GN windshield wiper question

[electra225]

Are there three wires in the connector on the motor? IF so, you may have powered up the park switch, but not the motor. Additionally, something may be open in the motor until only the park switch powers up wired like you have it. And, the park switch may be stuck, which is why the motor won't stop running with the original switch and won't run at all with the add-on switch. I've never been able to successfully wire a switch into a wiper electrical circuit. The original switch on the dash works with the switch in the wiper motor. I believe, in some GM cars, the switch on the dash provides ground to the motor, not power. Power is fed to the motor from the fuse, then the switch grounds the relay in the wiper motor, which energizes the windings in the motor for high or low speed. Single-speed wipers would have only one winding for speed. I will consult my MOTOR manual to see if I can find a wiring diagram for your Chevy wipers. Wonder if the one for my Buick would be close enough? It has two-speed wipers with washer. My GUESS is that you have something wired wrong.

[TC Chris]

There's one wire and it supplies 12V. I've consulted the GM shop manual, which has diagrams that make my head spin, but I finally figured out that the tan wire is the one. I yanked it and the wipers stopped. Plugged it in and they started. I think all the park circuitry is via a relay inside the motor/transmission housing.

I just got back from driving 15 mi. Had to unhook the battery charger on the boat, plus I was hoping that on the way the wipers would take a notion to start up again. So both switches--the cash control and my new circuit interrupter--were in the "on" position. No luck.

Now that fall is with us, or at least on the horizon, my next undertaking may be extracting the heater core. There's a radiator shop in the town next door where the top shop is (Saginaw). Country music fans will know Lefty Frizzell's song about Saginaw. R&B fans will know Stevie Wonder was born there. Poetry fans will know Theodore Roethke was born there. GM fans will know Saginaw Steering Gear. Nobody make repro heater cores for the '61 so I think they can solder in a new one to my old part. Then I'll worry about wipers.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Mack used Saginaw steering in their trucks. White used Gemmer and they steered hard. Mack RODE hard, due to their walking beam suspension, but they steered easy. The Saginaw power steering Mack used was just like what was in a Buick, only about three times as large. The PS pump was driven off the rear of the air compressor. "Saginaw, Michigan" is one of my favorite Lefty Frizzell songs. Your Chevy has single-speed wipers, then? Have you tried Impala Bob's for your heater core? They make EVERYTHING for a Chevy. A good radiator shop, if you can find one, should be able to make a heater core in a pinch. Good luck.

[TC Chris]

My wipers are 2-speed with washer.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Eckler's has a new heater core for your Chevy for $386.99.........

https://www.classicchevy.com/1959-1962- ... 360-1.html

You can go to that website with an idea and a credit card, and they will ship you a complete Chevrolet in parts. That place has everything. They have the steering column cable I need for my Buick. That site says that cable only fits column shift cars. The Buick place says theirs fits both column shift and floor shift. I'm sure it would be the same cable between Chevy and Buick. Wonder which place is right? Of course, the 1958-'62 heater core is the most expensive one they have. Wonder if they are the same for cars with factory air?

[TC Chris]

Well, on the transmission AND wiper fronts... I burned another vacation day today and drove the Chevy to the transmission shop. Dad was there. First I had Son drive the car. He heard the "flare" between the 1-2 shift. Then I had Dad drive. He heard it too. I said "Maybe I should buy another vac.modulator? It worked fine before we replaced it." And Dad said "No, we're not going to do that. Fixing by just replacing parts wastes your money. We're going to put a pressure gauge on it and see what's going on. Then we'll know what to do." Aiming for next week if I can take Monday off.

But while we Son was driving the Chevy the wipers decided to wake up. I had to reach over and up under the dash to my secret switch to make 'em stop. I had left both switches on to see if it would happen and wouldn't you know, it would do it while somebody else was driving. I brought the shop manual home with me so I can study that wiper-wiring diagram again, and also study the transmission throttle-rod adjustment.

Chris Campbell