New Wiper Switch, still overheating

[RickTheEngineer]

Electrical gurus. Here's a good one. My wipers have been getting slower and slower, it got so bad that they barely worked anymore. Took the steering column apart and replaced the wiper switch, and that helped a ton. Dare I even say it's close to OEM. But here in lies they mystery. The wiper motor starts to get hotter and hotter, then what happens is the wipers will stall midway through operation, and then stay there for up to 5 minutes. Then (I am guessing after things cool off) it'll begin running as usual. I do not have any helped fuses, and things seem very clean with the wiring, although I wonder why this happens. No problems with short bursts of wiper action, but after about 10 minutes on straight, it will stall and not respond for a while before "fixing itself". I checked the grounds and even cleaned some and they seem great, unless there is something I am missing? Could I be due for a new fusebox? It is the ONLY electrical anomaly I have right now.

Other things I have done

Greased ALL wiper linkages
New ACDelco wiper motor (4 times)
Cleaned grounds on wiper motor
Replaced wipers

 

[cucvrus]

assuming the window is wet every time. Mine get stuck on clean dry glass after 3 strokes of dry glass. With the hose blasting them they wipe like champs. Check the voltage and amperage at the wiring if that helps. I am not an electrical guy but I would and could find the problem if I looked at it long enough.

 

[RickTheEngineer]

They do wipe alright when wet, but since I am only running these wipers when its raining, it still does it even during those situations. It's like something is getting hot and forming more resistance until it stalls. I will attempt to gather some voltage data asap, but they work like a champ, just no more than several minute before they randomly stall...

Are there other specific grounds for the wiper motor that I am missing? Could it be a fuse panel issue? I was considering eventually running a new wire harness one day, but it just feels like an excessive amount of work for this one problem.

 

[RickTheEngineer]

you know what, I just leaned that my wiper arms are aftermarket, and they have a ton more tension that my buddies old stock K10... Hmmm...

 

[cucvrus]

you know what, I just leaned that my wiper arms are aftermarket, and they have a ton more tension that my buddies old stock K10... Hmmm...

That could do it.

 

[ken]

Are any of the joints rusted and in need of grease?

 

[someoldmoose]

Gonna assume NOT intermittent wipers, so, in my shop that gets a reman wiper motor every time.

A SMALL spritz of lube at the pivots and transmissions won't hurt either, but doubtful would "fix" the problem

radio edit : replaced the arms on my '94 with the 2nd design (j-hook ends) have not had the opportunity to try them on one of this vintage but knowing GM as I do, it wouldn't surprise me if they fit. No promises, but a V nice upgrade

 

[Tinstar]

Maybe you have an issue with some of the wiring suffering from internal corrosion.
Wire looks great on the outside, but underneath the sheathing, corrosion is present, causing resistance.
Old wiring will do that.

Just a thought

 

[someoldmoose]

Star, good call but the wire would get hot, not the motor, unless the wire is IN the motor. Have SEEN that many , many times though.

 

[rchalmers3]

I had some troubles like you are describing when I used low cost replacement motors. It is my assumption that not all motors are made the same: cheaper motors are manufactured with less copper windings. Thus cheaply made motors look right, they fit Ok, and they might work in some cases, but they tend to run slow and are less powerful.

If you have confirmed the wiper transmission is not binding, and the voltage/current from the switch to the motor is correct, then you might try a name brand (AC Delco) motor swap to see if it solves your problem.

Rick

 

[cucvrus]

I had some troubles like you are describing when I used low cost replacement motors. It is my assumption that not all motors are made the same: cheaper motors are manufactured with less copper windings. Thus cheaply made motors look right, they fit Ok, and they might work in some cases, but they tend to run slow and are less powerful.

If you have confirmed the wiper transmission is not binding, and the voltage/current from the switch to the motor is correct, then you might try a name brand (AC Delco) motor swap to see if it solves your problem.

Rick

Sir I just went down this road last week. I bought an A C Delco Made in Mexico. I bought a NAPA Made in Mexico. I bought an Autozone Made in Mexico. All looked the same. I would guess made in the same plant. I peeled the NAPA sticker off and it had a OEM sticker under it. The Autozone had an AC Delco part number on it. Go figure. They are all about the same. 2 of the 3 would not stop washing. The 3rd one was the ringer. It was from Autozone.

 

[someoldmoose]

That's why I use remans from a company I trust. Can not judge a motor by it's casing anymore. For OTC stuff, I would suggest getting the lifetime, or best, warranty. Electrical parts either quit early or last. If it quits and ya have a warranty . . . Ya just get another one. Went thru 4 blower motors on an Impala before I got the one that's been in it ten years now. Lost Time, but no money.