how do the intermittent wipers work?

chris142

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Posts
3,007
Reaction score
354
Location
SoCal
Your year doesn't have the release on the knob itself?

No it's on the switch. You push the release knob in and pull the headlight knob and pull the knob and about 2 inches of rod out of the switch. I did it at the junkyard after destroying a dash(It was junk anyway)but I'm not about to destroy my dash.
 

Blind Driver2

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2011
Posts
883
Reaction score
0
Location
New Albany, In
Well I want to thank everybody that chimed in but I give up. I absolutly hate dash work and after spending 2 days under mine as well as under the dash of trucks at the junk yard I'm going to throw in the towel.

I've spent the last hr trying to get the knob for the headlight switch pulled out so I can try to acess the box from that direction(assumung it's back there somewhere as I did not find anything behind the glove box). I know I need to push a pin on the switch and the knob and rod will come out. I simply cant get to the pin to pull the knob out! I'm done! I'm at the end of my rope and aggrevated as all get out! This is the 2nd time I've tried to do dash work on this truck. The first time was hoping to pull the cluster out to clean some connections on te back of that and I could not get my fingers back there to unplug the speedo cable so that got put back together unfixed.

I've got bigger fish to fry and more important things on my mind than a non working intermittant wiper system.

Besides it only raines 3 days a year here anyway.

I normally push the pin in and then have to wiggle the knob out. You can buy a new switch and knob and practice in front of the tv LOL
It's not a perfect science. Sometimes it takes me 10 second of wiggling and praying (cursing).

Dash work is always a ***** of the worst dog.
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,931
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
I see. Mine has both. But I couldn't get the rod out. Didn't really try hard enough because I had no reason to pull it. I'll see if my 88 has it. Maybe get some pictures while I'm in there.
 

riotwarrior

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Posts
14,782
Reaction score
492
Location
Cawston BC. Canada
Well I want to thank everybody that chimed in but I give up. I absolutly hate dash work and after spending 2 days under mine as well as under the dash of trucks at the junk yard I'm going to throw in the towel.

I've spent the last hr trying to get the knob for the headlight switch pulled out so I can try to acess the box from that direction(assumung it's back there somewhere as I did not find anything behind the glove box). I know I need to push a pin on the switch and the knob and rod will come out. I simply cant get to the pin to pull the knob out! I'm done! I'm at the end of my rope and aggrevated as all get out! This is the 2nd time I've tried to do dash work on this truck. The first time was hoping to pull the cluster out to clean some connections on te back of that and I could not get my fingers back there to unplug the speedo cable so that got put back together unfixed.

I've got bigger fish to fry and more important things on my mind than a non working intermittant wiper system.

Besides it only raines 3 days a year here anyway.

No it's on the switch. You push the release knob in and pull the headlight knob and pull the knob and about 2 inches of rod out of the switch. I did it at the junkyard after destroying a dash(It was junk anyway)but I'm not about to destroy my dash.

I specifically said if you have any questions ask....there is a reason, I'm a master at removing parts as an autowrecker...

This is mentioned here but I"m going to show you how to do this.

Ford in their intelligence realized the difficulty in removing said shaft from switch and subsequently added a (LITTLE KNOWN) tiny notch on the back of the knob. You take a fairly strong O ring pick or similar tool and set it in and pull back as if pulling knob and it falls off in your hand!

pull the knob out as if turning on lights...rotate till you see this notch my finger is pointing at
You must be registered for see images attach


A close up
You must be registered for see images attach


Here I've tipped it back after removing it...to allow you to see it.
You must be registered for see images attach


The wiper switch has a very similar setup.

Just be patient and as I said...

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ASK...

JM2CW

Al
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,931
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
Al, that's what I was getting at. So thanks for putting that up here. Also a fish hook would work. But be CAREFUL.
On my 94 the replacement rod and knob uses a small allen head to hold the knob on. It even came with the allen wrench.
 

chris142

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Posts
3,007
Reaction score
354
Location
SoCal
I specifically said if you have any questions ask....there is a reason, I'm a master at removing parts as an autowrecker...

This is mentioned here but I"m going to show you how to do this.

Ford in their intelligence realized the difficulty in removing said shaft from switch and subsequently added a (LITTLE KNOWN) tiny notch on the back of the knob. You take a fairly strong O ring pick or similar tool and set it in and pull back as if pulling knob and it falls off in your hand!

pull the knob out as if turning on lights...rotate till you see this notch my finger is pointing at
You must be registered for see images attach


A close up
You must be registered for see images attach


Here I've tipped it back after removing it...to allow you to see it.
You must be registered for see images attach


The wiper switch has a very similar setup.

Just be patient and as I said...

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ASK...

JM2CW

Al

Thanks. That helped some. I got the knob off and the plastic dash piece off then the plate that holds the wiper and headlight switches. I can see the box!

So I'm trying to figure out how to acess the screw on the back side. getting real pissed again! Nothing fits so I found a mirror and looked at the back side of mounting bracket...

GUESS WHAT! It's riveted to in there! The hole that should have a screw has a black rivit! Theres no way to get a drill in there to drill that stupid rivit out! So back to gether it went.

I'm ******** fed up with this! Eff it! I don't need intermittant wipers here in the desert anyway. They are not worth the frustration of this assanine design!

Maybe in the future I'll find another box, unplug mine and plug the new one in leaving the original rivited to it's bracket and zip tie the new one up there some where. Makes more sense than spending another day on this.
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,931
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
I'm not understanding how you're having so much trouble. Just run some fishing line from the wipers to inside. Then you'll have variable speed, all mechanical wipers. :roflmao:
 

riotwarrior

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Posts
14,782
Reaction score
492
Location
Cawston BC. Canada
Thanks. That helped some. I got the knob off and the plastic dash piece off then the plate that holds the wiper and headlight switches. I can see the box!

So I'm trying to figure out how to acess the screw on the back side. getting real pissed again! Nothing fits so I found a mirror and looked at the back side of mounting bracket...

GUESS WHAT! It's riveted to in there! The hole that should have a screw has a black rivit! Theres no way to get a drill in there to drill that stupid rivit out! So back to gether it went.

I'm ******** fed up with this! Eff it! I don't need intermittant wipers here in the desert anyway. They are not worth the frustration of this assanine design!

Maybe in the future I'll find another box, unplug mine and plug the new one in leaving the original rivited to it's bracket and zip tie the new one up there some where. Makes more sense than spending another day on this.

Calm down.....I know that's a rhetorical comment but seriously, there is no need to get worked up, really we are here to help.

Now what are you saying, the black box is riveted into place? Can you provide a picture? Just work with us...not against yourself, and it can work out.

Just leave it for tonight...or till you are ready to take another swing at it, then get some pictures and we can see what we can do to help.

JM2CW

Al
 

chris142

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Posts
3,007
Reaction score
354
Location
SoCal
No pics as my phone does not have a flash and there's no room to get it in there anyway. The box is bolted to a bracket that's supposed to be held with a screw in a real bad spot. I'm not going to remove the parking brake to try to get to that rivit. The truck is a ****** and this rivit is factory. They put the box onto the metal under there then must have put the dash down
 

chris142

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Posts
3,007
Reaction score
354
Location
SoCal
Ok I got calmed down. I was able to pry the box and bracket up and removed the two 5.5mm screws that hold the box together as well as hold it to the bracket. I was able to pull the box out through the hole where the switches were but I left it plugged in. Did not see anything wrong inside it, turned on the wipers and pushed on the solder joints... Nothin.

So I proceded to unplug the plugs. Found a burned connection. I cleaned up the connection and bent the connector so it would be a tighter fit. My intermittant wipers work again!

I did not remount the box to the bracket. I left it loose to move as needed.

Still a very stupid design on Fords part.
 
Top