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Icemark Wiper Switch Fix

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Old Mar 2, 2007 | 10:19 PM
  #1  
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From: Goose Creek, SC
Icemark Wiper Switch Fix

I read the article about replacing the relay in the wiper switch if it only operates on lo- speed. So I went ahead and ordered the relay to fix the problem (88 convertible). After installing the relay, my wipers only work on high, but on all settings. It doesn't matter if it's on int, lo, or high, they're always on high! Also, before replacing the relay, the wipers would return to rest. Now, you have to turn it off at just the right time to get them in the at rest position.

Did I screw something up here, or is there another problem I need to fix?
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 12:09 AM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by AGreen
I read the article about replacing the relay in the wiper switch if it only operates on lo- speed. So I went ahead and ordered the relay to fix the problem (88 convertible). After installing the relay, my wipers only work on high, but on all settings. It doesn't matter if it's on int, lo, or high, they're always on high! Also, before replacing the relay, the wipers would return to rest. Now, you have to turn it off at just the right time to get them in the at rest position.

Did I screw something up here, or is there another problem I need to fix?
When you removed the old relay you may have damaged the circuit board. Did the old relay have any copper on the legs that came out of the circuit board? If they did you ripped the traces on the the circuit board.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 01:56 AM
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I have the same problem with the wipers not returning to rest. any way to fix that? I didn't see anything in the archive...
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 11:33 AM
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You need to be careful not to overheat it, or you get the copper washers. I installed the relay fine and I'm about to do a second one now form the FC I'm picking up.

If you used a soldering gun, chances are you wrecked it, lol. Osirus, it's the relay being bad. FCs have a relay prone to failure in the wiper switch. All 3 FCs I've had has this problem. check Icemark'swebsite, mazdamark.com, he has a DIY guide and offer's the parts to do it.He also will do it for you.
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 11:49 AM
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Well, I chucked the old relay as soon as I got it out, so now there's no way of telling

Being an auto service tech for this many years, I'm very good at making solder connections. However, working on circuitboards has eluded me. This was a first. I used a regular soldering iron with a pointed tip, and the circuitboard was not overheated. I even dabbed a tiny amount of solder on the tip before heating so I could make it a quick removal.

If the copper lugs came out, is there any way of repairing this?
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Old Mar 3, 2007 | 12:12 PM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by AGreen
Well, I chucked the old relay as soon as I got it out, so now there's no way of telling

Being an auto service tech for this many years, I'm very good at making solder connections. However, working on circuitboards has eluded me. This was a first. I used a regular soldering iron with a pointed tip, and the circuitboard was not overheated. I even dabbed a tiny amount of solder on the tip before heating so I could make it a quick removal.

If the copper lugs came out, is there any way of repairing this?
Yeah, I can run a new trace or you, or you can run one yourself, by taking a wire from the relay terminal to the circuit that was damaged
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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From: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
There's ways around your problem, such as what SureShot did in this thread... https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...t=wiper+switch

Or as sort of a spinoff of what he did, you could cut six short wires about three/four inches long. Then solder one end of each wire to the board. Solder the other end of each wire to its respective place on the relay. There's enough room in the cluster area to *hide* that relay with it's four inches of wire.
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Old Mar 4, 2007 | 12:13 PM
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If it's not returning to rest it's either a bad switch or a bad contact in the wiper motor.
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