wiper switch tech

[bsmith123]

something to do on a weeknight this is on my 4/71 fj40

follow the switch back to the bullet connectors from the harness to the switch. Loosen up the rubber protectors well before pulling apart the connectors and try and spin the connectors a little back and forth before pulling apart----if necessary slide the rubber back and pull the connector apart with needle nose on each half of the connectors on the metal part----dont pull on the wires cause they could break. If you break one a regular crimp type bullet connector will work to repair it


my hazards were working great but the turn signals were intermittent so i had a go at the switch

First remove the 4 case screws on the back
store carefully they are tiny

Look inside and you will see 3 screws holding the switch in-remove the screws

Then pry back the 4 tabs---with the arrows not the one circled to remove the phenolic and contacts assembly

Be careful of springs popping out at this point , this is not a job for gravel!


spread out all the parts as they come apart and clean them
pay close attention to the grooves worn on the contacts and clean them up with emery cloth

 

[bsmith123]

assembly

The slider case goes into the switch case as so

install the spring in between the two plastic sliders and makes sure the metal slider case tabs engage both plastic sliders when installed in the switch case

 

[bsmith123]

assembly

if installed correctly you will see two holes in the top of the plastic sliders for the 2 small springs---install them

Then install the triangle shaped contacts putting the little bump detent into the center of the small spring

note the contacts on the phenolic block ---these get installed with the side with the 5 contacts on top and in contact with the side of the triangle contacts that has the two bumps (the wide end) and the 2 contacts on the side where the traingles only have 1 contact each

notice the horiz wear grooves in the contacts (more on that later)

 

[bsmith123]

assembly

install the phenolic wafer strip as shown over the contacts then the contacts that go to the wires over top that. contacts line up 5 to 5 and 2 to 2 as you would expect

notice the wear on the strip --I flipped it so it faced up instead

the last pic shows the 3 holes that the screws will go into to hold the switch in the outer case

 

[bsmith123]

assembly

bend the tabs down snugly---forgot to mention that

install the switch in the case with the 3 screws then install the outside cover with the 4 screws


I could install it without removing the stalk by angling it up and towards the drivers side and working it into place


wire hook up is straight forward blue is power

when hooking the bullet connectors back up note the double connections --these send power to the turn signals and also the indicator lights in the dash---if you get them backwards you will have a left indicator light flashing while your right turn signals are on

 

[bsmith123]

intermittent TS

well after installing them my turns signals work and flash 90 percent of the time


I think that horiz wear line is the cause of the intermittent ops as the contact digs a groove and then eventually starts losing contact -cleaning it up seemed to do a lot of good though

 

[Coolerman]

Uh.... Wiper switch tech?

I pulled my turn signal switch apart a while back and it was in excellent condition. My headlight switch however had the tracking you show.See pic. This is an excellent reason to use relays to move the current out of the switch and on to the relay contacts.

 

[bsmith123]

relays

Good idea on the relays but no way OEM would spend the $$ eh?

Yeah I know--- tech eh? very technical! Both on your switch and this one though I think it is a good example that might lead someone to the cause of their prob when they've done everything else and cant figure out why the blinkers wont work or whatever.

Last night my wipers wouldnt work even though I had shot everything and had the thing running via mock up wiring I tapped the motor with a mallet and away they went again and have worked since--I think maybe I need to have a look at that soon but with my shipping date so soon that will be on hold till I get to the UK

it doesnt look like there is a good repair option on the turn signals other than changing the switch if cleaning it up doesnt work
squeezing down the tabs that hold it all together may help since the contacts are held to each other via the springs and that tension is held by the tabs holding the contact plate so a little extra squish may extend the life for a short time