Momentary (additional) wiper switch - HELP!

[RedBed]

My Dad had an old car that had a (factory) momentary switch on the floor that would activate the wipers. It was REAL handy. I would like to duplicate that in my truck.

So I tried it and (like an idiot) I jumped the wrong 2 wires and fried my switch. So I ordered a new one.

On the 3-prong female plug that goes into the Motor, it appears that the one on the left is 12v always hot. Since I burned up the switch I don't know what the others are. I assumed that the middle was a lower voltage and the right was ground?

My question is, how would I go about wiring in the footswitch?

[RedBed]

WAIT... I think I figured it out. See diagram. I got this out of the service manual. Looks like #1 is always HOT. Tested it by jumping wire #3 to a ground with the wiper switch OFF, and it did activate the wipers on HIGH.

So this ought to work:

[Sabaka454]

Yes pin 3 to ground will activate the motor. It already has this function though in the stalk.

[RedBed]

Originally Posted by Sabaka454

...It already has this function though in the stalk.

Not sure what you mean?

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by Sabaka454

It already has this function though in the stalk.

Originally Posted by RedBed

Not sure what you mean?

The 1984 & newer trucks have the wiper controls on the turn signal stalk. And when equipped with the factory optional delay wipers, they also included a "mist" feature that allowed you to momentarily turn on the wipers for a single swipe. The earlier year trucks with the wiper controls on the dash also had the "mist" feature when they were equipped with the delay wiper option. But for trucks with the standard 2-speed wipers, that feature is something you'll have to add yourself like you're doing.

[RedBed]

Oh, ok. Mine's a '79, so none of that.

Plus, a foot-switch makes it REAL easy to wipe a couple of times in a light sprinkle, without having to reach your hand for anything.

[RedBed]

Added the momentary wiper switch on the floor. It's real handy.

[cadillac_al]

I love it! If I find the time I might do it too. I don't have a lot of faith in that style of push button switch but it should last a couple years ok.

[hatzie]

GM wipers are a switched ground system.
The column mounted switch has no power wires they're all grounds.
The dash mounted switch has a panel lamp that gets power when the parking lamps are on but otherwise it's just a ground switcher too.

I've seen momentary floor buttons that don't latch used for the turnsignals and AVL covert alarms on transit coaches. The covert switches the headsigns to "CALL 911" and activates an alarm on the dispatch status panel. I've accidentally hit the button while installing electronic equipment under the dash. Never had the police show up since I'm in the yard on an un-assigned coach but Security gets snotty about it in some places even when they see how much fun you're having.

[RedBed]

The wiring is super easy. Mounting the button is the hardest part.