Winshield viper acting strange

[Reverend]

Ok, i got this 72 6 months ago and soon after i got it i tried to use windshield wipers, they were not working.

Few days ago i took 4 bolts off that holds the wiper engine and by accident i put the windshield wiper on while doing other things inside car. The whole wiper engine assembly moved! So i was convinced that the engine worked and put the bolts back on.

Then when turning them on, i could hear CLICK and short BUZZZ but nothing happens, it wont move wipers. Fuse is ok.

[zKars]

You have a jammed linkage. One or more of the pivot points is dry/rusty/broken and not able to move. I agree the motor is likely fine. You will have to take the wiper mechanism apart and clean and lubricate all of of the joints and rotating parts. It all comes apart (look for c-rings to pry off), just take careful notes and pictures of each joint so you remember how to re-assemble it. The lock problem is likely in the wiper arm pivots that stick out of the cowl by the windscreen. Good luck!

Jim

[Jeff G 78]

Koalia: "Winshield viper acting strange"

Well, THERE'S your problem! Ya gots snakes in yer car!

I'd remove the whole motor and linkage assy and make sure nothing is bent. Clean and lubricate each linkage joint as well as the posts where they go through the aluminum housings. I did this on my 260 and they work like new. The linkages are a pain to get out of the cowl, but they will come out if you get them turned just right. Make sure you remove all the motor bolts.

[DeMoore]

This reminds me of that old animaniacs cartoon where they say "beware the viper!" during the whole cartoon and in the end it's a swedish "vindow viper."

[Reverend]

Whoops, guess we finns are almost as stupid as swedes Ok wiper not viper Yea, ill try to get them out, how i suppose get the wiper engine out from the bag without breaking it..?

[Bruce Palmer]

On any Early Zs or 510s or roadsters, taking the wiper mechanisms apart, cleaning and lubing them should be an automatic (when you get the car) and about every 2 years thereafter preventive maintenance item. Just like hinges and a bazillion other little PM things.

[EScanlon]

... how i suppose get the wiper engine out from the bag without breaking it..?

Don't.

You won't need to extricate the motor from the plastic weather proof bag. The motor's shaft exits the bag and connects to the gear case. All of the disassembly and cleaning operations you will be doing are to the ball-joint linkages and the shaft mounts.

The Ball-joint linkages should only require a mild cleaning and oiling.

It is the Shaft Mounts that are the most problematic. Those require disassembly and all of the old grease that is packed within the holder dug out (literally!) and replaced with a good water-proof (marine grade) lubricant and do NOT use oil.

The second most problematic is the gear transfer case. This will also require some cleaning and replacement of the lubricant within. Take care to NOT rotate the parking limit switch (looks like a little "pie-tin") on the back of the gear housing.

Once you've cleaned everything and made sure they rotate easily and evenly (no stickiness at all), then carefully remount everything. Since you will have undoubtedly removed the linkages from the motor, once the motor and linkages are re-mounted on the car and BEFORE you mount the windshield wipers onto the stalks, take a moment to connect the electrical connector and actuate the wipers for at least one or two cycles, and allowing the motor to park by itself.

The last step is one of the most critical in this process (almost). If you inadvertently (and it happens very often) you mount the wiper linkage arm to the motor 180° in the wrong direction, if you were to install the wiper arms FIRST and then actuated the wipers, you stand a very VERY good chance of scraping the wipers DOWN and over your cowl and hood. NOT a good idea.

Instead, after mounting and before you install the wiper arms, take a piece of tape and afix a little "flag" to the arm. Actuate the motor and observe the operation of the wiper shafts. If they first rotate DOWN instead of UP, you need to remove and replace the wiper linkage arm in the other (180°) position.

FWIW

Enrique

[Reverend]

Passenger side wiper arm is super stuck. It wont move no matter how hard i tried. Next i'll sink it to citrus acid and let it be there for 2 days.