1979 wiper problems

[maxdog]

Got caught in a cloudburst today , fortunately I had treated the screen with Rainex . Steering column switch worked the wipers , after a fashion . Sequence was pause - click- wipe and return to parked position -pause - click - wipe etc . The click seemed to come from behind the centre panel , near the glove box . The left hand centre panel switch, with the wiper marking , moves between two distinct positions but does nothing to either the wiping speed or the frequency of the screen wipes . I don't have continuous wiping at any speed with any combination of switch positions
What is the proper sequence of operations ? ? 1, wiper switch on power to panel switch , panel switch 1 normal speed , panel switch 2 intermittent wipers ??
From previous experience I suspect that the wiper linkage and motor need cleaning and greasing , any earth connections need to be checked
etc . The click seems to be from some sort of timer which powers the wiper motor intermittently .
can any one explain how they SHOULD work, how to remove the central panel , and offer a Child's Guide to Fiat wipers and their wiring ?
Maxdog

[bobplyler]

The dash switch is speed control. The column switch has 3 positions, off, intermittent, and continuous.

[Dawgme85]

As bobplyler described. Additionally, on my '77, when switched to intermittent, the wipers run continuously for 2-3 swipes before switching to intermittent. There is not much speed difference between low and high speed settings using the switch in the center of the dash, but it should be a noticeable difference. The clicking you hear is the limit switch in the wiper motor that signals when the wipers are in the parked position, and which engages the timer for intermittent operation. The good news is that your wipers appear to be parking correctly. Sometimes the switch needs to be adjusted, by taking apart the wiper motor gearbox, if the wipers stop at random positions on the windshield without returning to the park position first.

[maxdog]

Thanks every one . The moral of this story ' don't try to troubleshoot wipers on the road in a rainstorm !
When I got home and thought about the problem I discovered that there was a second position on the steering column wiper switch . After jiggling the switch and flooding it with contact cleaner , voila low and not much higher wiper speeds appeared !!!No need to play with the electrics , but I will lubricate all the linkages. Spray on graphite motor cycle chain grease should work .
Cheers
Maxdog

[Dawgme85]

Fiat wipers are notorious for slow operation and becoming seized due to corrosion of the shafts that poke through the cowl. I have found that a bit of heat from a propane torch, along with liberal amounts of WD40, will loosen them up nicely. After removing the linkage from the cowl, of course.
All the best,

LeRoy

[Bytor36]

I had an 81 that never seemed to have two-speed or full intermittent functionality. Turned out someone misunderstood their wiring to the switch. Switch has 3 posts marked on the back of the switch as 1, 2, and 3.
1: gray/black stripe
2: gray
3: light blue
Any other arrangement in this sequence seemed to do all sorts of goofy things.

[Fiatlanta]

Yeah the wipers on my 79 are wonky, too. They work, but the position of lever seems unrelated to the speed. To further confuse things, I have a knob on the dash that seemed to indicate that it has something to do with the wipers, but has no discernable effect on them.

I get the loud click, as well, but everything seems to be more or less working, so I stopped worrying it.

[divace73]

The dash switch is speed control. The column switch has 3 positions, off, intermittent, and continuous.

In addition to this the speed switch on the dash only has 2 states,

1. SLOW
2. SLOWER

On a side Note. I have successfully updated a friends wiper speed by switching a full 12V (relayed from starter motor) at the point just prior to the switch. It did improve speed immensely.


Rainex or similar products is also recommended.

[maxdog]

Hi
After my adventures I decided to do some long over due maintenance on my wipers
. I flooded the wiper shafts at the windshield with penetrating oil , lifted the wipers off the screen and ran the motor, noticeable improvement. I then removed the underhood panel to expose the linkages which were clogged with the grot of ages . I cleaned out all the old grease and lubricated every thing with spray on motor cycle chain graphite grease. Big improvement !
I now have reliable intermittent wipers and decent two speed wipers .
Maxdog