Fix Those Wipers (Wiper Board Repair)

[slammins15]

sounds like a board problem to me

['radolover]

Can't help but notice that it seems all broken weld points (between 1 and 7) are in area of harness connector. Suggests that whomever had responsibility for attaching harness may have been attaching at a critical angle or maybe made a last moment tug on the harness to make sure it was connected.

So it may be that GM used "defective" solder, but it would seem that a larger number of different year's trucks would have affected whereas a heavy-handed assembler would have probably affected only production on their shift, and then probably sporadically.

And since the factory recall was NOT for any solder cracks but for the H2O problem it would seem that this could be an unrecognized GM assemly problem that might be worth GM's attention.

I have to say that it's a puzzlement why this problem apparently doesn't show up in later production vehicles. Without going back over the posts, it seems that up to '93 was about the limit of tjose affected. That doesn't account for solder very well, but it holds water for retirement/resignation.

Just a thought.

[slammins15]

Originally Posted by 'radolover

.

I have to say that it's a puzzlement why this problem apparently doesn't show up in later production vehicles. Without going back over the posts, it seems that up to '93 was about the limit of tjose affected. That doesn't account for solder very well, but it holds water for retirement/resignation.

Just a thought.

This problem isn't limited to fsc only to 93 my truck is a 97 s15 jimmy and my uncles 98 fsc had the same issue.

['radolover]

If it carries over to more recent production, like up to '97s, then the same employee(s) may still be doing a bit of rough handling.

And if the same/similar problem is continuing for so long it would STRONGLY suggest that a bad batch of solder is not what's
going on.

[lowc10]

i finaly got to check out the motor, it is not like the ones with the boards. so can i change it to one with a board, my wiper controller seems to have more settings than just a high or low.

[Ghoster]

Just want to say thanks to whoever created this thread. I was about to go buy the entire wiper motor assy. I decided to do a little research first, and found out about the pulse board. I pulled mine out, and it had 2 or 3 breaks in it, hard to tell really. It was so corroded and messed up that it wasn't worth repairing. So I just bought the board. Problem solved. Thanks.

[slammins15]

Originally Posted by 'radolover

If it carries over to more recent production, like up to '97s, then the same employee(s) may still be doing a bit of rough handling.

And if the same/similar problem is continuing for so long it would STRONGLY suggest that a bad batch of solder is not what's
going on.

Its not employess doing the soldering its done by robotics and the problem is caused by not soldering with enough heat so you end up with cold solder joints that crack eventually.

[Busted Knuckles]

slammins15 is dead-on. I got a couple of months worth of Navy training on circuit card repair. Cold solder joints cause a world of grief and crack just like these described. They may have been wiggled when the solder was in it's plastic state between liquid and solid, may have been cooled too quickly, tough to tell. At any rate, you should put a small spot of flux on every point you intend to resolder so you don't introduce dirt, etc. into the joint and create another problem. Soak a small sponge in alcohol and use that to clean the board when you're finished and don't forget to seal it up good.

[Glockem]

Originally Posted by TTlord

where is the fix for the rear wiper on a hatch suv?

Yes I would like to know this as well. I have a 1999 Tahoe 4-door and the back windshield wiper is working, but it stops past the correct stopping point for some reason. Roughly 6-7 inches past the stopping point. Is there a separate board for the rear wiper or is it part of the front wiper board?

[budnic21]

Little late on this but, try an external ground. I called an auto electrical shop and this was what I was told, tried it with a short wire and two alligator clips just to see and worked great. Almost free and fixed my problem. Just a wire from the motor housing to the body.

[bowtieboy42]

The wipers on my 98 stop working some times. I take it its under warrenty? Where could I go to get this fixed?

[gravelback]

I don't think that'd be under warranty unless you have a secondary kinda warranty...it's worth a shot but I don't think many warranties cover electrical stuff.
It's worth a recall check...ask TRITON20 in this thread.
Or just fix it and be done with it (and safe.)

[coondogz71]

i plan on doing mine this evening

[coondogz71]

mines a 98 and there wasnt a recall on it so i done it and they are on every time.

[BlazerBax]

93 K1500 Blazer here and I have never had a problem with my wipers (knocks on wood). All kinds of issues with the heat/ac units and the blower motor, but no wiper issues.

[import_fighter]

did this today and fixed my wipers....THANKS :)

[WAc1500]

Well, f&*k me! I thought I was the only dumb SOB with his hand out the window, in the rain pushing the stupid wiper arm to get it moving again. I too was ready to just suck it up, buy a whole new motor assembly and maybe even a new switch in an attempt to fix this.
Actually, my truck is possessed and hates my wife. Every single time she gets in it, the wipers start this crap. She doesn't even believe me that this doesn't happen nearly as often when she isn't in the truck. I don't know whether to fix this or not since now she'll want to drive it again!
Very cool thread and I will be picking up a soldering iron and some solder this weekend.

[gmctrucks]

Did mine that way years ago still working super easy fix.

[RSBAD454]

Originally Posted by Busted Knuckles

slammins15 is dead-on. I got a couple of months worth of Navy training on circuit card repair. Cold solder joints cause a world of grief and crack just like these described. They may have been wiggled when the solder was in it's plastic state between liquid and solid, may have been cooled too quickly, tough to tell. At any rate, you should put a small spot of flux on every point you intend to resolder so you don't introduce dirt, etc. into the joint and create another problem. Soak a small sponge in alcohol and use that to clean the board when you're finished and don't forget to seal it up good.

You are absolutely correct...I too have been trained via NASA soldering standards as well as J Standard. I had a similar situtaion with my 88 Honda Hatch back that had an intermittent starting issue. I found the main relay under the dash and pulled the cover off to find bad solder joints. I desoldered all of them and then reflowed with new solder and never had an issue after that. This holds true for the wiper motor control boards on our trucks. Use a good rosin core solder after you desolder and clean with IPA alcohol.

[CharlyG]

I went to the blob and slobber course in the Navy! J/K

I have the same problem and was about to throw money at parts!!

I love the internet!!!


Edit - I pulled the board and it is the same joint on mine. All the rest look ok, just that one cracked. I just resoldered and will reinstall in the am and do the test!

Well, it fixed the wipers, but not the washer......