one-speed wipers

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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flatlander
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:15 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: LaCenter WA

one-speed wipers

Post by flatlander »

Whether they are set to run continuously or on intermittant, I get just one speed from my wipers. When I flip the hi-low switch, I get nothing. I disconnected the switch and measured 11.2 v on both the gray and gray/black terminals. Do I need a new motor or is there something else I can try? All suggestions welcome!
spider2081
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Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: one-speed wipers

Post by spider2081 »

There should be 3 wires on the wiper speed switch. I believe the gray/black is the power to the switch. The solid gray and the solid light blue wires are the different speeds out of the switch.
flatlander
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:15 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: LaCenter WA

Re: one-speed wipers

Post by flatlander »

Thanks Spider2081. I misread the diagram, I thought blue was power in so I expected it to have the same reading as the other two. Now that I know that, I also know that the switch is working - constant power in and 11+volts out on one or the other posts depending on switch position, but I still have just one speed at the wiper motor - I'm not sure if that speed is low or high. Any suggestions as to what to check for at the motor or wherever?
spider2081
Patron 2024
Patron 2024
Posts: 3015
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: one-speed wipers

Post by spider2081 »

I am not sure what year the Spiders changed from a single plug to bullet connectors for the wiper motors. In either case you need to lift the cowl with the wiper assembly mounted to it to access the motor. Its best to have 2 people when doing this because its easy to scratch the cars paint in the process.

The connection from the cars harness to the wiper motor are prone to corrosion and periodic cleaning is required. Also periodic lubrication of the linkage is required so both could be accomplished at this time.

Fast speed is the gray wire and slow speed is the blue wire. Most people feel The fast speed of the wipers is too slow.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: one-speed wipers

Post by vandor »

So do you get the same speed on both positions, or nothing at all in one of the positions?
If there is a lot of drag on the system it may be difficult to tell the difference between the two speeds (ie slow and very slow :-).
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
flatlander
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:15 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: LaCenter WA

Re: one-speed wipers

Post by flatlander »

Thanks to you both. It turns out that I had a loose connection at the cluster/plug under the cowling. I now have two speeds.
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