Wipers won't park. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AnlaufJohn · 03-21-2010, 10:30 PM

Hello, and Happy Spring to all!
I am still having an issue with my wipers not parking when turning off the wipers. The patient is a 1966 C-10 LWB w/ 283-2bbl and 4spd.

I have the reproduction factory manuals and looking at Section 12, page 19, item E relates to the blades not returning to park when wipers turned off.

Yah!! I found the section. First thing to check is " Check wiper ground strap connection to car body."

The books don't show what this ground strap connection looks like, or where it is located.

OK, is this the not-connected ground strap connection? See attached photo

AnlaufJohn
Soggy & sunny Springfield, Oregon

markeb01 · 03-21-2010, 11:41 PM

The same problem developed in the original wiper motor that came with my 1960. I consulted the factory service manual which indicated:

2. Wiper blades fail to park

This condition is caused by parking switch contacts (fig. 147) being dirty or broken. To inspect and/or clean contacts, disassemble gear box.

Since this was my daily driver and I couldn't be without a wiper motor, I started looking on eBay and eventually found a factory rebuilt unit relatively cheap and replaced the original, which cured the problem.

In case it truly is just a grounding problem I'd just hook up a length of wire to any bare metal portion of the wiper motor you can reach, and connect it to a known good ground (even to the negative post of the battery if necessary) even if it's only temporary. That should clarify if a good ground will resolve the problem or not.

AnlaufJohn · 03-25-2010, 06:17 AM

Well, that little tab in the picture does need to be grounded.

Tonight, it started to rain again, and I put a short jumper wire to it and grounded the other end.

Yippee!!!!! The wipers park themselves, now.

What an easy and amazing fix. So thank you, markeb01, for that suggestion.

It is still raining and I won't have to worry about timing the switch anymore.

AnlaufJohn

63sbssbbw · 03-25-2010, 07:07 AM

The ground strap was a thin flat(.375-.5") piece of brass??
going from main body of motor to firewall (because it's mounts are rubber insulated)
Haven't seen one with a plug-in connection like that though
T

AnlaufJohn · 03-25-2010, 11:20 AM

Well, 63sbssbbw, the picture shows the brass tab like you mentioned.

There is no provision for it to plug into anything. It probably should have been placed under that lower mounting bolt. Someone else worked on the wipers before I bought it, so it's their mistake, and my joyful surprise!!!

I will remove the bolt and thread it through the hole of the brass tab and see if that allows the wipers to park. If so, then it's a done deal.

AnlaufJohn
One happy dude in Springfield, Oregon

63sbssbbw · 03-26-2010, 07:09 AM

As Markeb01 has mentioned it's definitely a ground issue
I had disassembly pics of this strap(3\8' x 2 1\2"),but lost them to a comp crash
Also you'll find that bolt(with the funky nut on the other end) are a major PITA.
You could find a connecter that fits that tab(or solder it) and run it to known good groundThanks
T

03-21-2010, 10:30 PM	#1
AnlaufJohn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, Oregon Posts: 130	Wipers won't park. Hello, and Happy Spring to all! I am still having an issue with my wipers not parking when turning off the wipers. The patient is a 1966 C-10 LWB w/ 283-2bbl and 4spd. I have the reproduction factory manuals and looking at Section 12, page 19, item E relates to the blades not returning to park when wipers turned off. Yah!! I found the section. First thing to check is " Check wiper ground strap connection to car body." The books don't show what this ground strap connection looks like, or where it is located. OK, is this the not-connected ground strap connection? See attached photo AnlaufJohn Soggy & sunny Springfield, Oregon Attached Images

03-21-2010, 11:41 PM	#2
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Wipers won't park. The same problem developed in the original wiper motor that came with my 1960. I consulted the factory service manual which indicated: 2. Wiper blades fail to park This condition is caused by parking switch contacts (fig. 147) being dirty or broken. To inspect and/or clean contacts, disassemble gear box. Since this was my daily driver and I couldn't be without a wiper motor, I started looking on eBay and eventually found a factory rebuilt unit relatively cheap and replaced the original, which cured the problem. In case it truly is just a grounding problem I'd just hook up a length of wire to any bare metal portion of the wiper motor you can reach, and connect it to a known good ground (even to the negative post of the battery if necessary) even if it's only temporary. That should clarify if a good ground will resolve the problem or not.

03-25-2010, 06:17 AM	#3
AnlaufJohn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, Oregon Posts: 130	Re: Wipers won't park. Well, that little tab in the picture does need to be grounded. Tonight, it started to rain again, and I put a short jumper wire to it and grounded the other end. Yippee!!!!! The wipers park themselves, now. What an easy and amazing fix. So thank you, markeb01, for that suggestion. It is still raining and I won't have to worry about timing the switch anymore. AnlaufJohn

03-25-2010, 07:07 AM	#4
63sbssbbw UCA63 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lloydminster AB Can. Posts: 1,637	Re: Wipers won't park. The ground strap was a thin flat(.375-.5") piece of brass?? going from main body of motor to firewall (because it's mounts are rubber insulated) Haven't seen one with a plug-in connection like that though T __________________ member#7816 "63 sb ss bbw 350\350 12 bolt rear Pwr Fr Disc PS tilt '61 GMC in progress '63 GMC to use for parts '90 Chevy Ext cab sbfs 5.7l (current d d)

03-25-2010, 11:20 AM	#5
AnlaufJohn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, Oregon Posts: 130	Re: Wipers won't park. Well, 63sbssbbw, the picture shows the brass tab like you mentioned. There is no provision for it to plug into anything. It probably should have been placed under that lower mounting bolt. Someone else worked on the wipers before I bought it, so it's their mistake, and my joyful surprise!!! I will remove the bolt and thread it through the hole of the brass tab and see if that allows the wipers to park. If so, then it's a done deal. AnlaufJohn One happy dude in Springfield, Oregon

03-26-2010, 07:09 AM	#6
63sbssbbw UCA63 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lloydminster AB Can. Posts: 1,637	Re: Wipers won't park. As Markeb01 has mentioned it's definitely a ground issue I had disassembly pics of this strap(3\8' x 2 1\2"),but lost them to a comp crash Also you'll find that bolt(with the funky nut on the other end) are a major PITA. You could find a connecter that fits that tab(or solder it) and run it to known good groundThanks T __________________ member#7816 "63 sb ss bbw 350\350 12 bolt rear Pwr Fr Disc PS tilt '61 GMC in progress '63 GMC to use for parts '90 Chevy Ext cab sbfs 5.7l (current d d)



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