‘86 Wiper/Washer Switch Relocate

[MrYams]

Relocating wiper switch column to dashboard.

Wanting to use the switch from an ‘83 because they both seem to have the same functions but I don’t have an ‘83 wiring harness that plugs into the back of it. Landing the wires on the new switch isn’t a problem but figuring out what wires to pin where is proving frustrating. Anyone gone through something like this before, is an Electrical Engineer or at least gets more sleep than I do?

Photos attached. Thanks in advance.

 

[AuroraGirl]

i believe the column wiring plug will have some of the wires you want to instead route to the dash.

 

[MrYams]

I’ve pulled the column wires down into the dash at the location I would like to mount the switch. What I need help with is knowing where those column wires land on the switch….The rest of the wiring was so easy I had no idea wipers were going to kick my butt like they have.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I’ve pulled the column wires down into the dash at the location I would like to mount the switch. What I need help with is knowing where those column wires land on the switch….The rest of the wiring was so easy I had no idea wipers were going to kick my butt like they have.

If I were you I would look at a 1980 and a 1983 "truck harness" pages for visual pic of the difference and ID the connector which goes to the wiper switch

 

[MrYams]

If I were you I would look at a 1980 and a 1983 "truck harness" pages for visual pic of the difference and ID the connector which goes to the wiper switch

I’ve been able to find wiring diagrams and even came across a pic of the harness (included) it’s actually two connectors, coming off of what I’m guessing is the delay module. So far have had no luck finding anything telling me which pin on the back of the switch does what tho. Haven’t given up yet that’s why I was hoping one of the big square brains in here would know what’s up.

 

[bucket]

I've not went to the trouble of determining for sure if the older switch can be adapted to a newer delay module. Whether or not it's actually possible, it would be far easier to use the matching '78-'83 delay module. They are a bit hard to find these days though.

 

[Phil 83K20]

Did you ever get this figured out?

I’m planning to do the opposite of this to my ‘83; move it up to the column.
I’ll snap a pic of the harness that goes into the switch for you. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the wire colors will be the same…

 

[Phil 83K20]

Sorry for the green hue. Truck’s covered with a green tarp right now and it’s too cold to mess with it right now.

First thing I noticed, the column switch harness I have (w/o intermittent) has one fewer wire than the dash switch. My guess is that extra wire powers the light in the switch itself.

Other than that, the colors are similar, so we might be in luck here…

 

[Phil 83K20]

I did some tinkering just now.

The switches are compatible and the wiring is about as easy as it can get without being plug and play.

The harness colors match (pink to pink, black to black, etc) and then you’ll have to add one wire to power the backlight on the switch. It should just come from the dash backlight source, so it comes on and dims with the rest, and it connects to the leftmost terminal in the harness (when looking down from the top of the switch). In my truck it’s a light gray or white (can’t tell for sure).

If you’re interested, we could cut and swap the harness connectors; you have the one I need and I have the one you need. I could send my switch if you wanted, as well (though I can’t guarantee it works).

 

[AuroraGirl]

Sorry for the green hue. Truck’s covered with a green tarp right now and it’s too cold to mess with it right now.

First thing I noticed, the column switch harness I have (w/o intermittent) has one fewer wire than the dash switch. My guess is that extra wire powers the light in the switch itself.

Other than that, the colors are similar, so we might be in luck here…

I think the wiper switch uses a bulb that screws in, so you wouldnt illuminate it through that plug unless it is diffierent because the switch I have in a bucket is from earlier type truck.

 

[Phil 83K20]

Yeah, it’s a little bulb that uses the common ground and its own hot lead which I’m assuming is on the same circuit at the dash lights, so they all dim together.