Wipers 86 F250 XLT - Ford Forums

dezmoduo · 08-01-2003, 15:05

Ford Folks,
I have a road trip coming up next Tuesday, 400 mi each way. Today I found out the wipers on the truck (herein refered to as the "PIG", lovingly of course), ceased to operate.
This afternoon, I did some troubleshooting. There was 12V at the motor connector. The lower two terminals. There was a rattling module just above the emergency foot brake, next to the light switch.
There is no circuit breaker as indicated in the Haynes book on the fuseblock, nor is the CBreaker noted on the fuse block cover.
The wipers began working intermittently in "time" to the intermittent rattling of the module after some gentle "Taps" with the channel locks.
(leads me to believe the motor is funky)
Since the truck had sat for a few weeks during the Northeasts rainy spring, some corrosion and rust appeared where there had been none.
The wiper switch appears to be good, the terminals to the motor have been cleaned.
Is it possible that the rattling module is in fact the circuitbreaker? And if so is it possible that the breaker is cycling because the old motor is giving up the ghost at this point? Sort of binding up and tripping the breaker, breaker resetting and then tripping intermittently?
The motor seems to be a little warm to the touch, but I have nothing to compare it toso that won't be a gauge of condition.
I appreciate any input on experience you might have with this electrial equiptment.
The weather for my trip, hauling a 16 foot tandem wheel trailer calls for summer storms !!!

Thanks one and all,
Gary
86 F250
88 Aerostar
97 Crown P71

mongrelEB · 08-01-2003, 17:46

I'd try swapping that rattling module first....it could well be a circuit breaker or relay.
If the wiper arms are not slower than usual, I would not expect the motor to be stuffed, having said that it could be :) Just not likely.

cs123 · 08-05-2003, 02:50

Disconnect the wiper linkage from the motor and switch the wipers on. If they work OK there is a good chance the wiper mechanism is binding. This generally happens in the dohicky where the wipers attach to the linkage. You can free them up with a bit of imagination, a small drill and some oil.

Hope this helps.

dezmoduo · 08-05-2003, 06:25

Todays is the road trip, Trailer hitched and bikes loaded. With showers on and off I tried the wipers again and no more rattling, and the operation worked as designed.
I LOVE Fords !! But this one is being sold next week. Thanks for the replys guys

Gary