O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

I look to buy a wiper delay/pulse module. (It plugs into wiper motor -no brainer)

The parts sites / parts stores show a later style when I ask for my '88.
The delay module also shows very different than mine, even though they claim it's for an '88. It is not. The one they show, you can open the front cover & R&R the delay module- harness plug /circuit board.

You can not do that on mine.

My delay module is kind of like a 2"x4" boxy looking unit.

Where do I buy the silly thing????

Do these photos look like yours? And if it does, what year is your truck?

'88 C2500 350cid. Sierra

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

88 gmc 1500
Attachment 825847

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Well it's nice to know someone else has the same type.......

(So I'm not crazy)

Where to buy a replacement delay module..........

Anyone??





Anyone?

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

I have no idea, but if it's that hard to find, please post if you find it. (knock on wood) I haven't had any problem with mine yet, but if i do, i would like to know where to get it at.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

The symptoms start slowly. As you turn on your wiper, it could do a number of things:
A split second pause to react.
Will turn on but will stop/start once in a while.
It only works on fast mode (most often does this).
Turn off ..it won't stop at bottom... you have to "time" the off so it stops at the bottom.
Won't turn on at all....... THEN it turns on whenever it wants - off whenever it wants.
(You start to worry)
Bump the wiper motor with screwdriver handle to turn on ( fast mode only)

Wished you looked for the "&%$@*&" part sooner. :crazy:

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Mine is the same motor you have. Truck is a '89 C1500 silverado. My truck also does the same type of symtoms you say yours does too. If I remember correct, a while back I read someone say that they only make the modules for '90 and up wiper motors so whenever mine starts doing this wacky on off or only work in LO-Hi i'm switching it out for a newer style motor.

One thing that also bugs me is that it doesn't stop at the bottom. What it will do is go down to the bottom and then go back up a little bit.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

There were two different styles of wiper motors used on some of the early years of this body style truck.

Parts store people seem to assume they all had the newer style wiper motor which is different then what your truck has.

Both types of motors have circuit board failure problems. It is very common for the newer style motors to get cracks in the solder on the circuit board. There was a recall or bulletin that covered 1995 and some newer trucks, for circuit board failure.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Had the same problem with my 89. I went to get the module and they gave me the newer style. Searched all of the local places Orielly, Autozone, Carquest, Napa. They all had the new style. I checked the bolt pattern on my 99 exchanged the new module for a new motor that came with the module. Bolted right in works great now.

Just get the later model motor with module.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

I did wonder if the newer one replaced my original. No one at the parts places or even website parts ever said that.

Here's an idea, "Replaces '88 Wiper Motor part # --------------"

What about the harness plug? Do I re-wire that to fit the newer one?

Having said that..... So, there is not a replacement delay module "box"? For my '88?

It would be faster/easier to replace the module.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

On mine the old connector on my 89 plugged right into a motor / module for a 99 OBS Tahoe. It took less than an hour to replace and readjust the wiper arms.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

The newer motor will bolt right in where the old style motor was.

The wiring plug is the same.

There used to be replacement circuit boards available for the old style motor, but I have not checked recently.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

The GM P/N for the 88-90 modules is 12463090. It's still available from GM, maybe you can have the part store cross reference it.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Thanks..... parts stores don't know this 88-90 module exists. I'll check the dealer. Many California parts counter employees never touched under the hood.

I do like Napa they are the exception. (plus, I'm a friend of Ron Capps)

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

I have the same type as yours and had the same symptoms as you. Sucks, don't it? I never could find a replacement board so I cleaned all the solder joints even though they looked good and cleaned all the blade connectors and slapped it back in... problems were still there. A few days later i was playing around with it and I cleaned the contacts under the other cover (my wife took the truck to work today or I'd look, but I believe its three pins that contact the back of the motor as it spins) and the problems diminished greatly. I have full function again, it just gives me an extra few wipes every now and then. If the problems come back I plan on just replacing the whole assy.

Hope this helps. Oh yeah, I have a 90 GMC K1500

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

mine decided to go crazy today. at 10 degrees, in a blizzard, in the dark. tell me why i love my truck again? haha anyway ill look and see if i can figure out where its at and see if I have a "newer style" or not. thanks for the info.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

I understand that the 'after 1990' wiper motor bolts & installs fine in place of the '88-'90. It rained today. My wipers would not turn on.

I pulled over & wiggled the delay box as it's mounted on the motor. It started.

Loose connection. Tomorrow, (while I watch NASCAR) I'll remove it & clean, etc. maybe it will do the trick until I get a replacement from the dealer / parts place if available from a parts place.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Here is a link to photos of the newer style motor.

The service bulletin information is also at the link.

Vehicles not cover by the bulletin also have issues with the circuit board.

My 1993 Silverado had solder cracks at every low miles when the truck was fairly new but out of warranty.

http://forums.s-series.org/viewtopic...&view=previous

On the old style motors you should still be looking for solder cranks and cold solder joints.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

It's always when you need things that they either, can't be found, or won't work.
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Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

If you just do it, ...it's easier than you think....
Refer to top 1st post for pictures..........
*Un plug the harness.
*To remove the wiper delay box, just 1 screw (torx) at bottom of delay box
*Wiggle box..... it pulls out easy.
*There's 5 slip-contacts. (You'll see what I mean)
*With the box in your hand, use a putty knife or flat scewdriver and dislodge the 3 plastic 'holders' and wiggle off the front cover ( you see the contacts for the harness)
** You will see the delay circuit board.
* Slide the board out ( there are channels on each side for board to slide)
*I saw 1 cracked solder.
* use a small brass wire brush & clean the contacts

Well,..... at least the wiper turns on, but still no delay.

I sure wish I could buy just the board. It is so easy to replace....

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Just a note to let you guys know this thread helped me as well. When I bought my '88 the wipers didn't work, wiper fuse was missing and the wiper switch had no detent feeling to it so I assumed the switch was bad and installed a toggle switch under the dash to get by as there were more pressing matters to attend to :). Had nothing but low speed but it worked. That got old over the winter in the rainy northwest so a few weeks ago I replaced the switch and generally cleaned up the column. Wipers worked well at first but progressively got more intermittent with random stops etc. Tonight I replaced the old style wiper motor with the newer style with the commonly available circuit board (Cardone rebuilt from Oreilly $50 w/exch) and it works great. Feels so good to do this stuff myself. Couldn't have done it without the experience of the guys on this board. Thanks once again!

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

RED88,

Your & my problem was our style wiper delay is not available. Until I figured out a salvage was our only parts choice. I bought 2 replacement modules (1 as a spare) at a salvage & solved my wiper glitch.

The newer style is a bolt-on replacement if needed.

It took a year to figure this out.

But..... what I like about our year trucks is it isn't a multi- hundred dollar fix.

Just research...... part of the enjoyment having an '80's truck.

Kinda like owning a hot rod....... There's always something to putz with.

On a day off, I pop open my hood..... to see if there is something to play with. If not...... clean it!!

We all are "car guys".....

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Ok got this solved for everyone with an external pulse module attached to the wiper motor. The old style box module is no longer made. You now can get a complete wiper motor with the built in module and it's a fast easy fix.

Delay type: cardone 40-158

Non delay type: 40- 169

You'll need to keep the rubber mounts and seal off the old motor to put on the new one. You'll find its a plug and play thing and solves the issue of the old box module that is attached out side the original wiper motor.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Ok I ran into this problem three days ago myself. After searching through twenty parts books. Forget getting the module. They just don't make it anymore. And none of the books gave a way to solve the issue. See I have a 1989 c3500 and a 94 c2500. Both are pretty much the same for parts except engine and tyranny. One is gas the other diesel. So anyway after all that searching and being frustrated that even a chevy dealer had no answer, I went back to square one. My 94 has the newer style wiper motor with a built in module under a square cover. Of course the 89 had the addon attached to the wiper motor. To make a long story short I bought a wiper motor for the 94, took the old 89 one off, it fit perfectly in place, buttoned it all up and plugged it in and had my wipers going again. Including delay mode.

Part numbers:

Delay type : cardone 40-158

Non delay type: cardone 40-169

If this helps even one person out there I'm glad.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

This was answered in post 8.


The older circuit board hasn't been made for years, but there is still some stock in the dealerships. They are salty at $78. I just bought one 3 weeks ago.

BTW, this thread is 6 years old.

Re: O.K.? What's the secret about wiper motors?
 

Yea... changed to the newer style motor ( easy swap) - everything bolts up & even the harness is the same plug. I also changed the switch in steering column. Works perfect.

( I know this is an old thread)...... But people keep buying the old trucks, so the glitches return in this forum.