Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 22:26:33 -0500
Reply-To: boroko <marokus@VOYAGER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: boroko <marokus@VOYAGER.NET>
Subject: Re: HELP TO FIX WINDSHIELD WIPERS 91 VANAGON
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Have you tried to remove the wiper arms and the plastic covers on the
mounting nuts and lubricate them?
If you do it, clear all of the little grooves in the shafts before you
reinstall the arms, as they will collect metal from the arms and not hold as
well. A sharp edge like a knife works well.
Also, you can use a penetrant like WD-40 to loosen them up, but you need a
heavier oil that will last more than 2 weeks if you don't want to do it that
often.
The more I read your post, the more I think it is a different problem. ( you
should still lube the shafts once you get it figured out).
I think this is the real answer: Wiper motors operate on a weird switching
circuit that is internal to the motor. Don't dismay, as the problem is not
likely in there.
The internal switch is connected to the shaft and makes contact as the shaft
turns it's cycle. When you start the wipers with the column switch, it
conducts to the motor while it is in the "home" position internally.
Once the motor has rotated a little bit, the engineers figure that you want
a complete cycle of the wipers. As the motor shaft rotates, it passed the
home area and the "cycle" contact takes over for the rest of the revolution.
That way, when you turn them off, the motor completes on the "cycle" portion
of the contact until it hits the "home" area, where there is no connection
to the motor and shuts off.
If that sound a bit confusing, consider a circular contact with about 20
degrees of it missing. While the shaft is turning, a moving wiper makes
contact with it until it comes to the open area and shuts off. When you
want them on, the column switch is suppose to carry it past that area.
The "cycle" area of the contact is always hot when the key is on, the column
contact is only hot when you have the wiper switch on (or when the
intermittent wiper relay is still holding). The likely place to start
looking is the column switch wiring and the fuse that powers it.
The wiper motor is a bugger to get out without removing the dash. I think
that I have seen posts that say it can be done, but I have never tried.
If you have to remove the dash, consider making sure that the blower motor
is in good shape. Then would be the time to replace it. The bearing under
the fan usually runs out of it's "lifetime" grease before you are ready to
consider your van at the end of it's lifetime.
If all of that sounds crazy, feel free to ask me to elaborate.
Mark Rokus
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shannon Mitchell" <vze4rq5j@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 8:38 PM
Subject: HELP TO FIX WINDSHIELD WIPERS 91 VANAGON
I can't seem to fix my wipers.. my motor is good.. I think? It moves the
wipers, but needs a little help to get going.. once you push them up an inch
or so they go up and back, but get stuck again.. I have tried to take the
motor out, but can't seem to..do I need to take the whole dash off?
any thoughts?
I need to get them fixed before I can get it inspected..
Thanks
Shannon
91 Vanagon ( un-inspected )
