Windshield Washer Control

[ssj335]

Hey,

This is not a very large priority to me, but the windshield washer control (located on the inner wall to the left of the steering wheel) does not function on my vehicle. Is that the kind of thing that is really difficult to have looked at?

Again - low priority but I thought I would start a conversation for fun.

I press the switch forward and nothing happens. No sound, the wipers do not move, and nothing sprays out. Now - I am not certain if any fluid is in the baggie under the hood. Do not know if that would make a difference though.

[jopizz]

You will have to pull the switch panel off and see if the vacuum hoses are hooked up. You will also have to look under the hood to see if the washer pump is still there. It is mounted on the front driver side of the engine near the water pump pulley. Many times it is removed and not put back on.

John

[ssj335]

I'll check those things. Not sure how to get the panel off. If I get bored I will try it. =)

The red baggie is under the hood but I will see if there are tubed attached to it.

[jopizz]

It's a rather complicated system to do a simple task. I think the engineer was taking LSD when he designed it.

John

[ssj335]

Yeah there's a real chance. It was the 50s/60s and that was a big thing. lol

[Deanj]

It's a rather complicated system to do a simple task. I think the engineer was taking LSD when he designed it.

John

But that same engineer designed the vacuum operated ash tray!

The original was missing from my 1960. I bought a momentary switch, bought the close to correct 3 different diameter tubing, some wire, and a 1961 Thunderbird electric washer pump. Voila! I have a mediocre working wiper-washer pump that needs blowing out every year that I never use.

Dean

[sidewalkman]

Check passenger side by the generator there is a weird little pump thing that the vacuum pushes to the belt, and it's the washer pump. The vacuum line runs across the front, behind the rad and then up to the switch, there's another line runs to a T before the firewall by the heater hoses, when you operate the pump it turns on the wipers too. I pulled mine, put it in a box for posterity and ran a micro switch off the original switch and an electric pump.

[jopizz]

On 1959's the pump is on the driver side power steering pump bracket, not on the generator as it is in 1960.

John

[sidewalkman]

On 1959's the pump is on the driver side power steering pump bracket, not on the generator as it is in 1960.

John

I did not know that. Weird gadget regardless, reminds me of those bicycle lights with the generators on them that attached to the forks when I was a kid!! Bearing on the top of mine was pooched so it worked, but everyone within a 1/2 mile knew I was washing the windshield!

[jopizz]

Weird gadget regardless, reminds me of those bicycle lights with the generators on them that attached to the forks when I was a kid!!

I used to have one of those. I thought it was great until you stopped pedaling.

John

[sidewalkman]

I had one of those generator lights loosen on the forks and turn into the spokes, over the handlebars I went!!

[JohnG]

original switch: easy to take off and check out for functionality and leaks. Leaks common.

Might have been disconnected either up by the switch or at the Trico pump.

Do your wipers work? That would say you have vacuum and that, if disconnected, at least they took the time to plug things.

Recipient of the 1958 Rube Goldberg Award. Category: Shoulda Left It Alone.

I would love to see a YouTube video of one of these rigs in operation actually working! Hard to believe , looking at it all.

replacement switch: I have a ton of the micro switches that can be used with the original switch to electroically activate a pump. Send me a PM with an address and I'll send you a couple to mess with.

John G

[Tbird1044]

Two things I found when messing around with w/s washer system:
1. The vacuum switch for the washer is prone to leak. I took the switch apart and used a flat plate with fine sand paper and cleaned up the sliding surfaces. Seemed to work fine.
2. Once I had the switch doing what it was designed for, I installed a vacuum/electric switch and connected it to the vacuum from the washer switch. Also left it connected to the w/s wiper motor. Then used the electric side of the vacuum switch and connected one side to 12V and the other side to an electric washer pump. Now when I use the w/s washer switch, it turns on the wipers on and also the washer pump. ;-)
There are a bunch of electric/vacuum switches out there that are used for automatic transmissions, especially the GM 700R4. I found a vacuum switch that was adjustable so I could set the vacuum to where it would turn on.
Nyles