Wipers quit....smoke was involved

[jmanjeeper]

Hey Gents!

I have had an issue come up with my 86 Silverado...

I drove it for about 30 miles in the rain with the wipers on... side note: after searching through this forum I realized my delay doesn't work AND I am not alone, LOL.

Okay...back to the problem....

I turn my wipers off (and have to time it right so they don't just stop in the middle of the windshield), and turn the truck off.... at which time I see a small puff of smoke come out of the column where the turn signal/multi-switch is located.

Now, there is no resistance when I turn the wiper switch and the wipers do not work.  I pulled the switch out, the metal rod piece is all intact.  What do I need to replace and how do I replace it?  I am, praying I don't have to pull the steering wheel off, but it needs to get fixed.  Thanks in advance!!

JP

Truck info:
1986 C10 Silverado
383 stroker w/ Holly 750cc double pumper, locked rear, overdrive tranny with shift kits

[gunrac]

Will your turn signal and high and low beam still work? Not real sure on our trucks, but guessing it's about the same.

Just changed out multi switch on mothers 02' Monte Carlo, PITA, but doable w/o  pulling steering wheel. You will have to change out the whole multi switch, as there is only one wiring harness that runs everything. It will bolt on column and disconnect harness under the dash. Probably be able to find a video on YOU TUBE

[bd]

If the wipers are not parking automatically when you shut them off, replace the wiper motor.  It's more than likely 30 years original to the truck!  Smoke from the column probably results from a chafed wire or shorted switch.  Replacing the wiper switch with its integral 15" harness requires removal of the steering wheel, lock plate and turn switch.  The stalk that you pulled from the side of the column is just a lever to operate the wiper switch located inside the column.  Tilt columns are a little more complex than standard columns, but there is a good How To in the Technical Pages of the forum.  There are a few special tools that will make the repair process easier, although it is not a difficult job, just busy with small parts.

I suspect that the intermittent wiper issue is due to faulty capacitors on the delay module PC board, which can be easily remedied by replacing the capacitors with similar parts from Radio Shack, et al.

[hatzie]

I've replaced the caps on the 1978-1983 delay controllers.

I thought the 1985-1991 delay controllers were potted.

[bd]

At least through '87 the boards were not potted.

[hatzie]

That makes things a little simpler.
The 78-83 I had apart was a single TO220 with a heatsink (Probably a FET), A DIP Quad NOR Gate, A couple TO92 transistors, various Electrolytic Caps, and several 1/2 & 1/4W Diodes & Resistors.

I may have to open one up and take a gander.

[jmanjeeper]

Thanks!

It is a tilt column, I have had it apart a few times and actually replaced it 2 years ago.  It's just a huge PITA.  I installed a new turn signal lever and I didn't think I would ever get the dang wire through the column to plug in!  There isn't a whole lot of space in there...maybe there is something I am missing.  I'll try and find some diy writeups that will make life easier!

[hatzie]

There's a plastic tray to keep the wiring from contacting moving parts.  If that plastic tray shifted you may have a wire that rubbed through. 

The wiper park problem may be internal to the motor assembly or it may be that the PARK plug is not getting a ground from the wiper control switch.  The park switch on the motor has a two position plug with a GRAY wire (IGN POWER) and BLACK/LT BLUE wire that's grounded by the switch when it's set to OFF.  Try grounding the BLACK/LT BLUE wire position through the back of the plug on the wiper motor with the ignition switched ON.  If the wipers park properly the motor is OK.  If they don't park the park cam/switch in the motor has a problem.

Hopefully that was clear enough.

[bd]

There's a plastic tray to keep the wiring from contacting moving parts.  If that plastic tray shifted you may have a wire that rubbed through. 

Item #54 in the illustration is the rigid flat plastic sleeve (aka, protector) to which hatzie refers.  It indexes and anchors around two of the four column mounting nuts.  If the sleeve is missing or if the turn switch and wiper switch harnesses are not properly caged by the sleeve, wires can chafe against sharp edges in the column.

[jmanjeeper]

You guys rock!  I'm going to,dive into this thing r next warm day we have up here...if not...it will be parked and I'll have a spring project!  Thanks!!