Windshield wiper park switch
#1
Windshield wiper park switch
My ‘87 VDP wipers don’t park. They stop wherever they are when I release the wiper stalk. I have a new wiper motor park switch I want to install but don’t know how to do it. I found no steps in the Service Manual and have tried searching the internet with no luck. I do realize the problem could be my wiper stalk instead of the park switch.
Can anyone help or provide a link to instructions to install it?
Thank you!
Danny
Can anyone help or provide a link to instructions to install it?
Thank you!
Danny
#3
#4
Danny, it's been 15 or more years since I replaced one but I recall that it is externally mounted on the wiper motor and simply snaps into place, or perhaps has one small screw holding it. There's no trick to replacing it.
Hopefully someone wit a clearer memory will chime it
Cheers
DD
Hopefully someone wit a clearer memory will chime it
Cheers
DD
Danny
#6
well, actually, my procedure in the case of nonparking wipers was very simple. You just move the switch to the intermittent setting and they will assume the park position after every sweep. Turn the wipers off during one of the intervals. Problem solved!
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XJDanny (10-08-2018)
#7
it is usually the column switch and its moving parts wearing out, not the motor.
you might find it a fruitless exercise replacing the park swich.
The column switch can be disassembled and fixed.
Here's a test before you mess with the motor:
remove the lower and upper steering column covers or "nacelles". Follow the steps in the Service Manual for removal.
with engine running and windscreen wet, run the wipers,
With one hand press the wires behind the column switch into the switch, with the other hand turn the wipers off.
if they do not park, wiggle each wire to see if the wipers park. If they do, you found the problem. Contacts worn out.
you might find it a fruitless exercise replacing the park swich.
The column switch can be disassembled and fixed.
Here's a test before you mess with the motor:
remove the lower and upper steering column covers or "nacelles". Follow the steps in the Service Manual for removal.
with engine running and windscreen wet, run the wipers,
With one hand press the wires behind the column switch into the switch, with the other hand turn the wipers off.
if they do not park, wiggle each wire to see if the wipers park. If they do, you found the problem. Contacts worn out.
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#8
Jose is correct: the problem is not (ever) in the motor, nor is it in the park switch mounted to the motor. It is in the column...thus the easiest thing by far (if it is merely the fact that the wipers do not park that bothers you) is to use the intermittent setting at the end of every wiper-use session. The wipers will always park in the intermittent cycle. If, however, you simply must have the wipers working "as designed" then dealing with the wiring in the column is the only recourse.
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XJDanny (10-08-2018)
#9
Jose is correct: the problem is not (ever) in the motor, nor is it in the park switch mounted to the motor. It is in the column...thus the easiest thing by far (if it is merely the fact that the wipers do not park that bothers you) is to use the intermittent setting at the end of every wiper-use session. The wipers will always park in the intermittent cycle. If, however, you simply must have the wipers working "as designed" then dealing with the wiring in the column is the only recourse.
Thank you, everyone, for your feedback and help!
Danny
#10
In case anyone was wondering how to replace the wiper switch....it's easy. I took a couple pics so a first-timer can get the lay of the land, so to speak.
1) Remove under trim to unplug wiper harness
2) Remove upper and lower column shrouds to fully reveal wiper switch*
3) Remove two screws and one press-on clip holding switch to bracket, remove switch
4) Installation is reverse of removal
*In truth only the lower shroud must come off. The upper one can be gently shifted out of the way, as even in the pics. Whether removing the upper shroud or just re-positioning it, the column must be dropped down for wiggle room. Two nuts hold the column onto the dashboard structure. You'll see them if you look upwards from below. Loosen the nuts almost all the way; the column will drop about an inch. Watch for adjustment shims that might fall out of place.
The upper shroud is attached to the oblong bracket with two (or it is three?) small screws. After removing the lower shroud (three screws) you can peer upwards and just see the upper shroud screws. Remove them and gently shift the upper shroud.
When dealing with the upper shroud be very gentle around the hazard light switch. It's fragile. The shrouds themselves are fragile as well, do not over-tighten ofrthe captive nuts will break off
The first pic shows the oblong bracket with the switch removed. The second pic shows the relationship between the bracket and the switch. Note the bracket stays on the car when replacing the wiper switch. I took the pic on my workbench using a spare bracket. You can also see the arrangement of the other switches on the bracket.
The third pic is off-topic but I included it as a trivia thing. Is shows the contact points that operate the high beam/headlamp flash. When you pull on the stalk the contacts close to provide a ground 'trigger' to the headlight relay. I've worked on earlier versions where the contact points were just a tab of spring steel.
This is Series III stuff but I think Series II is the same or nearly so
Cheers
DD
1) Remove under trim to unplug wiper harness
2) Remove upper and lower column shrouds to fully reveal wiper switch*
3) Remove two screws and one press-on clip holding switch to bracket, remove switch
4) Installation is reverse of removal
*In truth only the lower shroud must come off. The upper one can be gently shifted out of the way, as even in the pics. Whether removing the upper shroud or just re-positioning it, the column must be dropped down for wiggle room. Two nuts hold the column onto the dashboard structure. You'll see them if you look upwards from below. Loosen the nuts almost all the way; the column will drop about an inch. Watch for adjustment shims that might fall out of place.
The upper shroud is attached to the oblong bracket with two (or it is three?) small screws. After removing the lower shroud (three screws) you can peer upwards and just see the upper shroud screws. Remove them and gently shift the upper shroud.
When dealing with the upper shroud be very gentle around the hazard light switch. It's fragile. The shrouds themselves are fragile as well, do not over-tighten ofrthe captive nuts will break off
The first pic shows the oblong bracket with the switch removed. The second pic shows the relationship between the bracket and the switch. Note the bracket stays on the car when replacing the wiper switch. I took the pic on my workbench using a spare bracket. You can also see the arrangement of the other switches on the bracket.
The third pic is off-topic but I included it as a trivia thing. Is shows the contact points that operate the high beam/headlamp flash. When you pull on the stalk the contacts close to provide a ground 'trigger' to the headlight relay. I've worked on earlier versions where the contact points were just a tab of spring steel.
This is Series III stuff but I think Series II is the same or nearly so
Cheers
DD
Last edited by Doug; 10-21-2018 at 09:05 PM.
#11
CAVEAT!!!
I removed these shrouds a few months back to replace a "plumb wore out" ignition switch that caused a lot of odd faults!!
The black plastic is brittle. The screws seat in imbedded brass captive threads. The plastic around some busted. Screws way too tight!!! A PO??? Yes, The alarm was disconnected!!!
JB fixed some. A bit of black tape did a part. I got new screws. Gone are the slotted ones. In with the Allen heads...
Apologies to a sub
I removed these shrouds a few months back to replace a "plumb wore out" ignition switch that caused a lot of odd faults!!
The black plastic is brittle. The screws seat in imbedded brass captive threads. The plastic around some busted. Screws way too tight!!! A PO??? Yes, The alarm was disconnected!!!
JB fixed some. A bit of black tape did a part. I got new screws. Gone are the slotted ones. In with the Allen heads...
Apologies to a sub
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Doug (10-22-2018)
#12
My ‘87 VDP wipers don’t park. They stop wherever they are when I release the wiper stalk. I have a new wiper motor park switch I want to install but don’t know how to do it. I found no steps in the Service Manual and have tried searching the internet with no luck. I do realize the problem could be my wiper stalk instead of the park switch.
Can anyone help or provide a link to instructions to install it?
Thank you!
Danny
Can anyone help or provide a link to instructions to install it?
Thank you!
Danny
The following users liked this post:
level 1 (11-30-2018)
#15
With regard to the particular problem of the wipers not parking properly, the fuse is not the problem- however, you are correct in general in suspecting the fuses first - On the Series I-III XJ that is indeed the very first thing to check for any electrical malfunction.
#16
Ernest, the photo you posted is an XJ40 picture, not a Series 3 XJ-6.
The 1988-on XJ40 is also popularly known as an "XJ-6" but it has a 4.0 liter 6 cylinder engine as opposed to the 4.2 liter 6 cylinder engine of the Series 1, 2, and 3 XJ-6.
the Last year for the Series 3 XJ-6 6 cylinder was 1987. In 1988 the XJ-40 is introduced to America. Some of us call it "the first digital Jaguar".
the Series 3 XJ body style continued until 1992 but only with the 12 cylinder engine, and those are known as "V12".
The 1988-on XJ40 is also popularly known as an "XJ-6" but it has a 4.0 liter 6 cylinder engine as opposed to the 4.2 liter 6 cylinder engine of the Series 1, 2, and 3 XJ-6.
the Last year for the Series 3 XJ-6 6 cylinder was 1987. In 1988 the XJ-40 is introduced to America. Some of us call it "the first digital Jaguar".
the Series 3 XJ body style continued until 1992 but only with the 12 cylinder engine, and those are known as "V12".