Wipers start but won't stop

[Ulfi]

The headlines basically covers this problem - once I engage the wipers, they work fine but as soon as I like them to stop - they won't!
When I engaged the stalk switch I could hear the relay clicking, so it seems as if there is nothing wrong with the stalk or the wiring to the relay.
I removed the relay while the wipers were running and they stopped - even parked themselves nicely.
So my question goes - is the relay the probable culprit and can it be taken apart?
There doesn't seem to be any screws on it, just a pop rivet in the middle...

Best regards

Ulf

[al_lieffring]

Very good diagnostic. You have eliminated the stalk switch and the parking mechanism in the motor and have isolated the problem to the relay.

The metal lid of the relay is crimped to the plastic base of the relay. the edges will need to be bent back so the base can be pulled out and the latching mechanism for the switch can be exposed, most likely just a little lube will make the relay work again. reasemble the relay by bending the metal of the lid back into place to hold the base in place.

[Ulfi]

Thank Al, will give it a go this weekend! Fiddling around and making small parts work is extremely rewarding for a technical ignorant like me...
What would you use for lubrication by the way - WD40?

Best regards

Ulf

[al_lieffring]

quote:Originally posted by Ulfi

Thank Al, will give it a go this weekend! Fiddling around and making small parts work is extremely rewarding for a technical ignorant like me...
What would you use for lubrication by the way - WD40?

Best regards

Ulf

I have clock lubrating oil that I would use. I keep a can of wd40 handy but never use it for this type of work, WD40 will clean up the electrical contacts, that is what it was designed to do, but on the moving components it will eventualy dry out and leave a gummy film. Best to use a light lubricating oil like 3-in-1 oil or sewing machine oil, judiciously dripped on the pivots of the moving components, not slathered all over everything. I like the pen type oilers that have a long needle, where you squeese the plastic housing and just a drip comes out the tip.

http://www.timesavers.com/catalogmain2.asp?ProductID=13839&submit1=Search



When you get the metal cover off, you will find the relay's mechanism is similar to the clicker in a ball point pen, one click holds the points closed, another click holds the points open.

Al

[Ulfi]

I'm pretty sure that my mother has one of those for her old sewing machine - she never uses it anyway...
Thanks again!

Ulf

[Ulfi]

That did the trick! Just took it apart, applied a little oil, rocked it back and forth a few times, reassembled it and voila - fully operational again!