Windshield Washer Motor Setup

[YellowRose]

For those of you who do not mind having a non-original electric windshield washer system and motor, you might want to check this out.

bcomo told me about the one that he has. He got it from Auto Zone. It is a universal windshield washer pump. It comes with the electric motor, a length of hose, and several different plastic connectors so you can hook it to your spray nozzles and the instructions. You can mount it on your wheel well by the washer bag. You can run the necessary wiring to the windshield washer switch on the drivers side elbow. I gather you will have to have that switch converted to an electrical switch instead of what is there. But you should be able to use the same knob or finger tab to activate it. Of course, you will need 12V to operate it and should be able to pick that up easily enough. This should be a simple installation for those of us who would like to have our windshield washers working again.

This unit is made by TAAP Corp., Schiller, Il. The Autozone Part # is 9-300 and cost me $15. So now I have mine to install. It will be great to have a windshield washer system even if it is not that Micky Mouse one Ford came out with for these Squarebirds!

[JohnG]

the interesting trick would be to use the same switch (externally) and have the wipers come on when the washer is activated, as Ford did. Can anyone pull that off??

[Guest]

I had some years ago mounted a simple electric washer pump up under my driver's side fender by removing the panel in the wheel well so the pump was hidden from view. I then just fed a hose up to the washer bag mounted on the same fender well in the engine compartment. I removed the old vacuum switch from the dash trim cowling and installed a momentary on/off/momentary on toggle switch in same cowling location. I was able to remove the toggle from the elec switch and fabricate the original vacuum toggle and trim plate to activate the elec toggle switch. My wipers are still yet vacuum wipers and are activated by the original control knob on the dash.

[DKheld]

Personally I kinda like Mickey Mouse but if you don't have an original mechanism and want to add a washer it looks like it could be done with a vacuum operated electric switch added.

I've got a call in to my friend who is a manager at NAPA (don't worry he worked his way up from the parts counter) to see if he can find us a vacuum operated electric switch (normally open - vaccum closes the contacts to operate the electric pump). Keep your fingers crossed - maybe he will come up with something.

Thought I would search ebay for a vac switch. Found this (130273074789) and called my local Suzuki dealer to get more info because it looked like it may work. They couldn't match the part # exactly - said if I brought a pic in they would most likely be able find it - either in the book or a cycle mechanic would recognize it. Figured if it was a few bucks I would get one and see how and if it would work. I have the original vacuum washer motor so don't really need it. The guy at the parts counter said most of the small electrical parts like that were around $50 so needless to say - I won't be picking one up.

I'll keep looking.

Eric
registry 5347

[JohnG]

here's the challenge: you would like to hit the switch over to the left of the driver (chrome slide switch) and have two things happen as a result - the washer pump squirts some cleaner onto the windshield and the wipers go on automatically for 2-3 wipes.

Since the stock wiper motor is activated by vaccum, the hybrid switch described might do it, being both electric and vaccum.

The factory vaccum switches I have seen (the ones to the left of the driver) all leaked like sieves and only made the system worse, when it could hardly stand any loss of vaccum to begin with.

So no small challenge but definitely a place where a combination of determination and modern parts might make for a decent system.

[Howard Prout]

here's the challenge: you would like to hit the switch over to the left of the driver (chrome slide switch) and have two things happen as a result - the washer pump squirts some cleaner onto the windshield and the wipers go on automatically for 2-3 wipes.

I don't want to be overly picky, John, but the washers and wipers on my vehicle operate as long as you hold the switch in the forward position. Once you release the switch, the washers and wiper operations peeter out and the wipers return to the resting position.

If I were installing an electric washer pump, I would go the extra mile and convert to electric wipers as well.

[simplyconnected]

...If I were installing an electric washer pump, I would go the extra mile and convert to electric wipers as well.

That's what I did with my '59 Galaxie. My electric wipers have three settings; intermittant, slow, fast. Push the stock dash knob in, for a contact closure (washer motor).

Mickey Mouse is ok for cruisers who never go out in the rain or snow. Electric is soooo much stronger and more reliable. We go out whenever we want regardless of weather. - Dave

[DKheld]

Aww - come on now Dave - I'll put my vac wipers up against your 'lectric ones any day - just make sure I'm behind you so that when mine quit I'll be able to follow you to see where I'm going.

Your right about the electric wipers - much better than these old vacs - I do like to keep mine out of the rain but been in some real frog stranglers with them - they worked fine but was always thinking they would give out hearing the vac/swish/vac/swish - that's on my to do list. The Tbird did it's snow duty back in the 60's & 70's - now it gets to enjoy life and leave the rough weather to the 4WD truck (they don't make wide white snow tires ). Just want to find a switch for the washer for now.

Eric
reg.5347

[JohnG]

Howard, you're not being picky! You're just a good mechanic! Yours is one of the very few I ever knew about that worked correctly. I think we had some posts about this ages ago.

As I said, for me the switch is the weak element as of about 6 I tested, all leaked alot of vaccum. I was able to overhaul one and get it pretty much leak free. I have not gotten to getting the whole system to work yet as the car had more fundamental priorities.

[fomoco59]

I plan to install electric wipers this winter. Other than Pertronix it'll be the first non-stock item on the car, but it's a safety upgrade. My car didn't come with washer option, so I may have to come back to this thread, but there's an washer option with the electric wiper kit. http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000051h

[DKheld]

Mike,

On cars without the washer option like yours were the nozzles still installed in the cowl? Just curious.

That's one nice Raven Black car - think the Squarebirds look great in a "Tux".

Eric
registry 5347

[fomoco59]

Thanks Eric. Nope, there are no nozzles for the washers, but there are holes in the screen in the cowl.

[simplyconnected]

I plan to install electric wipers this winter. Other than Pertronix it'll be the first non-stock item on the car, but it's a safety upgrade. My car didn't come with washer option, so I may have to come back to this thread, but there's an washer option with the electric wiper kit. http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000051h

Want to save about $15 AND shipping on the same electric wiper? I bought two of these units and am very happy with both.

JPL in Pennsylvania sells them on eBay with FREE shipping for $210. Of course, you can buy more options, like the extended shaft and the intermittant switch (which I did). The wiper unit is TOTALLY undetectable and my stock dash knobs look stock. You can also buy direct from the store (use a credit card, option) and bypass eBay for the same price. - Dave

[fomoco59]

Thanks for the tip, Dave !

[simplyconnected]

ParTaxer, I took some pictures while installing my electric wiper motor. The '59 Galaxie motor is inside the engine compartment. The '55 Customline does the complete wiper assembly under the dash. Neither of these cars use pulleys or cables (like some Thunderbirds).

Electric Wipers - Dave