Delay Wiper/steering column?

my wipers do not work at all. Or better yet I have no control over them and they turn on and off at their own will. The wipers have always been touchy but recently they were hard to turn on from stalk coming from the column. I had to turn them fairly firmly the last time I used them and the stalk apparently broke. It just spun freely and the wipers stop responding to the control setting. I bought a new stalk from Advance Auto. I pulled the old one right there in the parking lot and tried to replace it with the new one and it would not go in all the way. The turn signals work and i hear the motor for the washer fluid engage but no wiper comtrols. I had someone look at he thinks the entire column needs to be replaced. He said the internals are bad and there is no way to replace just the wiper internals.

Has anyone had this happen? Can I crack open the turn signal/wiper internal part of the column and fix it that way? If not where would I pick up an entire column?

You can absolutely replace the wiper switch inside the column. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it can be done. You have to dig into the column a little bit to get to it. You'll need a steering wheel puller and a lock plate compressor, at a minimum.

foamypirate said:

You can absolutely replace the wiper switch inside the column. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it can be done. You have to dig into the column a little bit to get to it. You'll need a steering wheel puller and a lock plate compressor, at a minimum.

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I have a steering wheel puller because I had to replace the turn signal switch and then the horn gerb... it looks like the wiper assembly is above the signal switch. It’s pisses me off lol...

You tested the motor to make sure its not that?

Definitely not the motor the wipers come on and off all on their own. The stalk does not seat properly inside the steering column. I have no control over the wipers. There’s definitely something inside the column.

Okay I give up... I called all over and although I may be able to find just the switch parts to rebuild it my self. It is a very involved task and it would cost a minimum of a few hundred dollars just for t he switch parts. These guys are here in NY around two hours from me www.columnsgalore.com and they have a whole column with the switches in tack for $425... Agh what a PIA... Not what I wanted to spend that much money on at all...

if yours doesn't have tilt, it might be a good time to do it, just let them know your core won't be tilt and see what they say.

Yeah mine was tilt so just going fix what I had good looking out

Evil Bob said:

my wipers do not work at all. Or better yet I have no control over them and they turn on and off at their own will. The wipers have always been touchy but recently they were hard to turn on from stalk coming from the column. I had to turn them fairly firmly the last time I used them and the stalk apparently broke. It just spun freely and the wipers stop responding to the control setting. I bought a new stalk from Advance Auto. I pulled the old one right there in the parking lot and tried to replace it with the new one and it would not go in all the way. The turn signals work and i hear the motor for the washer fluid engage but no wiper comtrols. I had someone look at he thinks the entire column needs to be replaced. He said the internals are bad and there is no way to replace just the wiper internals.

Has anyone had this happen? Can I crack open the turn signal/wiper internal part of the column and fix it that way? If not where would I pick up an entire column?

Click to expand...

Adam, before you tear into your column you might want to retry installing the new MFS stalk. You know, since you already bought it, it's worth a few minutes to be sure that it isn't actually the issue.

While it is true that the existing stalk only needs to be given a good hard yank to affect the removal, getting the new one into the switch body is more involved.

BTW - first, regarding the statement in bold italics above:

1. A case of haunted wipers - on this series of trucks - is most commonly caused by a failing pulse module. By that I mean if they just randomly decide unilaterally to start sweeping the windshield (i.e. no apparent pattern).

2. If however, the truck is equipped with the tilt steering wheel option, and you have detected a connection with damp weather conditions - or when the wheel is actually tilted up/down - that is generally due to an intermittent short in the wiper motor ground lead. Unfortunately, it is most likely within the column and is the result of the wiper harness being flexed and/or pinched for years.

The column will need to be opened and the wiper wiring repaired.


Alright, onto the MFS stalk installation:

There is a little trick to this but it isn't hard.

Locate the slot in the inner metal part of the switch, line it up with the forward facing slot in the plastic part of the switch:



when they are in line, gently push the tab on the metal rod into the slot - but just a bit at first. Leave it loose while you line up the tabs on the outer plastic part with their slots in the plastic casing of the switch:




Next, get the slot (the one that kind of faces forward) in line with the tab/slot in the inner part of the switch:




The slots that they engage are elongated so you can rotate the plastic casing a bit. Those are like that to allow the pulse wiper setting to be adjusted:




Once the tangs on the plastic casing are in line with their slots, give another little push in - but don't pop it home yet. You should be looking at something like this:

Do a final check that everything is lined up:





and then just pop it home with the palm of your hand:

This has kicked my a$$ for way to long... I bypassed the delay and plugged it straight in to the wiper controller and still nothing. Although I'm sure my wiper motor isn't the best I know it works because the wipers come still by themselves. I am thinking it's the switch inside the column which I know I can get to if I tried but then how do I replace the damn switch? wtf... lol

Okay so it’s finally fixed. I was able to locate just the wiper switch and replace it. It was not the easiest thing to do but not horrible either. Certainly better than spending $500 for a remanufactured steering column. I bought my swith at advance auto but here is a generic picture of what it was.

Bob, I may be replacing my switch also. I've read that it's pretty involved but I have no idea what that means. Can you list the steps you took to replace it? Thanks!

Norwester said:

Bob, I may be replacing my switch also. I've read that it's pretty involved but I have no idea what that means. Can you list the steps you took to replace it? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Hey Dave, I didn't forget about you. Sorry, but I still haven't had a chance to measure those resistance values across the two brown leads (the ones that tell the pulse module at what frequency you want the wipers to sweep). But my gut tells me that the variable resistor is probably not the issue. Those resistance readings you got sound about right to me.

I know you have the feeling that because of the lost motion in the MFS - when the black knob is rotated - it is appearing more and more that the switch is bad. But I would eliminate all the other possible causes - for the lack of delay function - before changing the switch.

I am not entirely certain, but I don't think the wiper switch/dimmer pivot can be changed without removing everything all the way down to the shifter bowl. That would be a tough job to learn on.

However, it may be the case, that because whenever I have gotten into that area, I was working on a tilt style column. On the tilt columns, access to the switch from the back is prevented by a plastic cover - that is secured by a screw. And that screw is only accessible by pulling the bowl.

But as I look at the images above (of a non-tilt) - and the one below - it appears that the switch is at least visible. But even in the case that is can be seen, it is doubtful that whatever screws secure it can be removed from the back. I can't remember how it is held steady. But, you may be able to pull the switch by just releasing the directional switch and letting it hang to the side. Of course everything above the directional switch would have to come out too. But the bowl may be able to remain installed. I don't know. I do have the column shown below down in the garages and I will go get it and see what I can find out. Or maybe Bob can provide some insight?

The 1988-1994 T400 uses essentially the same column.
Looks like the bowl has to come off.