We were driving the son's truck, 1990 NON-TILT column, with the silly one stick does it all wiper-switch/dimmer-switch/turn-signals.

We went over the river and through the woods to Aunt Alberta's house for a big Christmas feast.

It was snowing immensely, like big chicken feathers falling out of the sky.

Wipers on and working fine.

Then, in mid-stroke, they just stopped and stayed where they were.

The snow just kept coming down.

To make a long story less long, we drove all the way home in a blizzard, on many miles of narrow snow-covered roads, with deep gullies, wide chasms, and big beech-trees on both sides, with no wipers.


I did work them by hand a few times to clear the glass a bit.

When I moved one, the other followed suit.

Although admittedly I am near stone deaf, when I turn ON the switch, I don't hear the wiper-motor running; no clanking or clunking, thus leading me to dismiss the linkage as being the problem.



It is still snowing out there, cold, and dark, so I have not investigated further.

The wipers do have the intermittent function, which I dislike.

I tried the switch in all positions, even tried flipping the dimmer and working the signals, with no success.


What is my list of most likely suspects when I try to figure this out in the morning ??


Fusable link, maybe ??; which one ??

As soon as weather and time permit, all that column-switch mess is gonna get re-wired to dash switches and a floor-mounted dimmer.


Thanks.

 

Yeah I did love the dash mounted wiper and floor mounted high beam switch...just less problems in my opinion.

I'd start with the fuse, but more then likely other things would have died as well. The see if your getting power to the wire connector at the motor. If you have power then get out the hammer and whack the motor, maybe it will start moving? I wouldn't rule out the linkage coming undone though.

Glad you made it there and back safely, not the best conditions to loose wipers in.

 

If you were able to move the wipers by hand then it is probably a linkage problem. The motors are pretty quiet so u might not hear it over the engine running. If you look down through the cowl grates and see if the linkage is off or if the arm on the motor is moving. If the motor is not running check the fuse and the little ground strap that is on the bolt that holds the motor to the firewall.

 

I vote for the bushings/linkage like Bill said. Mine did the same thing driving through Arizona earlier this year during some heavy rains. THAT was scary!! I couldn't hear the wiper motor cycling on mine either. Could only tell by turning on the switch and looking through the cowling.

 

I had same thing happen twice on mine eccept i could hear the wiper motor going. It is a scary situation for sure. It was the bushings in the linkage both times. Now i keep a spare set in the glove compartment just in case. Got them at O'Rielys for a few bucks. To see if its the linkage, just turn on the wiper switch and look down in to the cowl and see if thers any movement on the wiper cam.

 

The linkage has come apart. You can move them by hand, that would be impossible if they were still connected to the motor.

 

I haven't even looked at it today, but the general consensus is that the problem is indeed the linkage.

Does anyone have the part-number(s) for these bushings ??

How do I access the linkage; do I remove the cowl or go in through the firewall ??

Thanks.

I looked for a "sticky" but did not find one.

 

Look here.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...r+arm+bushings

 

......and here......

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ghlight=wipers

 

You go in through the cowl.

 

Faith is on it!!! Been there done that in a down poooooour, at 2:am, heavy traffic and yes my head got wet,wet till i could get out of "THEIR" way. Easy(lol) fix.

 

I bet the bushings broke. Napa carries them for a few dollars yet. I carry a spare set in my glove box.

 

Are there a few screws to undo the cowl cover that are under the big windshield rubber? I can't seem to get at it without taking the big rubber gasket out. Looks like its a trip to the window place?

 

There are a couple screws up under the rubber of the windshield. Just pry up the rubber a little and you can get to them. Dont cut or rip the rubber , no need for that. It is a pain to get to, but you can get to them.

 

HMMMMM?????

I am glad this question was brought up.

The truck that I just finished doing only had screws across the forward edge of the cowl-cover; I took those out and it just slipped right off.

I am doing another in a day or so and might have wondered what was going on, had I removed all the visible screws and still no go.

If it still has those screws, I will most likely not re-install them.

They were not on the son's truck and we were none the wiser.