You all told me this would happen

[TWeatherford]

I have needed a new wiper motor for a while now. The one I had was making horrific noises for a while and finally totally died. Finally got around to ordering a brand new one from RockAuto, part number 85-299 FYI, and some Bosch winter blades.

All the threads I read said that I might as well buy touch up paint because I'd be scratching my cowl. I went to a parts yard specifically to practice on a parts truck, and did it without scratching that cowl. Took the hood off first, then pulled the cowl, and out came the wiper motor without any trouble.

When I go to do my truck, of course I have to try and take a shortcut and not remove the hood. I'm trying to squeeze the cowl out and sure enough, it rubs on my hood on one corner and scratches it all up. So I pull the hood off, and in the process wack my ratchet into the front quarter panel and add a few more scars.

Oh well. Now for the first time since owning the truck I have intermittent wipers. That is going to be really sweet.

 

[Diesel_brad]

All you needed to do was put some masking tape where the cowl was goin to touch the hood

 

[1994Diesel]

All you needed to do was put some masking tape where the cowl was goin to touch the hood

Hindsight is 20/20 isn't it?

 

[HammerDown]

All you needed to do was put some masking tape where the cowl was goin to touch the hood

Good idea...
I wouldn't think the hood would need to come off to remove the cowl. Maybe taping that bit*h up with blue painters tape would make for a scratch-free removal.

 

[TWeatherford]

Yeah, some tape woulda been nice. Lots of it. With it, I might have gotten the cowl out without removing the hood. I repainted the wiper arms while I was at it, just spent about 45 minutes getting them aligned just perfect. I'm still not satisfied really...

 

[funnyman06]

How did you get intermittent wipers? I would love to do that conversion on my truck.

 

[Full Monte]

How did you get intermittent wipers? I would love to do that conversion on my truck.

It took me several years to figure out that the "conversion" involves rotating the wiper switch to the left instead of to the right like normal.

 

[funnyman06]

well my switch doesnt turn to the left. I wish I had it that easy.

 

[smolkin]

OP, are you saying the new motor fixed the intermittents? Can a failing motor be the reason I can't get mine to work? I replaced my switch with an int. one and salvaged 3 "black boxes" from the pull-a-part, made sure I have a good ground, still no intermitent, but the hi/lo settings work fine. Just wondering...

 

[The Warden]

OP, are you saying the new motor fixed the intermittents? Can a failing motor be the reason I can't get mine to work? I replaced my switch with an int. one and salvaged 3 "black boxes" from the pull-a-part, made sure I have a good ground, still no intermitent, but the hi/lo settings work fine. Just wondering...

That's a good point...as I understand it, the intermittent wipers failing is typically a function of the black box losing its soldering connections, but (if the main current to the motor runs through the black box instead of there being a relay, which I suspect is the case) I've always wondered if a failing wiper motor could cause the black box to overload itself and fail? Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

 

[TWeatherford]

OP, are you saying the new motor fixed the intermittents? Can a failing motor be the reason I can't get mine to work? I replaced my switch with an int. one and salvaged 3 "black boxes" from the pull-a-part, made sure I have a good ground, still no intermitent, but the hi/lo settings work fine. Just wondering...

Yes, the new motor fixed my intermittent wipers. I had read lots of threads about how the black box needed resoldered and thats what was why the intermittent wipers didn't work. I never got around to messing with the black box, but I had to replace the motor. Now the intermittent wipers are back, and I never messed with anything else. No guarantee that will work for you, but it was only like $45 for a new one at rock auto.

I think the older body style trucks have the black box or whatever it is located very near the parking brake, so the parking brake slamming home every time its released causes premature failure. With my body style (92-94) the black box is located somewhere behind the glovebox (or so I have been told), so its maybe less prone to failure.

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

Fords are well known for that parking brake to slam really hard when you release it.

I made it a habit of setting my foot on it, pulling the knob to release it, and with my foot still on it, bring it up slowly so it doesn't slam.

 

[gatorman21218]

well my switch doesnt turn to the left. I wish I had it that easy.

mine doesnt turn to the left either?

was int. wipers a trim option? I have a bare-bones custom so it doesnt surprise me if it was

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

All my trucks are Customs as well, my '89 F150 custom has int. wipers, only option it does have


Took me a few months of driving before noticing the knob can turn left

Now that I know, I still rarely use it, I never think about it.

 

[rhkcommander]

It took me several years to figure out that the "conversion" involves rotating the wiper switch to the left instead of to the right like normal.

mine does but it doesn't work for poop. I got my cowl off with the hood on. just patience and care