3. Jonathan Race Jul 7 2001, 5:07 pm show options
Newsgroups: alt.trucks.chevy
From: "Jonathan Race" <j... DeleteThis @bitstorm.net> - Find messages by
this author
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 00:06:45 GMT
Local: Sat, Jul 7 2001 5:06 pm
Subject: Re: Windshield Wiper problems
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Here is my standard response to the problem you describe:
Mid-90's Chevy and GMC Wiper Module Circuit Board
Replacement and/or Repair Procedures
The fault in this circuit board is quite common and is attributed to
bad
solder joints from either design error or manufacturing flaw.
Symptoms
which indicate a bad circuit board include (but are not limited to):
wipers
will not work or work intermittently; wipers stop working for no
apparent
reason, maybe even in mid-stroke; wiper function is erratic, with no
delay
feature, delay is the same regardless of setting, or no low- or
high-speed
setting; wipers may start to work if you tap on the wiper module or
move the
electrical connector.
You have a choice of either Repairing your existing circuit board
yourself,
or Replacing it.
Replacement - You have at least three options available to you,
depending on
your relationship with your dealer and how much of a stink you want to
put
up.
1. Pay for the replacement part plus the labor to have the dealer
install it
(~$50 for the part plus ? for labor. Most expensive, least work).
2. Pay for the replacement part and install it yourself (~$50 for the
part,
your labor is free. Takes about 15 minutes.).
3. Have the part replaced under recall if applicable (Free, minus the
time
your truck will be in the shop. Least expensive, most work.).
Option #1 is very straightforward, just go down to your local dealer
and
have him do the work and pay the bill when he is finished. You don't
even
have to read any further.
Option #2 is also very straightforward. Have the parts department
research
the correct part number for your model year circuit board, purchase
the part
from them and install it. The wiper module is a small 2"x 4" black
box
attatched somewhere near the top of the firewall on the driver's side.
It
has the wiper motor mounted to it, and an electrical connector plugged
into
the end. Remove the electrical connector first, and using a Torx
(6-pointed
star) driver, remove the cover from the module. The circuit board
sits
directly underneath the cover and will be coated with grease. Gently
pry
the circuit board out of the module, do a little spring cleaning
inside the
case and add a dab of grease to the drive gears if needed. Install the
new
circuit board in the same manner as the old one was. Clean the inside
of
the cover and reinstall with the same Torx head screws.
Option #3 gets a little involved. First you must find a recall notice
for
your truck. Start by checking on the internet at
www.nhtsa.gov and
drill
down thru the links for recalls to determine if your truck is actually
listed (there are other sites to check as well). Just because your
truck
may not be listed doesn't mean it's not under recall. It could easily
depend on how your truck is described. For example, a 1995 Chevrolet
C1500
Pick-up could easily be listed as a C1500, 1500, 1500-3500, C-Series,
C/K
Series, Chevrolet Truck, GM Truck, C10 (the old designation), etc. It
would
pay to look under as many designations as you can think of before
giving up.
If you find your truck as listed, so much the better. Print out a
copy of
the recall and wave it at your dealer's service manager and they
should fix
it No Questions Asked. If they still refuse, contact Chevrolet/GMC
Customer
Assistance and/or the NHTSA's hotline (both are toll-free and listed
on
their respective web sites).
If you do not find your truck specifically listed, all hope is not yet
lost.
Search for the same truck under a different model year, or a
substantially
similar vehicle which does have a recall (For example, the Chevy
Blazer
shares the same wiper components as the Chevy S-10 and Astro, the GMC
Jimmy,
Safari and Sonoma, the Olds Bravada, etc.). Print out a copy of the
recall
for the other vehicle and go to your dealer's parts department. Have
them
search for the part number of the circuit board for the recalled
vehicle,
then for the part number for your truck. Odds are in your favor that
they
will both be exactly the same. Hence, your wiper module is one of the
faulty ones being recalled and should be covered but your truck may
have
been left off the recall list. Take this info to the service manager
and
depending on how much he wants to keep you as a customer, he will find
a way
to have the board replaced under the recall. If not, then you still
have
options #1 and #2 above, or you could fix your existing board
yourself.
Repair - You can easily repair your existing board if you know how to
turn a
screwdriver and know which end of a soldering gun to hold. If you
haven't
mastered either of these skills, then have someone else do the job for
you.
Step 1 - Locate the wiper module and remove the circuit board as
described
in Option #2 above. Be VERY careful removing the circuit board. Do
not
crack, bend or break it or you're outta luck. The circuit board is
approx.
2"x 4" and has two distinct sides. The top is the side where all the
components live, especially the large black socket for the electrical
connector (more on that later). The bottom is where all the lead
wires from
the electrical components poke thru the board and are soldered to the
printed circuit. Carefully wipe the excess grease off the board.
Step 2 - The fault in the board is caused by bad solder joints holding
the
large socket onto the printed circuit. If the board itself is cracked
or
broken, then you will have to get a new one. Carefully inspect the
tiny
mounds of solder underneath the large socket on the bottom of the
board.
Each drop of solder connects a lead wire from the socket to the
printed
circuit. A bad solder joint may look like it has a tiny circle in the
drop
of solder around the wire end, or it may be too small to see. At this
point
you will need a soldering gun and solder, and a steady hand.
Step 3 - Set your circuit board bottom side up so you can see the
solder
joints for the socket onto the printed circuit. Heat up your
soldering gun
and apply just a tiny drop of solder to the tip. Place the hot tip
with the
melted solder directly onto the existing solder joint in questions
just long
enough until the gun melts the existing solder joint and the new
solder
mixes in with it. Remove the gun from the work and allow to cool.
Remelting the original solder and adding some extra should repair the
joint
and make continuity again and reinforce it. Repeat for all the solder
joints in question, and/or all the solder joints for the socket.
Don't
overheat your work, or solder may run down and create a short to
another
circuit, or you may unknowingly fry a component on the other side of
the
board.
Step 4 - Allow everything to cool, then reinstall the board as listed
in
Option #2 above.
Good luck - Jonathan
--
Acta Non Verba - Deeds Not Words
Jonathan Race, Lieutenant
EMS Supervisor, EMS-7 A-Shift
Orange County (FL) Fire-Rescue Department
"Robin & Sharon" <robshar DeleteThis @flash.net> wrote in message
news:lBQJe.94$O07.76@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
>I have 98 Chevy truck 4x4, 454. The problem is when I turn on the
>windshield
> wipers they do not turn off right away, it may take 3 or 4 wipes before
> they
> go off.
>
> Any ideas??
>
> Thanks for your help, Robin
>
>
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