Honda Wiper Motor Upgrade for the 240Z

[Zs-ondabrain]

Tired of the old SLOW and Tired wipers on your 240Z? Ya, Me too. SO I did some research on the subject over at HybridZ and found that for a few years now, people have been trying to use the 94' Accord and 91' Civic wiper motors as a replacement to the Datsun wiper motor that ONLY like to move if the window is WET...

So I read every thread and post on the subject to find out as much as possible. All I found was pictures and posts by people saying that "it works great BUT..... The wiper does'nt PARK when you turn the switch to OFF. You have to shut the wiper switch off at the EXACT moment to get the blades to sit in the usual DOWN position.

So I went to the junk yard and pulled a 91' Honda Civic wiper motor, brought it home and tore the gear/contact cover off to find what made it click and Also to find why nobody, after 4 years, could get the wiper to "PARK" I wrote everything down that I saw, put it back together and studied the their wiring diagrams and my diagrams.

So I wire up the wiper the way everyone else had been doing it for a few years and started tesing each and every wire. I discovered what they had missed and decided to wire up a relay, the way I thought it should be, to get the wipers to "PARK" and then gave it some power. Slow speed worked great, high speed worked even better. So I kicked it back down to slow then crossed my fingers and turn the switch off. It spun a little before the relay kicked in, then it finished it's rotation and stopped exactly where it should have.

So I did it a bunch of times and it stopped in the exact same spot every time. So in other words, I seem to have fixed the problem that plagued people who have done the conversion before.

Below is everything you'll need to know about putting in a 91' Honda Civic wiper motor into your 240Z. I've done the conversion and it's FRICKEN AWESOME!!! The first time I tried the wipers was in my garage on a DRY window with NEW wiper blades. I made a video of it for any unbelievers and also to show how the OFF position Parks the blades at the end of the rotation.

So here's some more good news, the Datsun wiper motor mounting screws work on the Honda motor AND the Datsun wiper arm bracket will slide right onto the Honda motor shaft without modification. When you go to the Pull-A-Part, SAVE THE BOLTS and the NUT & WASHER. If you buy the motor at the Auto Parts Store, it will NOT normally come with bolts or the bracket mounting nut.

Here is the Short list of needed items.......

1) 91' Honda wiper motor (make sure to unplug the motor and also remove the female end from the honda with at least 6 to 8 inches of wire past the female plug, you'll need the female end if you wanna make a custom adaptor type harness) I paid $6.50 at the local Pull-A-Part, Schucks Auto Supply wanted about $100. Go Used.

1) 20/30 amp 12 volt relay from the auto parts store (usually about $5.00)

1) 6-terminal Datsun Plug (exactly like the one on your Datsun wiper motor, or Voltage regulator or pre 3/73' Combo switch on the harness side. I sell these and the terminals if you would like to make a brand new adaptor for your conversion

The other possibility is to Cut off your plug and wires from your Datsun Wiper motor, it's up to you. You can even Hard wire the Honda motor in if you'd like.

70' Datsun 240Z __________________ 91' Honda civic wiper motor

blue/white-------pin 86 ________ Pin 87A-------blue/white

blue-------------pin 87 ________ pin 30--------blue

Blue/red-----------pin 85-------pin 85----------green/black

Black----------------------to------------------black

Blue/yellow----------------to-------------------blue/yellow

________________________________________________________

Here are the pics for drilling the Datsun wiper Plate, notching the plate to seat the Honda motor correctly, and that's it. 5 small cuts, 3 small holes.

If you have any questions and don't mind reading alot more, check out this link for every single detail. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=82292

After the New Honda Motor is installed in your Z, turn the wipers on once or twice to 1) Make sure the motor is working correctly and running and 2) to Park the wiper studs in the right position before installing the wiper blades.

Feel free to ask questions here, post results, share added info (other years and models of Honda wiper motors that are identical etc.)

Dave.

Datsun to Honda wiper diagram.bmp

This post has been promoted to an article
Edited May 23, 2011 by Arne
fixed typo in terminal list

[TomoHawk]

Do you think this would work on a 280Z? I have mine out right now.

[Goose52]

I was following this over at HydridZ - very cool. Congrats on cracking this nut after so many years of people playing with it.

Now, are you giving any consideration to creating another finely crafted conversion kit for the electrical portion (the relay, box, and plugs that would insert between the Honda motor connector and the Datsun plug) ? Can you source the Honda plug ??

[Pop's Z]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Dave, you are Da' MAN!!!!!!!!!!

Happy wiping, Mike

[kenz240z]

Dave, thanks for the excellent information!

[Art@NissanSport]

Dave, I think I'm going to do this upgrade and write about it in my 240Z project article. I will make sure to give you credit along with Michael Williams combo switch repair write-up that I plan to talk about as well. I wanted to get the combo switch in the Fall 07 issue but ran out of room so I will piggy back it with your wiper motor upgrade in the Spring 08 issue.

Just a heads up, thanks

Art

[barth4567]

I've said it before' date=' and I'll say it again...Dave, you are Da' MAN!!!!!!!!!!

Happy wiping, Mike[/quote']

Yeah, Look what Santa Dave brought us for Christmas.:classic:

[Zs-ondabrain]

Do you think this would work on a 280Z? I have mine out right now.

I believe it will but I'd check wire colors and mounting plate for comparison. Check the above link to the forum on Hybrid for a little more clarity, lots of 280Z's over there and I'm sure someone has done one in a 280Z.

Dave, thanks for the excellent information!

You're quite welcome Ken, let us know when ya do and post your results.

Thanks Mike, (Pop's Z)

Now, are you giving any consideration to creating another finely crafted conversion kit for the electrical portion (the relay, box, and plugs that would insert between the Honda motor connector and the Datsun plug) ? Can you source the Honda plug ??

I'm already looking into it, I have access to the black box's, relays, and Datsun Plug and colored wires but I've yet to find a source for the Honda plug, other than the junk yard or Pull-A-Part.

If I were to make a harness with the Datsun plug - black project box - wires and Butt connectors for the buyer to easily "Crimp" the adaptor harness to the connectorless Honda wiper motor harness, it would be a breeze to make and I'd have to charge at least $35 for the adaptor harness (without the Honda plug. I would also do my best to find a firewall boot to keep it looking stock or at least clean up the hole.

ART....

If you need any other info, keep your eye on this forum and the one over at HybridZ (mentioned above)

BARTH45657....

HO-HO-HO but seriously, I weigh about 130 on a good day so I'm too damn small to be Santa, But I appreciate the metaphor.

Dave.

[280~Master]

Sounds great but I thought about trying this with a 240sx wiper motor. Should cut out the cutting of the wiper motor shaft and its also a Nissan part for my Nissan/Datsun car. Just my 2 cents

[Zs-ondabrain]

Sounds great but I thought about trying this with a 240sx wiper motor. Should cut out the cutting of the wiper motor shaft and its also a Nissan part for my Nissan/Datsun car. Just my 2 cents

You don't have to cut at the shaft on the 91' Honda Civic wiper motor. It's shaped the same as the Datsun motor shaft (slice from each side of the shaft with the nut grabbing 1/3 of the shaft)

That's why I chose the 91' motor instead of the 94' Accord, you have to cut the 94' shaft and it's much bigger (10+mm i think)

Dave.

This is the adaptor I made for mine, I actually built 2 of them, one for mine and one for sale. But it has the Honda plug that mates to the Honda wiper motor so you MUST have the plug still on your Honda wiper motor. $35

[mars23z]

Is a 91 Honda the only year ? I have an 86 and 89 acoord would those work? Thanks Chris

[Zs-ondabrain]

Is a 91 Honda the only year ? I have an 86 and 89 acoord would those work? Thanks Chris

That's what I'm trying to find out. Look at the motor and compare it to the mounting chassic and the wires. If they are the same wires, mounts and shaft then YES, it'll work.

Just use some (Female quick disconnect) connectors to jump your Datsun plug into the honda wires and test it out. that's the easiest way to find out and also what I did the first time. I wasn't about to cut into my harness to find out if it worked or not.

Try the 89' first.

Dave.