Intermittent wipers working..... intermittently

[sixt9coug]

Redundant title is redundant.

Anyways... on the longest delay my wipers will usually work the first swipe then just not do anything. They also act the same way for the slowest 3 selections on the switch. When I put them on the higher speeds (still the intermittent selections) they work properly. The slowest I can get the wipers to work is on like a 9 second interval and they repeat just fine.

Is this the switch taking a poo? Or is there another control box that I can test? My turn signals, high beams and everything else on that stalk functions properly.

 

[bayellowstang]

Mine acts exactly the same. If I wiggle the knob it will sometimes work and others not so much. Mine always works on low/high speed though.

 

[fordtech28]

Its the wiper switch this is a known issue with our cars you can try taking it apart and cleaning it with electric parts cleaner and reinstalling it .Sometimes it fixes it sometimes it doesnt then it would be time for a new one

 

[Chythar]

Jose is 100% correct. The contacts in the wiper switch get dirty or wear out. Easiest solution in my opinion is to just by a new multi-function switch.

 

[SublimeRT]

Mine did that a few years ago. Put a new OEM Ford multifunction switch from 5.0 resto and they work great now. The new switch really freshened up the look of the steering column/interior too.

 

[sixt9coug]

Do we have a How To for the multifuncion switch? I assume I will have to pull the steering wheel off right? At least it gives me a chance to retouch the steering wheel and repaint it. Should make it nice and spiffy.

 

[Chythar]

No need to remove the steering wheel. You remove the plastic collar from around the column, however. 4 screws underneath the column gets the bottom off, but you'll either need to remove the ignition lock cylinder to get the top off or risk bending it out of the way. After that, you have a few screws and two wiring plugs and the multifunction switch is out. Oh, you have to remove the steering column tilt lever, but it just unscrews out.

 

[sixt9coug]

No need to remove the steering wheel. You remove the plastic collar from around the column, however. 4 screws underneath the column gets the bottom off, but you'll either need to remove the ignition lock cylinder to get the top off or risk bending it out of the way. After that, you have a few screws and two wiring plugs and the multifunction switch is out. Oh, you have to remove the steering column tilt lever, but it just unscrews out.

awsome. I'm gonna hit the junkyard today to look for some other parts so I will try to practice while I am there lol.

 

[MysteryMachine]

Many people don't know but mustangs also have a module for the wipers. It's like a timing box thing. I had to replace mine before. If you swap the switch and it still gives you isses it could be the box. It's up under the dash IIRC behind the fuse box. It's kinda a bitch to get to

 

[sixt9coug]

I actually swapped the MF switch with one from the junkyard, and the wipers work fine now.

I MIGHT have an issue with that switch though... sometimes the left turn signal gives me the fast blinking "bulb out" indication. Sometimes it is normal. Sometimes it will blink fast, then be normal.

So I probably either have a bulb going out, or a bad switch. Ill take the cheap way first and change the bulb then see if that fixes it lol. If it is the bulb it just seems coincidental that it decided to start going bad now.

 

[MysteryMachine]

Yeah that box is only for the wipers so it's probably your bulb or flasher. The way I found out about it was i thought the wiper motor was bad. I replaced it and they still were all scrwed up. Did some searching and I found out about the box