Sunday, March 9, 2008

Tech Tip- Windshield Wiper Motor

Windshield Wiper Motor

The windshield wiper motor on your 1955-57 Thunderbird is a vacuum powered motor which is powered by the vacuum created from your engine. If your wipers perform better on deceleration than acceleration this is typical of a vacuum powered wiper motor. With the age of most of these original wiper motors, the wipers often will barely work, if they work at all. One inexpensive way to help an aging vacuum motor is to soften the leather baffle in the motor to help maintain a good vacuum. This can be done by applying WD-4O to the leather seal in the motor. The process is simple and the results usually are noticeable overnight. Please note that there is an after market electric motor available and that this process is not recommended for the electric replacement motor. This procedure is also merely a temporary measure. Any original wiper motor should be replaced or rebuilt to insure that it will operate when needed.

The first step in the process is to locate the vacuum line which is attached to your vacuum wiper motor. From inside the engine compartment, standing on the driver's side of the car, locate your starter relay mounted on the firewall. The starter relay is the part to which your positive battery cable will make first contact. Once you have located the starter relay, look directly below it. You should see a rubber hose going into your firewall. This is the vacuum supply line to your wiper motor. To make sure you have the correct hose, follow this rubber hose away from the firewall. The hose should be connected to a metal tube. Following the path of the metal tube should lead you to the top of your fuel pump. If this is where you are after tracing the rubber hose from the firewall you have the correct hose.

Once you have determined that you have the correct hose, start at the firewall again and trace the rubber hose to the point it joins the metal tube. Disconnect the rubber hose from the metal tube by sliding the hose off of the metal tube. Once you have detached the rubber hose, simply spray WD-4O into the rubber hose in the direction of the firewall. Make sure you have your plastic applicator tube attached to the spray nozzle of your can of WD-4O or else you will make quite a mess. Hold the hose upright to allow the WD-40 to flow into the wiper motor. A few applications will probably be necessary and if you are so inclined, it does help to blow into the rubber hose to insure that the WD.40 reaches its desired destination. Reconnect the hose when you are finished. If you have noticed any cracks or tears in the rubber hose, the hose should be replaced. The hose should be replaced if it appears to be dry and brittle to the touch. After allowing a few hours for the leather to absorb the WD-40, your wipers should perform better than before.

source: CTCC Tech-Tip Manual 1993-1997

1 comment:

ck carver said...

Thank you for the How to..