1992 Lumina Windshield wiper - washer

[Schurkey]

Recently had multiple problems with windshield wipers and washer motor on 1992 Lumina Euro 3.4. I think this should apply to all '94--older W bodies, though.

 

Last fall, the windshield washers quit squirting fluid. I ignored it. Figured the washer fluid was empty, or frozen, and "I'll fix it later".

 

Sometime in January, the wipers quit working. OK, that got my attention. Family matters kept me from fixing the problem--too busy flying back and forth to California to work on the car.

 

Car is now fixed, photos re-sized and hosted, etc. Time for the write-up.

 

Fixed wipers first. Wiring was intermittent at the wiper switch. Remove under-dash panels, remove steering wheel, remove "turn signal" stalk, remove "Hazard Flasher" button, remove horn contacts, pop three screws. Worst part is routing the wire harness under the steering column, and even that isn't too bad. Result: Wipers work, even on delay/pulse. WASHER still does not spray fluid. Replacement wiper switch came from NAPA, http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=ECHWS1051_0306359133

 

Test WASHER motor. Seized. I can apply power and ground to the motor, the motor does not turn or pump. Scavenge tested-good WASHER motor (and washer bottle) from another vehicle. WASHER still does not work.

 

Check for power and ground at two-wire harness connector for washer pump, near battery. Ground is OK, but there is no power to the motor when the washer switch on the "turn signal" stalk is rotated. Turns out that the WIPER motor is also used to pass-through the power to the WASHER motor. If the circuit board for the WIPER motor is defective, the circuit for the WASHER motor can be incomplete. The circuit board is discontinued by GM. I cannot find a source for rebuilt or aftermarket WIPER circuit boards. Rebuilt WIPER motors do not ship with the circuit board. The circuit board is Treasure Yard Only so far as I can tell.

 

Theory: Defective WASHER motor led to failure of electronic components on WIPER motor circuit board.

 

Went to the Treasure Yard looking for a WIPER motor and circuit board. They sell the wiper motor only as an assembly with the wiper transmission and mounting bracket as an assembly. Discover that the wiper motor (with delay wipers) may be interchangeable from '89 to '98 on some W-bodies, but the TRANSMISSION IS DIFFERENT.

 

Treasure Yard sells me a wiper motor/wiper transmission assembly from a 1995 vehicle. I am fixing a '92.

 

Removal of WIPER motor/transmission from '92:

1. Remove wiper arms by removing plastic cover over pivot. Remove nut holding arm. Remove hose for washer from nearby nipple. Wiper arm may be lifted, and a small drill bit installed through slot near hinge so that arm is held up away from glass. I used an adjustable battery terminal puller to get arm to release from tapered, splined pivot shaft. Wiper arms then lift off of pivot shaft. Helps to have the hood about half-way open.

 

2. Remove two plastic retainers (straight-blade screwdriver), and a small fistful of sheet metal screws from black-painted metal trim piece. Trim piece also has "rubber" seal to windshield that is often damaged by windshield wipers. Black paint typically flakes off, can be easily cleaned and re-painted.

 

3. Remove small fistful of sheet-metal screws from black plastic "grille" that screens air for heater/defroster. Disconnect washer hose from nipple on firewall. Remove "grille" assembly. Careful, it's likely to fold-up in the middle. Mine was already broken from clumsy windshield installer years ago.

 

4. Remove two or (maybe) three screws from black plastic shield over wiper transmission. Shield protects the actual air entry for the blower fan, so that rainwater coming off of windshield doesn't enter passenger compartment via the blower fan.

 

5. Remove two electrical connectors from wiper motor. They are locked in place with two green tabs which have to come out before the connectors can be unlatched.

 

6. Remove six bolts through the six rubber grommets of the wiper transmission.

 

7. Cleverly twist/lift/yank the wiper motor and transmission from vehicle.

 

Installation is the reverse of disassembly. (I've always wanted to say that.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original wiper motor dated [19]"92 012". New wiper motor dated "04 04 [19]95"

 

And again, on the motor itself: 92, and the part number also.

 

Newer motor, different part number, but completely interchangeable with the '92 motor. I put the '95 motor/circuit board onto the '92 transmission. Fits and works wonderfully.

 

So again, the wiper motor interchanges, but the transmission does NOT.

 

Cover, nut, and washer hose to be removed.

 

Plastic retainer for metal shield (one of two retainers)

 

Washer motor and power connector. Blue wire is ground, red wire is power.

 

 

 

 

[i have at least one more photo to post, and perhaps adding some additional info--but--I wanted to get this started while I had some time.]

Edited April 23, 2013 by Schurkey

[runt]

Nice write up!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rich_e777]

Is it possible to remove the wiper motor and transmission assembly from the vehicle as one unit and about how long would you think it would take to do the job assuming one had all the tools and no distractions?

 

Any idea why the change between the years?

[Schurkey]

Is it possible to remove the wiper motor and transmission assembly from the vehicle as one unit

It's been years since I did that job. Maybe I don't remember it properly. I think it's ESSENTIAL to remove them as a unit rather than separately.

 

about how long would you think it would take to do the job assuming one had all the tools and no distractions?

What job? R and R of the wiper transmission and motor assembly? Without diagnosis...maybe three hours. I know I spent a sh!tload more time than that, but I was also taking pictures and trying to trace multiple circuit problems--and of course I had the "wrong" wiper transmission installed except for one bolt, and then it had to come back out again. That alone required an extended break for harsh language and beer.

 

In addition, I've got one funky wiper arm where the splines are wiped-out at the pivot area. Attaching that wiper arm involves thorough cleaning of the transmission post, then using Loctite threadlocker to "glue" the wiper arm into position. Takes a long time to clean off the old threadlocker from the splines of the transmission pivot..

 

Any idea why the change between the years?

Three guesses:

 

1. They'd already paid the engineers, so they might as well have them change something.

 

2. Looking for more engine-compartment access clearance on the new-for-95 body style by pushing the sheetmetal to the rear. Now the wiper transmission bracket has to be shortened/relocated to match the revised sheetmetal of the unibody.

 

3. Revised curvature of the windshield required a different park position of the wiper blades.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Schurkey

[rich_e777]

The manual didn't really clarify if they had to be separate but warned about removing a certain bolt to maintain factory alignment. I`m hoping I could pull everything out and make my adjustments/trivial rust removal and lubrication, maybe some new linkage bushings if applicable then reinstall in a day without finding the need for a new $300 wiper transmission. Seems like a day job, maybe half of another just to do a good one.

 

I wonder if that change was only on certain W-bodies, I recall on the few 95-97 CS coupes ive come across that almost everything was identical to my `94. But then I`m sure GM knew the Cutlass was on the chop block by then and not much effort was put into the final year models of them.

 

And I`ll second runts old comment, I need to make more of an effort to make these sorts of threads vs just asking for help when problems arise, Ive fixed lots of stuff that might give others troubles that Ive never mentioned.

 

 

edit to add: Ive always thought of foul language and cold beer as just another part of working on these cars. I`m sure the neighbors were ready to call the cops when my engine mount job on my Cutlass didn't go according to plan. Funny how the engine slides back into place on the mounts after a few cold ones and a few MFer GD its:lol:

Edited June 9, 2015 by rich_e777