also be the module under the steering colum , a little black box with silver fins. Some later 84's had them.

[J-Spec C10]

It sounds to me like whoever owned the truck b4 you has replaced the motor with one that was for a truck with no intermittent function option(they're cheaper). If you go to the local part store, they will be able to tell you how to tell the difference between the two. Also, they should be able to test or tell you how to test the motor assembly. A new (remanufactured one) is relatively cheap (around $25) chevy wiper motors are prone to failure, they are one of the highest selling ones at the part store where I work.

It sounds to me like yours is either rusty inside or worn out, which is why they will work for a while then the motor overheats and cuts out until it cools down.

If you don't already have one, get a good shop manual. It will explain it more in depth. A manual is the best possible tool you can buy when it comes to car (or truck ) repair.

Hopefully this sheds some light on to your particular problem.

[ElGracho]

Originally posted by J-Spec C10
It sounds to me like whoever owned the truck b4 you has replaced the motor with one that was for a truck with no intermittent function option(they're cheaper). If you go to the local part store, they will be able to tell you how to tell the difference between the two. Also, they should be able to test or tell you how to test the motor assembly.

Ughh, there is no difference between the wiper motors in a truck with intermittants and one without. The difference is in the switch and the module. The motors are all the same. Intermittants were offered from 78-87 (through 91 on crew cabs, blazers and suburbans) and if you look up a wiper motor for a truck in any of those years, there is no specification for with or without intermittants...

Low 84, I would guess your problem is the wiper motor. I would just replace it. They are 49.99 at Autozone for an 84.

[Stano]

Well I came to this board to ask a similar question. My dad has a 86 Silverado burb with intermittent wipers. They worked fine until yesterday when they got stuck in some weather and ran them hard then they stopped middle of the windshield. We put another wiper motor from a truck that they aren't driving for the time being that had properly functioning wipers w/o delay. Well now they won't stay off! Delay function doesn't work and when you switch them to off they come back on in about 30-40 seconds. The low and high settings work as they should but just won't stay off. I have had lots of these trucks and had to replace many motors but never had one not stay shut off. Anyone have a idea what could be up with this. I'm thinkin switch but that is $50 at Autozone here and same price at the other stores.

[ElGracho]

For that case, wiper delay module. GM part number: 15598496.

[J-Spec C10]

After being corrected, I double checked the computer system at work. Our system shows part #'s for both intermttent and non-int. wiper motors. BUT we have never sold a single one with intermittent which leads me to reason that our system is wrong. The popular selling one was listed as cheaper tho.

Sooo.. I might have caused some unneccesary confusion. Sorry 'bout that.

As a side note, I did get the system updated. Thanx Joe!

[low 84]

okay i will check the motor and probly replace it and go from there. thanks for the help.

[82 Silverado 4X]

Just an observation that I had while working on the wiper switch on my 82 over the weekend:
My factory w/w washer pump had been replaced by a separate aftermarket washer pump mounted to the left fender that was wired into a pushbutton switch in the cab.
If the original wires to the original washer pump are not left plugged in, my wipers wont park after shutting them off.

[pkbinplano]

Listen to El groucho , That fricken module will do strange things. I know. Mine did. Bought a used one on ebay works better but all I have to do now is toot the horn and the wipers cycle. Doh !! Don't buy a used one. LOL ( blown diode in module )