Wiper switch. Has anyone else had this problem?
 

So a couple weeks back I started up the GXL like any other day. The wipers kicked on full blast. I thought, no biggie, must have bumped the switch. Well... the switch is in the "OFF" position. I toggled the switch up and down a few times and nothing. So I just yanked the "WIPER" fuse and of course it stopped. I know that if only the low setting works it's a relay issue. It's full blast non stop though.


Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and if they did something other than replace the switch? If it rains I just pop the fuse back in. I'm just too poor right now to buy a new switch. The 79 is demanding all of my money right now :P

This happens to everyone. The headlight switch does same crap. The electric window switches on drivers door also craps out.

Try changing the swtich, but probadly you have melted the small harness between the switch itself and the main harness. This small harness is behind the guages.

mine will go to Full ,after about 20 seconds on intermittent,or Stop in the middle of the Windshield.I turn it to OFF,.it puts the Wipers back to Rest.Then I turn it on again..It is a quirk I haven't fixed yet,but it is either the switch or the motor,and I have both here to replace anyways.So,Yes,it has happened to someone else.ME!

The relays in the factory switches are garbage. Icemark sells replacement relays you can solder into the old circuit boards so you never have this problem again.

mine only works on full blast. ive got a couple spare switches to try though.

I wouldn't mind so much if it was only on full blast if it would turn off... I have to unplug the fuse though. I was hoping I could fix it without replacing any parts. Eh...

Couple things can cause the wipers to stick on.

A failure inside the switch (relay contacts stick or the circuit board gets a crack or bad joint- usually from having at least one broken screw). Most likely if it is switch relay related, then the issue will be intermittent at first.

Or failure of the pickups in the wiper motor.

Either way, that can cause the wipers sticking on.

sorry to steal the thread but im having a similar issue, the wiper only works in one setting i cant recalled which one but i think it might be the faster settling. can any one tell me whats wrong and how can i fix without buying a new switch. thanks again. and sorry about the thread steal.

I do have an extra wiper motor... so I may put it in and see if it helps.

i would just replace the 20 year old switch first and see if that is the problem

Well they're like $150 new... So I'm stuck with another 20 year old used switch. I just don't have any extra money right now.