Windshield wipers do not rest in the proper position.

[gruark]

I have a 1977 Regal with intermittment wipers. I replaced the washer pump assembly with a NOS unit. Now the wipers do not rest in the proper position on the windshield when on intermittent. They rest one position above from where they should, which is in my line of sight. I can fix it by removing the pump, indexing the cam and then they rest in the proper place until the first time I use the washers. Afterward they rest in the wrong position again. This is very frustrating. I assume I have some part missaligned but I can't figure it out. Can anyone help?

Thank you to those that responded to my last question about the switch at the back of my left cylinder head. I would have never figured that out.

[NTX5467]

That earlier delay wiper set-up is much removed from the more current versions, as in how they operate AND specific motors and such.

I do know that on the '98+ C/K trucks, when they don't "park" at the designated location (as in just a tad above horizontal) when turned off, it's the delay module circuit board that needs to be replaced. On these particular vehicles, the board is what the wiring harness plugs into and commands the motor to do what it does, so if the motor runs when it should, but has some different quirk, changing the board will cure about 98% of all problems.

With this in mind, I can't think what you might have "disturbed" when changing the washer pump . . . unless the pump is specific to delay wiper motors and you might not have the correct pump. Just a thought.

Seems like there is a "park" switch that commands the "park function" when the wipers are turned "off", which is on the main circuit board as a separate item, which can -- or used to be -- able to replaced separately or usually comes on a new circuit board. There might be another switch that handles the "delay/intermittent" park function too. Key thing might be if after the wiper blades pause (in the intermittent operation), they move downward before moving upward, which might indicate some synchronization issues might exist in the electronics and not the mechanicals.

In those earlier times, the body electric diagnosis was in the Chassis Body Manual rather than the normal Chassis Manual. I can't determine why changing the washer pump caused the situation described, unless it might be the wrong pump for the delay wiper motor.

I just checked the RockAuto.com website and the pumps are different and some note "will not have delay feature in replacement pump", so you might check it out and see if the part number pump you installed might be listed in there. I like that website for shopping and informational purposes, plus I've got good service when I have used them for things I could not get locally.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[Philippe Racicot]

Maybe it's just the nylon cam for the windshield washer that isn't installed in the proper position. There is a metal pin on the gear in the wiper motor. It needs to be places in the slot in the nylon gear. If you fail to do that, you'll probably hear a strange noise when the washer pump is used and in delay mode, the wipers will not rest at the correct place since the cam has another function which is to cut the electrical contact for the delay after the wipers completed one cycle. I have "played" with these motors a few times and sometimes, it could be tricky to align the nylon cam with the metal pin.

But it could be something else...

If you got a GM replacement pump, it comes with a new pump cover (and often a black plastic cylinder and cam instead of the white ones) and you have to switch the circuit board or electrical components from your old pump to the new one. If the problem with your old pump was just that the plastic cylinder and the piston were leaking or the rubber valves were dry, just take that part from the new one as the cam design could be different and cause problems (it happened to me).

To remove the cylinder and piston is relatively easy. First, you have to remove the metal cover with the pump from the wiper motor, disconnect the wires and note where they go. Then you need to remove the 4 1/4" screws at the top of the pump and carefully remove the cover, the part with the 3 valves and the gaskets. Then with a pair of needle-nose pliers, you can push on the piston and turn it 1/4 of a turn. This should release it from the metal rod. Then you just have to pull on the cylinder and reinstall it on your old pump following the same steps (block the metal rod in the position where it's easier to remove and install the piston). Be careful not to damage the plastic parts to avoid grooving the cylinder and with the plastic parts as they are easy to break.

Sorry for the long post, if it's confusing, I'll try to explain better. English isn't my first language so it's sometimes harder to explain things clearly with my limited vocabulary!