Wacky Wipers...help! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chargedstang89 · 07-01-2003, 10:32 AM

Everytime I turn the key forward on my truck (85 gmc 4x4), the winshield wipers turn on and go for about 3 or 4 swipes. The actual turn signal lever was broken in my truck, and I replaced that. While I had the column apart, I also replaced the winshield wiper switch that the turn signal lever goes into inside of the column. This did not cure the problem. What in the heck is making my wipers do this? There is a box or a relay looking thing that is mounted underneath my column right under the dash. Could this be bad, or is there a relay out on my winshield wiper motor that could have gone bad? Please help because this is driving me absolutely nuts

Prerunner1982 · 07-01-2003, 11:33 AM

just accept it. its part of having a 73-87. mine use to come on but not shut up until i shut the whole truck off. replaced switch, fixed the problem. now they will come one, usually only one swip. then stop about every 12-15 min while the truck is on. i am at the point that half the time i dont even notice. sorry i am not much help. but there are more than a handful of memebers that have very similar problems.

ElGracho · 07-01-2003, 12:31 PM

You problem is in your delay box. Replace it and that should fix your problem. Several people have done this recently and reported positive results here. The boxes are fairly expensive if you have to pay list price at a dealer. One place to look for them in wrecking yards is vans. Many of them have intermittants and they don't seem to get parted nearly as fast as pickups.

chargedstang89 · 07-01-2003, 01:10 PM

where is the delay box located and what does it look like? the wipers didn't do that when i first got the truck, just started about 3 months ago...just frustrated. where is it located on the truck?

ElGracho · 07-01-2003, 01:22 PM

It is usually clipped to the bottom of the steering column. It is about 2x4" and is black plastic with an aluminum heat sink on one side. It has electrical plugs on each end.

remy · 07-01-2003, 02:28 PM

when i first got my truck(83 k10) i would turn on the wipers to clean the windshield and then they would just keep going and squirting

... under the hood where the wiper motor is are two terminals/connectors... i unhooked, cleaned and rehooked them and now they work fine... off when turned off, on when on, and the wiper juice stops spraying after five or six cycles...

i used emory cloth or a small file to get rid of corrosion and contact cleaner to make sure...

chargedstang89 · 07-01-2003, 02:48 PM

ok, i know exactly which box you are talking about. that was the next thing i was planning on replacing. i'm not sure, but i think i remember seeing them in year one's catalog for like $70 or something. will be worth it if i can't find one in a junk yard, just for peace of mind because it's driving me insane!!!!

apstguy · 07-01-2003, 05:04 PM

I have had the same problem for MONTHS!!! It is driving me insane too. For some reason, it could be either the switch or the delay control module. People have had luck with both. It is tearing up my wipers! UGH! If you get a new on, be prepared to shell out $80. I need to go get me one!

bigd65 · 07-01-2003, 08:01 PM

get one from a wrecking yard. i grab them everytime i see one. i have 2 extra's.

**68 Stepside** · 07-01-2003, 08:03 PM

My friends 87 'burb's wipers make one cycle if he puts the auto trans down into 1st....gotta love 73-87's

chargedstang89 · 07-02-2003, 11:04 AM

well, one of my local parts stores can get me the Wiper Delay Module for like $33. I had them order one and it will be in on thursday...hopefully that cures the problem. If not, I guess it won't be the first time I wasted money on a part that didn't need replaced.

bigd65 · 07-02-2003, 07:33 PM

DITTO charged, i do that all the time it seems like

chargedstang89 · 07-03-2003, 05:01 PM

anyone know where i can get one other than a junk yard? my local parts place can't get it. i've done some research and it seems GM discontinued this part 5 years ago????

ElGracho · 07-03-2003, 05:36 PM

No, it's not discontinued. What year are you looking for and I will get you a part number.

ElGracho · 07-03-2003, 05:37 PM

Doh, I just looked at your first post again and saw it was an 85, I'll get that number.

chargedstang89 · 07-07-2003, 10:06 AM

Gracho...thanks for the effort, but I went to the junk yard this weekend and I was able to find two of the relays in two different vans. Plugged it into my truck and bam...the wipers no longer turn on when I turn the truck on, and my washers also work now. Thanks for all of the info guys.

J

Russell · 07-07-2003, 12:59 PM

Oh yeah, for those of you who have the problem of them turning on, then never turning off, or constantly spraying without end... there are two cables on the wiper module itself, unplug both of them and clean them well, the one that is higher up turns your wipers off after the end of their cycle, and the lower one starts the wiper pump rotation (at least in my 80)

07-01-2003, 10:32 AM	#1
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	Wacky Wipers...help! Everytime I turn the key forward on my truck (85 gmc 4x4), the winshield wipers turn on and go for about 3 or 4 swipes. The actual turn signal lever was broken in my truck, and I replaced that. While I had the column apart, I also replaced the winshield wiper switch that the turn signal lever goes into inside of the column. This did not cure the problem. What in the heck is making my wipers do this? There is a box or a relay looking thing that is mounted underneath my column right under the dash. Could this be bad, or is there a relay out on my winshield wiper motor that could have gone bad? Please help because this is driving me absolutely nuts

07-01-2003, 11:33 AM	#2
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,906	just accept it. its part of having a 73-87. mine use to come on but not shut up until i shut the whole truck off. replaced switch, fixed the problem. now they will come one, usually only one swip. then stop about every 12-15 min while the truck is on. i am at the point that half the time i dont even notice. sorry i am not much help. but there are more than a handful of memebers that have very similar problems. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

07-01-2003, 12:31 PM	#3
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	You problem is in your delay box. Replace it and that should fix your problem. Several people have done this recently and reported positive results here. The boxes are fairly expensive if you have to pay list price at a dealer. One place to look for them in wrecking yards is vans. Many of them have intermittants and they don't seem to get parted nearly as fast as pickups. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

07-01-2003, 01:22 PM	#5
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	It is usually clipped to the bottom of the steering column. It is about 2x4" and is black plastic with an aluminum heat sink on one side. It has electrical plugs on each end. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

07-01-2003, 02:28 PM	#6
remy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: RT 40!!! maryland Posts: 35	clean stuff up... when i first got my truck(83 k10) i would turn on the wipers to clean the windshield and then they would just keep going and squirting ... under the hood where the wiper motor is are two terminals/connectors... i unhooked, cleaned and rehooked them and now they work fine... off when turned off, on when on, and the wiper juice stops spraying after five or six cycles... i used emory cloth or a small file to get rid of corrosion and contact cleaner to make sure... __________________ 83 k10 350 w/edelbrock 1904 Q-jet th400 4wd have a nice day...

07-01-2003, 01:10 PM	#4
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	where is the delay box located and what does it look like? the wipers didn't do that when i first got the truck, just started about 3 months ago...just frustrated. where is it located on the truck?

07-01-2003, 02:48 PM	#7
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	ok, i know exactly which box you are talking about. that was the next thing i was planning on replacing. i'm not sure, but i think i remember seeing them in year one's catalog for like $70 or something. will be worth it if i can't find one in a junk yard, just for peace of mind because it's driving me insane!!!!

07-01-2003, 05:04 PM	#8
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,088	I have had the same problem for MONTHS!!! It is driving me insane too. For some reason, it could be either the switch or the delay control module. People have had luck with both. It is tearing up my wipers! UGH! If you get a new on, be prepared to shell out $80. I need to go get me one! __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

07-01-2003, 08:01 PM	#9
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	get one from a wrecking yard. i grab them everytime i see one. i have 2 extra's. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

07-01-2003, 08:03 PM	#10
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	My friends 87 'burb's wipers make one cycle if he puts the auto trans down into 1st....gotta love 73-87's __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

07-02-2003, 11:04 AM	#11
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	well, one of my local parts stores can get me the Wiper Delay Module for like $33. I had them order one and it will be in on thursday...hopefully that cures the problem. If not, I guess it won't be the first time I wasted money on a part that didn't need replaced.

07-02-2003, 07:33 PM	#12
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	DITTO charged, i do that all the time it seems like __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

07-03-2003, 05:01 PM	#13
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	anyone know where i can get one other than a junk yard? my local parts place can't get it. i've done some research and it seems GM discontinued this part 5 years ago????

07-03-2003, 05:36 PM	#14
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	No, it's not discontinued. What year are you looking for and I will get you a part number. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

07-03-2003, 05:37 PM	#15
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	Doh, I just looked at your first post again and saw it was an 85, I'll get that number. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed



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07-07-2003, 10:06 AM	#16
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	Gracho...thanks for the effort, but I went to the junk yard this weekend and I was able to find two of the relays in two different vans. Plugged it into my truck and bam...the wipers no longer turn on when I turn the truck on, and my washers also work now. Thanks for all of the info guys. J

07-07-2003, 12:59 PM	#17
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Oh yeah, for those of you who have the problem of them turning on, then never turning off, or constantly spraying without end... there are two cables on the wiper module itself, unplug both of them and clean them well, the one that is higher up turns your wipers off after the end of their cycle, and the lower one starts the wiper pump rotation (at least in my 80) __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

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