Testing Windshield Wiper Motors

[35boulder]

Good thread to have back on top! Thanks for the info.

[kehstr]

I did this over the weekend. I started by trying this on a wiper motor I had sitting on a shelf before I crawled under my dash and tested my wiper motor that is on my truck. Both work perfectly!!

Since I didn't have one of those fancy connectors to add 2 connectors on that second terminal, I made something that does the exact same thing. Just put 2 wires in the connector, and then added some bullet connectors, works just as good and is something that everyone can get.

One thing I would do differently if I did this again, would be to make the power and ground wires longer, that way I could just plug it into the wiper motor in the truck, and then be able to connect it to the battery, and not have to add some leads to make it long enough to connect to the battery on the floor, and the connectors that barely hang below the dash.
I really appreciate all of the information that is on this thread, it truly helped me a lot!!

[toolboxchev]

And on a side note: My original Delco unit just came out, its seems 47 years is the life expectancy of this product. It was still working just very slowly. Bought a reman @ Autozone 57.99 including the 5.00 core charge.

They asked for me to bring it back, I said hell NO! I am going to have it rebuild professionally. I will use that chinese rebuild till then.

[paul blair]

Leon, Thank you for wiper motor thread! Great information! Now I know why my friends wiper motor will not park. Fiberglass jeep body-motor runs but no park. "NO GROUND STRAP" HAPPY TRAILS

[LockDoc]

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No problem guys.... Thanks!

On another note, I read in another thread a while back where the guys that were rebuilding their stock washer pumps were having trouble with them not working after rebuilding. Seems as though you have to prime them to get them to start pumping fluid..... Maybe some of the ones that don't work have just sat too long and need primed instead of rebuilt. Might be worth a try.

LockDoc

[paul blair]

Right on Leon! After not using washer pump for a long time it would not work-changed the pump (was not easy for me) had to prime the new pump to make it work-learned some thing that day and felt like a dummy-all I had to do is prime my original one, and don't forget the pickup screen! That was before I found this FORUM--Now I look here first! I live on an Island-only a few 60/72 GM TRUCKS here! Shure is good to be a part of this GREAT GROUP and all this talent!

[TJR68]

I am still struggling, I am going to have to narrow it down to the wiper switch. The yellow and blue wire are hot when the key is on are they both suppose to be hot?

[68C15]

Originally Posted by TJR68

I am still struggling, I am going to have to narrow it down to the wiper switch. The yellow and blue wire are hot when the key is on are they both suppose to be hot?

Yes
Ground them and see if motor runs.
Th switch selects either one (low speed) or both (high) and grounds them as per Leon's diagram

[TJR68]

Thanks, I bench tested the motor and it works, so do I replace the switch next? besides the wiring I don't know what else would be left, like I mentioned the plug in to the motor is getting power.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by TJR68

Thanks, I bench tested the motor and it works, so do I replace the switch next? besides the wiring I don't know what else would be left, like I mentioned the plug in to the motor is getting power.

Post #34 in this thread explains how to test the switch.

LockDoc

[TJR68]

The wipers are now working but they park in the up position. I put a new motor and switch in.

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by TJR68

The wipers are now working but they park in the up position. I put a new motor and switch in.

sounds to me like the arm on the wiper motor is not set up right, you need to:
1) pull the wiper linkage off the arm that goes on the wiper motor
2) pull the arm off the wiper motor
3) run the wiper motor one time making sure it is parked
4) put the arm that goes on the wiper motor back on the wiper linkage
5) move the wipers to the true park position
6) put the arm back on the wiper motor
I would recommend that when you run the wipers the first time after doing this, that you run them with the wipers off or flipped up (be extra careful if you go this route), that way you don't run the risk of them going to low and tearing up the cowl, or anything else in that area. Then make sure the motor is parked, and then stall the wipers it the correct spot.
That should fix your problem

[LockDoc]

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Here is a visual on the park markings on the wiper motor and arm....

LockDoc

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

Excellent advice and posting there LockDoc. I'm beginning to think you know what you're talking about. I feel lucky mine went right to "Park" when disconnected. I did have to tap in a new nut plate but that took five minutes and the tap and die set from Harbor Fright worked great believe or not. Good luck with Wipers and once again, isn't this board great?!

[TJR68]

Thank you for everyone's help wipers are working great, now off to replace the engine.

[C10_ustacould]

Ok, here is what I have...

My motor


My connectors


So my motor doesn't have the washer pump, so how do I make the connections? Should I de-pin the connectors and use individual spade connectors? If I do this where do the connections go? I have the wiring diagram but it doesn't help with identifying where the connections go on the motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by C10_ustacould

Ok, here is what I have...

So my motor doesn't have the washer pump, so how do I make the connections? Should I de-pin the connectors and use individual spade connectors? If I do this where do the connections go? I have the wiring diagram but it doesn't help with identifying where the connections go on the motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The brown connector is for the washer pump & the two Black ones are for the wiper. Since your motor has four terminals the larger black connector plugs into the two center terminals on the wiper motor and the single black connector plugs into the terminal above that. The notches in the connectors fit over bumps on the terminals so they can't be plugged in wrong. The forth terminal on your motor is just an extra terminal used on the earlier trucks. (before '67)

here is a picture....

You can just leave the washer connector if you want but I would wrap some tape around it.

LockDoc

[C10_ustacould]

Thanks for the help, gonna give the wipers another go this afternoon.

[Mav]

Thanks a lot, will try, I have rectangular motor (one side rounded) and have been using 70 service manual (section 12 page 40) assuming your #1 high is Dark Blue, #2 power is 2 yellows, and #3 low is black, sound right?

[Mav]

Just looking at pic above, my 2 yellows are together on black plug at motor but shouldnt matter right? thanks again.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mav

Just looking at pic above, my 2 yellows are together on black plug at motor but shouldnt matter right? thanks again.

That wouldn't make any difference.....

LockDoc

[Mav]

I bench tested motor per your instructions, everything worked fine, put in pickup and all I get is a click when I turn the wiper switch on. If I depress switch for washer pump it runs (low and high). Its a new switch and I tested the 3 wires to switch for continuity, (all good). Where would you go from here? thanks Lockdoc. Mav

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mav

I bench tested motor per your instructions, everything worked fine, put in pickup and all I get is a click when I turn the wiper switch on. If I depress switch for washer pump it runs (low and high). Its a new switch and I tested the 3 wires to switch for continuity, (all good). Where would you go from here? thanks Lockdoc. Mav

Did you check all of your ground straps as I suggested in the thread you originally posted? I included a link to the ground strap thread. If the cab isn't grounded correctly the motor may not work right.

The new switch could possibly be bad. Is the new switch mounted in the dash? The switch has to be mounted in the dash or the motor wont work because it grounds through the switch housing. You could put the old switch back in and try it.

LockDoc

[Mav]

Yes on ground straps, passenger side block to firewall was loose, and switch is solid in dash, got new switch before I got very far with this cause I had no idea what was wrong, haha I still dont! Anyway old switch was doing almost the same thing but the washer wouldnt shut off even when you released switch, It wont take long to go back and try the other switch though, like what have I got to lose?

[Mav]

This is really grasping at straws, the bezel for switch is off and set screw is backed off on plastic knob, they cant possibly have anything to do with grounding of switch, can they?