As of lately, whenever I go to use my wipers, only the fast setting works, not the variable setting or the slow. Should I just replace the switch? Is something loose? or what?

Also, the A/C fan switch will only work if I hold my tongue just right and pray really hard. Otherwise it just sits on the slowest setting.

There is a rattling in the dash. I don't know how to describe it really. It sounds like a small plastic gear that is grinding on something, or maybe a marble in a tin can sitting on a vibrator. IDK. it seems to me that it is more on the drivers side, but have any of you had anything like this?

Under the dash, as I was pulling out the wiper switch to look at it, I saw (amid the massive bundle of wires beneath) 2 wires, both the same color (purple w/white stripe) that were cut, so 4 bare ends. I have no clue what any of the wires are for, so if any of you could tell me what this one (or the rest for that matter) go to, i would be interested to know.

Lastly (for now) my blinker works fine, blinkwise, but it will not stay locked in place when I engage it on a left turn. the right turn stays as normal. Have I broken something? How to get to it to fix it?

I apologize for such a long post, but i really would like to fix these and have my old truck back to normal.

Andy

 

Get a Haynes manual & test the wires. It's probably the wiper motor.

Inspect the connectors on the fan switch in the dash, the resistor plate under the hood, & the blower fuse. Some of them are probably burned.

The rattle could be anything: a loose screw or bulb in the dash, a bad seat belt buzzer, etc. You'll just have to track it down.

The Pu/Wh circuit is for the brake warning light. Check Haynes.

The turn signal cam is broken. It's common, and not easy/cheap to fix. You can get a cheap aftermarket cam, but they're a massive PITA to install. It's easier to get a complete turn switch assembly, but they're like $130 if you can find one new. It's usually cheaper & easier to swap in a good used column.

 

Thanks so much, Steve, for your help. We took the truck to a salvage yard and tried a different switch, but that one did the same as the old one, so you are probably right- the wiper motor.

We took the ac box out of the dash and the connector box crumbled when we tried to disconnect, so we're thinking it was a short somewhere along the way. Needless to say, we're going to have to find another one of those.

The brake warning light is back up and running.

The turn signal job sounds like a beast to do. I'll have to think about that for a while.

Rattle is still there. It only happens every once in a while, and seems to slow and stop as I slow and stop, which I forgot to mention in the first post. So, I can't (safely) try to locate it as i drive. Anybody with any ideas? It drives me bonkers sometimes.

Thanks a million.

Andy

 

What "A/C box" did you take out of the dash? The control panel? Or the ductwork? Or the heater core box?

For more about the column, go to the Tech Writeups forum on FSB & search up the thread about "Ignition Actuators". It's a different procedure, but the photos will give you an idea about how to get into the column.

Try chocking the front wheels front&back, and putting the rear end on jackstands. Then you can have an assistant "drive" while you listen for the rattle. Just stay clear of the tires & d'shaft.

 

Okay, forgetting everything but the wiper problem for the moment: We took the truck to a junkyard and tried a "new" switch. Same thing: nothing but High speed. Ergo, we assumed it was the motor, as Steve suggested. We went to Advance Auto Parts, traded it in for a rebuilt one, brought it home, and nothing worked. Took it back, guy said we probably didn't have it grounded good enough, drove back home, completely installed it, and it still doesn't work, even the High that used to work doesn't.

So, is it the switch now? Should we go back and get the old motor (and 60 bucks) back and try a new switch? What the heck are we doing wrong??

 

If all the wires are good (not shorted or open), hook everything up as if it was working, and test voltage along the power feed circuit, then down the ground circuit. When you get to where the voltage drops, that's where the fault is.

What color is the plug that goes into the switch? Does the switch have its own separate ground wire?

 

yes, it is grounded (black wire running directly from switch itself). and the plug that goes into the switch is red.

 

Then it's possible the interval governor is the problem. If you have a non-interval switch (snag one at a JY), unplug the OTHER end of the governor harness & plug the truck harness into the standard switch to see if the motor & wiring all work.

 

Just an update... we have replaced the entire wiper motor (it's a 2-plug btw, apparently there are diff types) as well as the switch. Still nothing at all. I am thinking that there is something wrong with the new motor, as the old one would at least work on HIGH, new one won't work at all. except that on the high setting it sounds like something is trying to happen, don't know how to describe the sound.

Wondering if the movement is frozen due to the paint the remanufacturer put on there?

The A/C fan is up and working fine now.

 

I didn't think 89 got that style of motor. No, paint won't bind it up.