Hey I have a question.
My wipers seem to only have 2 speeds... REALLY fast or off. It feels from the switch, and I guess from common sense, that there out to be at least a "normal" speed if not an intermittent as well.
Should I be looking at replacing the wiper switch or the motor or something else?
Green Meanie's two speeds are slow and faster. No intermittent or real fast. Meanie is a '73 wagon. I don't know if later models have other speeds, but I can consult an owner's manual. :D
When you turn off the wipers do they go back to the rest position?
The ones on my car are fast, and faster. I wish there was a way to slow em down. It rarely rains hard enough here to even need the "slow" speed. Like today, it rained all day long but not enough to keep the wipers from squeeking. That drives me up the wall!
Quote from: pintoguy76 on January 23, 2010, 08:38:13 PM
The ones on my car are fast, and faster. I wish there was a way to slow em down. It rarely rains hard enough here to even need the "slow" speed. Like today, it rained all day long but not enough to keep the wipers from squeeking. That drives me up the wall!
Intermittent wipers would probably solve your problem.
I'm a little spoiled, driving an Isuzu Rodeo with different wiper speeds. I'll trade you my slow ones for your fast ones! lol. ;D
My dad installed an intermittent wiper switch on mine back in the 80s. Every now and then I find an old truck or car in the junk yards that have similar units, nothing worth grabbing though.
I must say, I do enjoy having wipers going every 2 to 20 seconds, depending on what I have it set to.
Will an intermittent wiper switch plug right into my car or what do I have to do to install it? I could sure use one on all 3 of my cars, its simply something I almost cant live without. It never rains enough to leave the wipers on. I spend more time messing with the wipers that I do anything else.
Quote from: TIGGER on January 23, 2010, 06:01:46 PM
When you turn off the wipers do they go back to the rest position?
Yes, they return to normal position.
The fast speed that works seems almost ridiculously fast. I once left it running on this speed for an extended period- because it was actually pouring hard enough to justify it- and they actually froze in the middle of the windshield for a bit. It took a bunch of twisting the wiper on and off and they returned to normal.
The wiper knob seems to have a couple different positions to click to. And if you turn it to the left, there is an amount of free-play that makes it almost seem like some kind of "speed control" or something... but nothing really works besides the fast setting.
Sounds to me you either have a bad switch or a bad wiper motor! If it is a wiper motor I feel sorry for you! I had to R&R one in my car and it was quite the challenge!! I will suggest taking the seats out of the car, makes it a bit easier to reach to bolts. I replaced the whole thing though, arms and all, so I'm not sure, maybe you can unhook the motor from the arms. I didn't really pay attention to that part of it, do to the fact one of my arms was messed up too!
I'm sure you could probably test the motor by unplugging it and taking a test wire to make it come on. Then you would know what you need, a motor or a switch!
when i got my car the switch only worked on fast i sprayed wd-40 in the knob shaft and now it works good
Quote from: Jef_Leppard on January 24, 2010, 10:57:10 AM
Yes, they return to normal position.
The fast speed that works seems almost ridiculously fast. I once left it running on this speed for an extended period- because it was actually pouring hard enough to justify it- and they actually froze in the middle of the windshield for a bit. It took a bunch of twisting the wiper on and off and they returned to normal.
The wiper knob seems to have a couple different positions to click to. And if you turn it to the left, there is an amount of free-play that makes it almost seem like some kind of "speed control" or something... but nothing really works besides the fast setting.
I would try to swap out the switch first and see if it helps. The wiper motors rarely go bad in my experience but I have had a few that did go bad. When they went bad they would not go back to the rest position when you shut them off. I may have a spare standard switch somewhere if you are interested.
Quote from: pintoguy76 on January 24, 2010, 05:59:55 AM
Will an intermittent wiper switch plug right into my car or what do I have to do to install it? I could sure use one on all 3 of my cars, its simply something I almost cant live without. It never rains enough to leave the wipers on. I spend more time messing with the wipers that I do anything else.
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My dad order his 79 wagon with intermittent wipers and I must say they are a valuable option if you live where it rains a lot. I have added to my other two cars with no problems. You are going to want to find the Pinto intermittent switch, it is the one with the ground wire. The Pinto switch has a longer shaft than the swithes you find in other vehicles. I have not found one that will interchange. The intermittent box plugs between the factory wiper motor and the intermittent switch. The intermittent boxes from other vehicles may work but you may have to move some of the wires on the connector over to make the washers work. The easiest thing is to find everything from a parts Pinto. Good uck
76-80 Pinto intermittent wipers was an option.
All you need to add intermittent wipers is the intermittent switch and governor. Plug and play option. If I remember the intermittent part of the switch is a restostat to the left of off. Would be a variable speed to the left of off.