wiper switch crisis

Hi all

been researching Pennocks on the wonky wiper switch "phantom wipe" issue, and it seems that the best fix is to upgrade to a '88 wiper switch. as this fits any fiero from 85-87 also, and was a big improvement over the original switches used from 85-87.

only one problem- Io havent been able to source one anywhere- it seems the part is discontinued- does any one have any sugestions- source of supply?

Capt Fiero wrote: We ran into this problem on Tims gold 86, we ended up going to Chilliwack and getting an entire column for $60...

Isn't it kind of a gamble buying a steering column from a wrecker just for this purpose? How would you know ahead of time if the wiper switch in it was any good?

Glenn, just do what the rest of us do... pull the fuse until you actually need the wipers.

 

 

thats a new one that wasnt mentioned on the Pennock string- not the part i read anyway.

here is what i figure which symptom matches the problem-

wiper swipes when going over bump- motor park switch

wiper swipes when you first start car- leaky diodes on the wiper control board

wiper swipes when you hit turn signal- (my problem) faulty wiper switch  

pulling fuse is not a soluton for me cause this is my sometimes daily driver even in the winter , so i am going to try and find a used switch out of an 88, as even used, the 88 switches are supposed to be bullet proof. failing that, I will install a master switch for the wiper circuit wich will dissable the wipers when not in use but enable the stock wiper cct more convienently than replacing a fuse - safer too-

master switch would be a real easy fix         &nb sp;         &nb sp;  

 

already tried em. and Lordco also, and GM. no stock in Canada, no stock in USA, discontinued. ive been sending out some e-mails to the used fiero parts guys. aparently the 88 fiero switch is almost the same as millions of others, but ultimately slightly unique. others will plug and play but with limited or impared delay function. ( i know I know.... too much time on my hands this evening...) 

the original ac delco # is D6372A. im gona google it next and see what comes up

fiero052 wrote: been researching Pennocks on the wonky wiper switch "phantom wipe" issue...

Hope you read the thread I started there about "phantom wipes" last year.  Click Here. There's actually lots of helpful stuff posted in that thread by several people.

 

I guess this explains why my 88 has never had the ghost wipe issue.

    Makes me almost regreat installing my 85GT columb into my 87GT and tossing the 87 columb.   I think I might have tossed it to storage rather than the junk pile to the scrap, if I did, I'll make sure and pull the wiper switch out and save it for my V8.

Ya know...  I'm having a really hard time believing these things are "fiero only" parts, seeing as it's still just a Saginaw steering column!

What I'm going to guess here, is that it's the same as an S-10, or any other similar era one...  but it's something like the wire length is shorter (I've got an S10 column here, and it's definably shorter than my fiero ones), so therefore it gets it's own part number.

It just doesn't make sense from a manufacturing point of view to make a custom part for such a short/small run vehicle (you know... in comparison to the millions of J & X bodies they made!).  Lets face it - they penny pinched this car, using as many off the shelf parts as they could (which gives me an idea for another thread!!).