1987 Silverado Wipers Slow

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

bcbbabtexas

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Posts
21
Reaction score
0
Location
Tomball
First Name
Baron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
r10
Engine Size
454
So you just PULL on the turn signal switch???
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,809
Reaction score
6,738
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
Hard to believe but yes. Pull straight out away from the column towards the door. Not towards the steering wheel!
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,132
Reaction score
9,327
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Both of my running and driving squares have slow working wipers. I just figured it was tired motors and figured I'd replace them someday. Guess I'll use the troubleshooting chart first before I spend the cash when the time comes.
 

chengny

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Posts
4,084
Reaction score
1,024
Location
NH
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K3500
Engine Size
350/5.7

Attachments

  • colmseperated.jpg
    colmseperated.jpg
    53.6 KB · Views: 295
  • sector.jpg
    sector.jpg
    54.4 KB · Views: 303

GTME94

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Posts
441
Reaction score
32
Location
Metro Detroit/Holland, MI
First Name
Terry
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
C2500 C6P Camper Special
Engine Size
454/TH400/14bff 3.73
. The wire on it feeds through the column and is a real bitch to feed through it. When I put my new one in I just ran the wire outside the column and phuckit.

That is exactly how my wire is. Works fine. I don't care how it looks, it was too much trouble to fish it thru.
 

chengny

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Posts
4,084
Reaction score
1,024
Location
NH
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K3500
Engine Size
350/5.7
Here is the wiper switch/dimmer control removed from a column I did a couple of years ago - PITA:
 

Attachments

  • P1010039_4096x3072.jpg
    P1010039_4096x3072.jpg
    86.6 KB · Views: 304

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,132
Reaction score
9,327
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
So you just PULL on the turn signal switch???

Just to be sure, you do realize that he is only talking about the handle for the wiper switch and not the actual switch. The wire he mentions is just the cruise control cable.

To change the wiper switch is fairly involved - google it.

Here is a good tutorial about steering column service:

http://www.truckforum.org/forums/gmc-truck-forum/35364-77-gmc-steering-column-help.html

Yucky. Did we have to link to there? :rofl: Although, since it's ChevyChase's thread, we'll leave it. :waytogo:
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,809
Reaction score
6,738
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
That is exactly how my wire is. Works fine. I don't care how it looks, it was too much trouble to fish it thru.

Damn straight milk crate :High 5:


Sent from my iPod touch 4th Gen using Tapatalk
 

bcbbabtexas

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Posts
21
Reaction score
0
Location
Tomball
First Name
Baron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
r10
Engine Size
454
Ok guys, thanks again for all the help. The motor seems to run faster with the wiper blades off. So, I took the arms off and I am having a hard time getting the cowl off. I already scratched my brand new paint job. I tried lifting the hood and squeezign it out, it does not fit with the hood in any position. Is there a trick? Do I need to take the hood off?
 

bcbbabtexas

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Posts
21
Reaction score
0
Location
Tomball
First Name
Baron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
r10
Engine Size
454
How to take cowl off

By the way, I am taking the cowl off because the linkage seems to be the part that is slowing the wipers.
 

Stroked

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Posts
2,248
Reaction score
97
Location
Beloit, Kansas
First Name
Jared
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
305
Ok guys, thanks again for all the help. The motor seems to run faster with the wiper blades off. So, I took the arms off and I am having a hard time getting the cowl off. I already scratched my brand new paint job. I tried lifting the hood and squeezign it out, it does not fit with the hood in any position. Is there a trick? Do I need to take the hood off?

I've always removed the bolts from the arms that the hood pivots on. Leave it attached to the hinges. Then with the help of a friend you can swing the whole hood forward and down. You gain 6 to 8 inches this way.
 

bcbbabtexas

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Posts
21
Reaction score
0
Location
Tomball
First Name
Baron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
r10
Engine Size
454
Still wipers slow

I thought I was on to something. It seems that when I removed the wiper arms and linkage, the motor ran faster. I took the cowl off, greased the arms and tested it. It seems ok. I put the hood and all back on as well as the arms and tested it again. For about 3 swipes, it seemed to be faster (not like my 2005 truck) but definitely improved. Then after a few swipes, it went slow again. I even took some cleaner to wet the windshield. By the way, when I saw it speed up, I assumed the switch was ok. The guy I bought the truck from told me he replaced it.

Still stuck with slow wipers.
 

ScottyB

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Posts
1,068
Reaction score
1,102
Location
Whatcom County, Washington
First Name
Scott
Truck Year
1800
Truck Model
phantom
Engine Size
2 squirrels
Do you have factory length wiper blades or did someone put longer ones on at some point?
 

bcbbabtexas

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Posts
21
Reaction score
0
Location
Tomball
First Name
Baron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
r10
Engine Size
454
Not sure. I will need to see what factory were and measure mine.
 

chengny

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Posts
4,084
Reaction score
1,024
Location
NH
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K3500
Engine Size
350/5.7
The length of the blades doesn't matter. To eliminate the blades as a problem in any future testing, just flip them back away from the glass.

I really wish you had a spare pulse module to try. So many problems are caused by that component. I swear, it should be the first check on any wiper motor problem diagnostic chart. At least unplug and re-plug it (both sides) to try to get a better connection. Then go to the junkyard and pull a couple to test with.

In the mean time, and this probably won't help, make sure that there is no paint on the wiper motor housing under the shoulder of the mounting bolt as indicated. Try cleaning the paint off all 3 bolt points:
 

Attachments

  • jHPIM1802 (2).jpg
    jHPIM1802 (2).jpg
    93.1 KB · Views: 324
Last edited:

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,411
Posts
956,923
Members
36,733
Latest member
rjshope2007
Top