Father-in-Laws 1997 Thunderbird. The windshield wipers will not turn off or slow down at all. the only way to shut them off while the car in on is to pull the fuse. I think it's the motor going out, but hell I could be wrong. Ideas? I read somewhere that it could be the relay, but I can't find one for this stupid car nor can I find where the hell it's located ( not listed on the fuse cover) guesses as to whether I'm right about the motor?
failed switch? If they're running, the motor might be ok
ive heard of e30s sometimes shorting in the harness in a way that fakes an 'on' switch condition and you have to pull the fuse to stop it. if you have an electrical diagram you might want to try pinout the ends of the harness while the problem is showing itself.
Relays should be under the hood, by the battery somewhere hiding. The MN12 'Birds had all sorts of bizarre elatorical issues.
Sounds like the switch. Either they do what you have or they park wherever they are when you close the switch, i.e. no parking spot.
Get a switch from a junker, cheaper than a motor any day.
Dan
I have 2 MN12 Birds, and I'd guess it's the multifunction switch (wiper/turn signal stalk). I've replaced one, it's not too bad. Loosen the bolts that hold the steering column in place before you try to pull the gauge cluster surround so you don't crack it.
The motor can't run without power to it, so it's not the motor. Switch or relay would be my guess.
Like Dan said, it certainly could be the motor, or rather the parking circuit on the bull gear. Almost every car with self parking wipers has a pair of contacts on the motor that make a connection through a "C" on the bull gear. When you apply power through the switch you are moving the motor until it get's out of the open spot in the "C", then those contacts take over and it runs full speed through the majority of the revolution until it get's back to the open spot where it stops if the switch is off or keeps going if it's on. That's why no matter what speed you intermittent setting is the wipers always stroke the same speed, just with longer delays, as opposed to crawling slowly across the windshield.
Ok, I'll change the switch. His explanation was he was driving it and they just turned on on high. said he never touched the switch. I wish at this point it was the motor I hate messing around with steering columns on cars with air bags.
He also yanked the dash light fuse because he said his interior lights were going on when the car was parked. I don't know this thing is pissing me off at this point. I'm thinking these too are connected in some way, but I don't know how long the dash light fuse has been pulled nor do I want to get into messing with it since he really should not be driving at night any way.
xd wrote: He also yanked the dash light fuse because he said his interior lights were going on when the car was parked.
Going on, or staying on? Fords of the last couple of decades have a failure prone pin switch in the door latches for the interior light, key in buzzer, and so on.
When switches fail, they fail open or they fail closed. Unfortunately his failed open.
I think.
I fixed it. That stupid old drunk pulled a bunch of fuses, that had nothing to do with anything. I put fluid in the reservoir. then crawled under the dash and looked at the fuse block, wiper one was out like he said, the parking light fuse was pulled and the interior light fuse was pulled. I replaced all of those and the stupid thing works fine. just a check engine light to clear. I'm sure this is from it sitting for the last 5 months while he was in rehab. thanks for your help guys. Does anyone know how long the battery has to be disconnected to clear the codes. just for reference this car only has 34k miles on it.
914Driver wrote: When switches fail, they fail open or they fail closed. Unfortunately his failed open. I think.
When switches fail... Next on NatGeo
Fun stuff there XD. On my SAAB 900 if you pulled the fuse for the seat belt buzzer --- the interior light won't come on. Safety NAZIs or bored electrical engineers?
Mr. Comancho, how do you change your name yet maintain post count?
He's changed the display name, not the whole account. You can do it too.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/members/edit-profile/ INSERT YOUR USER NAME HERE/
Or, just send me an email with your desired display name.
Nah, only guys with penis issues do that.
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