UGH! What is up with this truck! (wipers)

[jsbihn]

Hey all,
Soooo here is the latest in a ever growing (faster than I can fix it) list of things going on with my Rig.

Yesterday I was driving when the front wipers came on. It wasnt raining (though it rained a day or two before) and this wiper craziness was out of the blue... meaning I had driven then turned the vehicle off then drove again and nothing happened until.... When they came on, they came on for a couple of swipes and then stopped - mid way through the wipe. So I left it there figuring it would dry out if it needed too or would reset itself. This morning I go out and sure enough they are stuck. The switch wont work... nothing, just as they were yesterday. I check all fuses and everything is good there.
I manually push the wipers down because I couldnt drive with them on the windshield obstructing my view. Suddenly about a minute later they wipe on their own and get stuck again.
That was it.

Now I have broken wipers, broken wiper fluid pump (front and back), and I am wondering what will happen next

any help?
I am not looking to buy new parts if there is an issue that i can fix, but if it needs the new parts..... well I am buy them

Thanks

[jsbihn]

Ok all,
Here is the latest.

This morning I turn on the wipers and still nothing.
But I can hear something move or make a sound when the wipers are turned on. So I grab one of the arms and give a little tug. The wipers moved with no issue on their own. A full sweep.
Then they returned to the start position and that was it. The next attempt to the sweep gave me the same little movement and sound from the motor.
Everytime I would pull on the arm the wipers would move, but once they returned they couldnt.

So it seems like the motor is ok, but maybe it is slipping on the arm??

Any help?

[HUMTECH]

Remove the cowl trim to get to the motor. Turn on the wipers and tap the motor housing with a rubber mallet lightly, if the wipers swipe you need a motor.

[LoJac963]

Also I thought I read a few threads of the circuit boards going bad in the motors because they aren't sealed or something? I could be wrong....

[Easy Ed]

Originally Posted by LoJac963

Also I thought I read a few threads of the circuit boards going bad in the motors because they aren't sealed or something? I could be wrong....

Yup....

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=44607

[jsbihn]

Originally Posted by HUMTECH

Remove the cowl trim to get to the motor. Turn on the wipers and tap the motor housing with a rubber mallet lightly, if the wipers swipe you need a motor.

Ok, and if they dont?

[jsbihn]

Originally Posted by Easy Ed

Yup....

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=44607

Yeah I read a while back that you should seal them too.
I think I heard that between Ed and Guru

Of course, my laziness is going to now probably cost me 200 bucks

[PaHumBug]

I've replaced 3 wiper modules on the 4 H2's I've had. Getting the cowl on and off is the biggest pain, but I'm getting pretty good at it.

[jsbihn]

PHB,
Are you doing the "sealing" that some have instructed on here after you install the modules?

[HUMTECH]

Had a hummer in the shop today with exact problem, wipers kinda vibrated on the wind shield and wouldn't move. Helped them a little and they made one swipe then got stuck and vibrated again. Found the wiper transmission pivot points were binding up and not allowing them to move freely on their own without help getting them off the position they were stuck on. had to order a wiper transmission assembly which comes with new motor. should have it Friday afternoon ill post my results.

[jsbihn]

Thanks Humtech,
sounds almost exactly like what is happening here

[PaHumBug]

Originally Posted by jsbihn

PHB,
Are you doing the "sealing" that some have instructed on here after you install the modules?

Yes, used black RTV. Never had a problem again. Sounds like this might not be your problem though. But if you're in there anyway, I would recommend sealing the module before it leaks and dies anyway.

[jsbihn]

PHB,
Yeah I would definitely, but it sounds like from HumTech that it probably going to need replacing.
UGH I hate it when you have the money set to buy something for your truck, and then something breaks and makes you spend that money elsewhere

[jsbihn]

HT,
Not sure if this matters or not, but the other day I had noticed my wipers were on.
I noticed that even though there werent moving, I could hear the motor buzzing at the times when the timer would allow them to move.
I was sitting in a parking lot and I hear buzz.......... buzz........... buzz...........
Then I realize it was the wipers and turn it off and the buzz disappeared.

Was this similar to the situation of the truck that came in?
Just seems that the motor is still good (since it is still buzzing) but that the gear or track that causes them to move is off. Maybe I am wrong.... and so i ask you

[HUMTECH]

Exact same issue sounds like. Just replaced the assembly on the one at work before lunch and problem solved

[jsbihn]

so there is no way to repair the part that is causing the issue without replacing the whole unit?
Just cant see spending 200 bux for a new motor if this one works proper but say the piece that connect the arm to the motor is stripped and I could fix the piece for cheaper then 200 bux

(ie. i have repaired the shift linkage issue on my truck with a 25 cent nylon nut that i got at an auto parts store versus having to buy a whole new linkage assembly for 125 bucks since the only way to get the oem nylon piece that holds the linkage assembly was to buy the assembly.... and when that fails (if it does) I will replace it with the 12 dollar piece that i made that will NEVER break)

I know it sounds cheap... but I have to watch my wallet in this damn economy. Plus again, I love knowing I fixed something (especally for less) and that there is a little more "Me" in the truck and a little less "OEM"

[HUMTECH]

Im not saying you cant fix it, trouble is im a flat rate tech, if I spend all kinds of time trying to fix it and it doesn't work I don't get paid. If it does work and fails again within 1 year or 20k im expected to fix it for free. If I replace the part and it fails, covered under parts warranty and I get paid to fix it again. Its a sad reality but that's the system. If I don't cover my ass no one will cover it for me. If it was my own truck, damn right id try to fix it first. I gave a customer the option once to do a repair for way cheaper than a replacement part telling him the repair would likely be temporary but would get him by for about 6 months till he could budget for the parts. 8 months later came back whining that it was broken again, told my service manager I lied to him bout the repair I offered and wanted it fixed for free. Guess what, I ended up doing the repair at half the rate it should pay and the shop covered the parts. Never again

[jsbihn]

HT,
I understand. I didnt know you got paid for fixes under warranty when it is regarding replacement parts.
Flat rate? Is that the same as what most mechanics say they get "paid for book time"

And wow thats amazing that the customer did that to you.
Well you know what they say.... no good deed goes unpunished.

I am the epitome of this.
Unreal how much I have seen people I have helped come back to stab me
Oh well....

Well either which way you are stilll ACES in my book.
And hopefully I will be able to figure out a fix. If, for nothing else to say that I have figured something else out on my truck.

Now if I could just figure out my damn stereo install

[HUMTECH]

Well first thing I would try is lots of penetrating fluid on the wiper transmission pivot points, see if they free up. What ya having issues with on stereo install?

[HUMTECH]

Ya, flat rate means if the job pays say 1.5 hrs in the book time that is what we get paid regardless of how quick we do it or how long it takes us. Basically a win some lose some system and warranty times pay on average 40 percent less than non warranty work. So if its 1.0 hrs warranty time that would typically translate to 1.4 hrs customer pay time or published time