Wiper Motor Brush Separated From Wire - Fixable?

[sp73]

As I work through getting my wiper motor back together one of the brushes separated from the wire. From what I am readying soldering does not really work too well with carbon? I am looking at getting conductive epoxy OR a junk wiper motor to scavenge from but wanted to ask the hive mind...

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

Just get a new brush, file it to size if necessary.

 

[sp73]

Thank you for your sage advice. I made a trip to the local junkyard this morning and pulled a wiper motor from an '86 4Runner. They are almost identical so I have the part(s) I need and spares to boot.

 

[sp73]

I may have spoken too soon. No power to the motor from the cab or per the FSM check. Visually everything looks good; only one of the three brushes is sparking when I apply 12v current directly to it.

Any thoughts?

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

Test your wiper relay. If that's fine, then check your wiper stalk switch on the steering column.

 

[sp73]

Without a picture tough to describe but there was a small metal tab with a contact point inside the motor housing that was bent. I tried to push it into place and it broke off.

I took some wire and soldered it in place; I now have intermittent and low function. High is SLOWWWWW.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

Can you swap parts over from the 4Runner wiper you picked up? I assume you mean one of the metal tabs which maked contact on the nylon gear?

Slow wipers can be mechanical resistance from dry/corroded/worn spigot shafts in the wiper linkage assembly (the parts which come through the cowl panel).

 

[sp73]

Can you swap parts over from the 4Runner wiper you picked up? I assume you mean one of the metal tabs which maked contact on the nylon gear?

Slow wipers can be mechanical resistance from dry/corroded/worn spigot shafts in the wiper linkage assembly (the parts which come through the cowl panel).

No this is different. I will try to find a picture; this piece sits near one of the brushes. I think this is mostly user (me) induced; my wiper speed was pretty good prior to my meddling. I put quite a bit of automotive grease in the nylon gear housing… not sure if this could slow down the high function or not.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

You should not use a MP lithium grease on the gear, it's too thick and the oil may weaken the plastics. I used Dow Corning Molykote EM-30L which is designed for electric motor gears as I understand it.