New to the forum and to square bodies wiper question

[kzguns]

What would cause the wipers to cycle one time when i go to start? Occasionally is doesn't do it but most time it'll wipe once.

 

[MarineOne]

What year truck

 

[kzguns]

What year truck

It’s a 1985 3/4 ton

 

[kzguns]

Nobody has run into this issue?

 

[squaredeal91]

I've had gm wipers wipe like your saying and even would wipe once in a while using the turn signal. I'm guessing wiper switch would be where I would look first. Also do have pulse or std wipers?

 

[rusted nuts]

Never had it happen but would look for bad ground 1st then bad switch. I always look for cheap stuff 1st, Plus most odd ball electric stuff will be bad ground. I once seen turn signal with a bad ground flash like a rxr crossing warning light.

 

[SirRobyn0]

I would say bad switch in the column or possibly a bad park switch in the motor.

If you haven't seen these threads you should to get a better understanding of how the system works.

>>>https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/85-91-wiper-motor-rebuild.36321/<<<
>>>https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/rebuilding-wiper-linkage-how-to.35509/#post-747949<<<<

 

[RanchWelder]

Read this entire post three times, please...

The switches are not cheap... you'll need to select the correct tools to pull the steering wheel. It is easy to buy the wrong cheapo tools and get skunked.
LINK:
RockAuto Wiper Switches C30

You'll need to match yours by pulling the steering wheel and verify the exact unit you have.
If you do not have intermittent wipers, you can add it now, if you can afford to. You'll need to source the intermittent turn signal handle to match, if you upgrade from non delay timed unit to delayed timed.

Perform this repair using a Certified Locksmith. If you know one, hire one.
You will be very glad you did, in the long run.

While he/she's in there, change everything plastic, (turn signals, key fob switch, roller gear, bearings if required or damaged) and lube it all to perfection.

This part should be replaced every time you remove your wheel, or at the very least own a backup, when/if your's goes flying off.
GM regards this as a single use part. Disposable, every time it is removed, for insurance regulations reasons.

You must be registered for see images attach

1) You can screw up and ruin your steering column, if you are not very experienced with steering column repairs.
2) You can kill yourself or somebody else, unless you perform this job perfectly.

I have seen steering systems cause critical driving situations from improper work.
Imagine turning the wheel and nothing happens and you drive into the front of an on coming truck...
The GM Column uses a spring to force the bearings into position.
The spring is under extreme pressure under your turn signal switch pressure plate.

It is possible to re-install the pressure plate and turn signal switch and NOT HAVE THE BEARINGS IN A SAFE OPERATIONAL STATUS.

When you drive under this condition, the bearings fall on the ground in front of your firewall and your wheel no longer controls your steering.
The wheel turns and nothing happens. Scariest thing you can imagine on the highway or in town driving in traffic.

This is the one repair I would recommend you have a qualified technician perform. Locksmith's are qualified and insured for this work.

In order to replace the wiper switch, you risk destroying your column or stripping the threads out, if you don't know what you are doing. Relocating the parts exactly as required is tough to get right. You can get hurt very badly, if the spring unloads into your face or the puller compressor tools you bought off AZ fleabait give up the ghost. The cheap tools could get you hurt.

Several hundred dollars in quality tools, before you access the switch, minimum.
If your truck uses DS812, it is $215.00 plus shipping, just for the switch. The others are around $80.00.

Some people use the forum GM wiring diagram and build their own circuit to control the wipers with toggle switches, since it's "easier" to perform safely.
This is not "easy" though, because of the unique way GM controls the speed of the wiper circuit. 5-6 wires, interact between each other in a way the speed is controlled.

It is not a simple rewire. It means using a very special multi-pole/multi-throw switch with wiring that crosses between wire colors to make it function.
For somebody with years of wiring experience, it can be daunting. You'll be cutting your harness to perform this mod.
You may decide it is not worth the trouble to do this, since so many other systems are wired through the column harness.
If you cut the wrong wire, your in trouble.

This is why nobody answered you. The wipers running a single cycle is the least of your problems if you open up this can of worms without fully comprehending how tough and dangerous the job is.

Welcome to the forum!

Please be safe.

*** Edited to remove DRAMA...

 

[SquareRoot]

Read this entire post three times, please...

The switches are not cheap... you'll need to select the correct tools to pull the steering wheel. It is easy to buy the wrong cheapo tools and get skunked.
LINK:
RockAuto Wiper Switches C30

You'll need to match yours by pulling the steering wheel and verify the exact unit you have.
If you do not have intermittent wipers, you can add it now, if you can afford to. You'll need to source the intermittent turn signal handle to match, if you upgrade from non delay timed unit to delayed timed.

Perform this repair using a Certified Locksmith. If you know one, hire one.
You will be very glad you did, in the long run.

While he/she's in there, change everything plastic, (turn signals, key fob switch, roller gear, bearings if required or damaged) and lube it all to perfection.

This part should be replaced every time you remove your wheel, or at the very least own a backup, when/if your's goes flying off.
GM regards this as a single use part. Disposable, every time it is removed, for insurance regulations reasons.

You must be registered for see images attach

1) You can screw up and ruin your steering column, if you are not very experienced with steering column repairs.
2) You can kill yourself or somebody else, unless you perform this job perfectly.

I have seen steering systems cause critical driving situations from improper work.
Imagine turning the wheel and nothing happens and you drive into the front of an on coming truck...
The GM Column uses the spring to force the bearings into position.
It is possible to re-install the pressure plate and turn signal switch and NOT HAVE THE BEARINGS IN A SAFE OPERATIONAL STATUS.
(See #2 ^^^ and read to yourself out loud...)
When you drive under this condition, the bearings fall on the ground in front of your firewall and your wheel no longer controls your steering.
The wheel turns and nothing happens. Scariest thing you can imagine on the highway or in town driving in traffic.

This is the one repair I would recommend you have a qualified technician perform.
The steering mechanism has a spring under extreme pressure under your turn signal switch pressure plate.

In order to replace the wiper switch, you risk destrying your column, if you don't know what you are doing. You can get hurt very badly, if the spring unloads into your face or the puller compressor tools you bought off AZ fleabait give up the ghost. The cheap tools could get you hurt.

Hospital hurt. (3 times I warned you).

Several hundred dollars in quality tools, before you access the switch, minimum.
If your truck uses DS812, it is $215.00 plus shipping, just for the switch. The others are around $80.00.

Some people use the forum GM wiring diagram and build their own circuit to control the wipers with toggle switches, since it's "easier" to perform safely.
This is not "easy" though, because of the unique way GM controls the speed of the wiper circuit. 5-6 wires, interact between each other in a way the speed is controlled.

It is not a simple rewire. It means using a very special multi-pole/multi-throw switch with wiring that crosses between wire colors to make it function.
For somebody with years of wiring experience, it can be daunting. You'll be cutting your harness to perform this mod.
You may decide it is not worth the trouble to do this, since so many other systems are wired through the column harness.
If you cut the wrong wire, your in trouble.

This is why nobody answered you. The wipers running a single cycle is the least of your problems if you open up this can of worms without fully comprehending how tough and dangerous the job is.

That's a LOT of drama. Sounds like it is authored by a EV owner or a snowflake that spends his days in the basement playing video games. I have taken many apart without "special" tools and completely rebuilt them without issue or wiring diagrams. A little common sense and attention to detail is all it takes. I have had the same issue with a brand new AC Delco (made in CHINA) delay module. That's the usual culprit next to the ever present bad ground.

 

[RanchWelder]

You have the right to your opinion.
You have no idea what my background is or his level of compitance.
Check out the similar threads at the bottom of this page. LINK:
Ignition cylinder and steering lock question

 

[SirRobyn0]

That's a LOT of drama. Sounds like it is authored by a EV owner or a snowflake that spends his days in the basement playing video games. I have taken many apart without "special" tools and completely rebuilt them without issue or wiring diagrams. A little common sense and attention to detail is all it takes. I have had the same issue with a brand new AC Delco (made in CHINA) delay module. That's the usual culprit next to the ever present bad ground.

You have the right to your opinion.
You have no idea what my background is or his level of compitance.
Check out the similar threads at the bottom of this page. LINK:
Ignition cylinder and steering lock question

Worked along side the GM Engineering team for the world's first Electric Car Test Track at Disney in 1994.
Shot the film for the debut of the ride on 35mm.
For 2 decades I have warned everyone who would listen: electric vehicles are susceptible to solar flares.
The stators at the Test Bed would last a week or three months, but they all burned up eventually.
The more random the windings, the more likely they would last.
The last video game I worked on was interactive 3D with the design engineer for the Abram's Tank Simulator. 1996.

I kind of agree with both of you. At one time when these columns were more common I rebuilt and repaired many, many of them at the shop. I made a few tools to make the job easier, but never actually went out and bought any special tools. A few times I was even called into other shops to help out when someone was working on these columns and didn't know what they were doing.

My best advise is I'd consider this repair difficulty moderate. Kind of like rebuilding a carburetor there really is nothing all that hard about it, but you will need to be able to compress a spring and deal with some small screws and clips. You'll need to pay attention taking it apart and put things back together correctly.

A lot of what we do on our own vehicles can have safety implications either immediately or later on. In the end it will be up to the OP to decide if he can do the job, and that is if he decides that the switch is the problem.

 

[RanchWelder]

Fuel systems and Steering columns fall under gross negligence, if you kill somebody with bad advice or substandard work.
You can absolutely spend the rest of your life in prison, if an insurance investigator can find you negligent.
They will, if they can, find you guilty, if it saves them from a payout.

Sometimes my warnings are simply intended to reinforce the seriousness of improper workmanship and the severity of litigious insurance liability.

If I went overboard over the risk involved with this repair, please pardon me.

 

[SquareRoot]

Read this entire post three times, please...

The switches are not cheap... you'll need to select the correct tools to pull the steering wheel. It is easy to buy the wrong cheapo tools and get skunked.
LINK:
RockAuto Wiper Switches C30

You'll need to match yours by pulling the steering wheel and verify the exact unit you have.
If you do not have intermittent wipers, you can add it now, if you can afford to. You'll need to source the intermittent turn signal handle to match, if you upgrade from non delay timed unit to delayed timed.

Perform this repair using a Certified Locksmith. If you know one, hire one.
You will be very glad you did, in the long run.

While he/she's in there, change everything plastic, (turn signals, key fob switch, roller gear, bearings if required or damaged) and lube it all to perfection.

This part should be replaced every time you remove your wheel, or at the very least own a backup, when/if your's goes flying off.
GM regards this as a single use part. Disposable, every time it is removed, for insurance regulations reasons.

You must be registered for see images attach

1) You can screw up and ruin your steering column, if you are not very experienced with steering column repairs.
2) You can kill yourself or somebody else, unless you perform this job perfectly.

I have seen steering systems cause critical driving situations from improper work.
Imagine turning the wheel and nothing happens and you drive into the front of an on coming truck...
The GM Column uses a spring to force the bearings into position.
The spring is under extreme pressure under your turn signal switch pressure plate.

It is possible to re-install the pressure plate and turn signal switch and NOT HAVE THE BEARINGS IN A SAFE OPERATIONAL STATUS.

When you drive under this condition, the bearings fall on the ground in front of your firewall and your wheel no longer controls your steering.
The wheel turns and nothing happens. Scariest thing you can imagine on the highway or in town driving in traffic.

This is the one repair I would recommend you have a qualified technician perform. Locksmith's are qualified and insured for this work.

In order to replace the wiper switch, you risk destroying your column or stripping the threads out, if you don't know what you are doing. Relocating the parts exactly as required is tough to get right. You can get hurt very badly, if the spring unloads into your face or the puller compressor tools you bought off AZ fleabait give up the ghost. The cheap tools could get you hurt.

Several hundred dollars in quality tools, before you access the switch, minimum.
If your truck uses DS812, it is $215.00 plus shipping, just for the switch. The others are around $80.00.

Some people use the forum GM wiring diagram and build their own circuit to control the wipers with toggle switches, since it's "easier" to perform safely.
This is not "easy" though, because of the unique way GM controls the speed of the wiper circuit. 5-6 wires, interact between each other in a way the speed is controlled.

It is not a simple rewire. It means using a very special multi-pole/multi-throw switch with wiring that crosses between wire colors to make it function.
For somebody with years of wiring experience, it can be daunting. You'll be cutting your harness to perform this mod.
You may decide it is not worth the trouble to do this, since so many other systems are wired through the column harness.
If you cut the wrong wire, your in trouble.

This is why nobody answered you. The wipers running a single cycle is the least of your problems if you open up this can of worms without fully comprehending how tough and dangerous the job is.

Welcome to the forum!

Please be safe.

*** Edited to remove DRAMA...

It's all good. Not my intention to offend anyone. I threw the EV grenade out there to see how long it will take Frankenchevy to hit back. He crossed over to the Dark Side when he bought a Tesla ya know?

 

[kzguns]

Ya i'm definatly capable have all the tools (quality tools) and can do this this job. Its not that big of a deal that i'll mess with it now and probably wait till next winter when my cars sit because of the salt and snow. I will look at the easy stuff now though just to rule it out. Thanks for all the advice as i'm new to the GM side of things being mostly ford up until now.

 

[CalSgt]

Ya i'm definatly capable have all the tools (quality tools) and can do this this job. Its not that big of a deal that i'll mess with it now and probably wait till next winter when my cars sit because of the salt and snow. I will look at the easy stuff now though just to rule it out. Thanks for all the advice as i'm new to the GM side of things being mostly ford up until now.

That's the attitude to have...

If you are competent, capable, and equipped with tools there's not much on these old trucks that cant be done by just jumping into it. If its something I've never done before I try to take pictures as I go and lay out parts in disassembly order. Steering columns are dirty and a PIA but not as scary and dangerous as some would lead you to believe.