Wipers won't park!!!

topgub · 03-02-2006, 03:05 PM

I have a '75 Carrera w/intermittant wipers that won't park when using the column on/off switch. When I try the intermittant switch, they'll go about half way, stop, continue, stop in the middle again, so on and so on. I've changed everything but the on/off switch on the column. Can anyone tell where's the problem? Thanx.

Series900 · 03-02-2006, 03:16 PM

several electrical point contact arms that ride in the gearbox on the wiper motor . these keep a logic power on til park after you shut the main feed off.

topgub · 03-02-2006, 03:25 PM

I've already changed the motor; they still wouldn't park.

DW SD · 03-02-2006, 03:31 PM

I think your control box is broken OR the connection to it is fouled up.
I unplugged my box and the wipers continue to run until I turn the switch to off, then: they just stop wherever they come to rest.

When I plug it in, they come to rest in the right location.

Doug

Rex Walter · 03-02-2006, 03:43 PM

Mike,

I had a similar problem with my 1975 - turned out to be just dirty contacts in the wiper switch at the steering wheel. I have intermittent wipers also, and my symptoms were that the intermittent wipers didn't work at all, and the regular wipers would not park.

The wiper switch consists of terminals # 53a, 53, 53b, 53i, 53e, and 53c. During wiper park cycle, 53e (blue wire) is connected to 53a (red wire, +12 v all the time). The connection is made when the wiper switch is off and the motor is not in the park position. The motor makes connection between 53e and 53a with an internal disk. The wiper switch connection between 53e and 53 puts the wipers into the slow mode, until the disk inside the motor turns to the park or off position.

53a Red = +12 v all the time
53 Red/Black = slow speed wipers
53b black/yellow = medium speed wipers
53i green = fast speed wipers
53e blue = park at slow speed
53c black = washer pump motor

Hope this helps - Rex

wilke3169 · 03-02-2006, 04:33 PM

Looks like Rex may have the answers. Mine didnt park. While I was changing the blinker/dimmer arm I replaced the wiper control arm. After this they not only parked but the intermittent worked as well. Good Luck

Argo · 03-02-2006, 05:50 PM

I'm not sure about your year, but in my '88 if the stalk switch doesn't park the blades correctly, the intermittent feature won't work. When I got my targa, the wipers didn't park and the intermittent function didn't work. Thanks to John Walker, I found the problem in the stalk switch. In my switch, there are metal contacts (prongs) that activate the park function when they are pushed together by a small angular plastic piece when the wiper switch is turned to off. Over time, they had flexed to the side so that they were no longer pushed into contact by that plastic piece. I repositioned the prongs and, bingo, wipers park correctly. I also found out that the intermittent feature won't work until the wipers are correctly parked. Once I adjusted the prongs, both my problems were solved.

Argo
88 Targa

Cipotifoso · 03-02-2006, 09:24 PM

This must be a relatively common problem. I experienced exactly the same symptoms that Rex described with my 75 and it was due to the lack of metal contact at park (53a to 53e?). The metal prong was bent away due to use as Argo also found out. I was determined to find the problem after one shop said it was my motor and another said it was the switch. I knew that if I started replacing components, it would be the last component that I replaced that would solve the problem. I found the problem after a diligent search and wound up replacing no parts.

topgub · 03-02-2006, 09:51 PM

Hey, thanx to all you guys. I was hoping it would be in the column switch, since that's the only part I've yet to replace.

Sumotang · Sumotang's Garage

Had a look at mine on the weekend as the intermittent and park feature does not work. When I pulled apart the switch, I found that the small plastic piece with the metal pronges had come loose from the main switch metal frame. When I put it back in the part and intermittent features work.

Only problem is that the small plastic piece wont sit back in the main metal frame. It has 3 small pieces that stick out (2 plastic and 1 metal) that fit into holes in the main frame. I think there is a problem with the metal piece as the plastic piece wont stay back in. I am thinking about soldering this back in and super-glueing the plastic bits.

I dont think I can do any damage with this approach. Any thoughts.
If this doesnt work I will have to buy a whole new wiper arm.