Windshield Wiper Fluid Pump gone goofy?

mattadams · August 3, 2000

ok heres the situation. Noticed off and on since Moab that the windshield wiper fluid wasn't coming out, then it would come back on for a while, then stop. Then it stopped for good, wouldn't get any out, ever. Figured maybe it was a bad pump so I replaced the pwoer steering pump for about $25 from Ford, swapped it out myself in about 15 minutes, no sweat. Power steering pump was wokring and fluid was coming out good and in nice streams for quite a while. Didn't run it for a while, then today went to go squirt some otu and low and behold, its not spitting anymore! So I blow out the lines (disconnect where it brances to the seperate squirters) blow air in, it goes fine all the way back to the reservoir, then I squirt and fluid comes out, I figure ok maybe theres some crap trapped in the lines but its working again. Try it 5 minutes later just for testing and no squirt!!! Any ideas? the fuse seems fine, power steering pump looked fine going in and worked well for a while. The tubes didn't seem kinked or pinched in any obvious locations.

rpenner54 · August 3, 2000

Matt its the switch on the stalk. Happened on my dads 250. Gotta take it apart and clean out the contacts. They get grease/lubricant on them and don't let it work correctly. That is if that is your problem.

mattadams · August 3, 2000

oh ok thanks Ryan I remember you telling me that a long time ago now... I'll check that out tomorrow. I just went out there and cleaned off the electrical connector a little bit, and now its squirting again, so if that fixes it I'll leave it at that.

Stephen · August 4, 2000

This was the beginning symptom of my fused wires inside the multifunction lever. I'd have it looked at before it causes a fire.

kilroy · August 7, 2000

Does power steering fliud really clean the windows good?

I know, I'm a smartass, but I can't help myself sometimes.

'96explorereddiebauer · October 26, 2000

I know this thread has idled for a long time, but I gotta tell ya'll that I fixed the washer problem. Thanks to you guys, I don't need to take it to the dealer and let them replace the whole thing for I don't know how much. Took me about 2 hours of reading and figuring things out and got the contacts cleaned with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol but it was successful in the end. Why did Ford put so much grease in there?? Why was it there in the first place?? My next project is to get those wiper arms painted. Any suggestions?? Thanks again!!

[Edited by '96explorereddiebauer on 10-26-2000 at 03:38 PM]

RD · December 4, 2000

Would you please explain in a bit more detail the process of cleaning those contacts. I'm having the same problem with inconsistent washer operation on my '97 XLT and would like to correct it soon.

Thanks,
Roger

kps36 · December 4, 2000

me also.... please put the procedure here. This has been an ongoing problem.
thnx.

kps36 · December 13, 2000

Bump.
Now it's starting on the Ranger.

Tim K · December 13, 2000

ditto for my 97 XLT

Robert · December 13, 2000

I popped the end of the wipper stalk off with an exacto knife. Did it from behind incase I gouged the plastic. Once the cap is off, there is one phillips screw in the center. Remove it and carefully pull the switch off. There is a spring in there so be careful. Also there is a small spring that goes through the stalk that provides the indentions when selecting the different positions. It has a small metal cap on both ends. The grease will usually hold it in, but if it starts to fall out be sure that you don't loose it. Once you have the end of the switch off, you'll see several copper contacts and copper fingers. Carefully clean them with alcohol. I also gently lifted up on the copper fingers to provide more contact. Put it back together. The Ford charge to replace the entire stalk is $175 and they won't just try and fix the switch. I've had to clean all of my Ford's after a while. I had my Warranty company pay Ford to fix my Explorer's for the $175 charge.

leggo · December 13, 2000

Just in case?

If you are having problems with your actual w.w. pump motor itself. Mine stopped working last month. I took it off and actually squeezed it with a pair of channel locks just enough to free up the contacts inside. Its worked great ever since!

Just wanted to let you know! Good Luck!!

brandon11 · December 20, 2000

Originally posted by Robert
I popped the end of the wipper stalk off with an exacto knife. Did it from behind incase I gouged the plastic. Once the cap is off, there is one phillips screw in the center. Remove it and carefully pull the switch off. There is a spring in there so be careful. Also there is a small spring that goes through the stalk that provides the indentions when selecting the different positions. It has a small metal cap on both ends. The grease will usually hold it in, but if it starts to fall out be sure that you don't loose it. Once you have the end of the switch off, you'll see several copper contacts and copper fingers. Carefully clean them with alcohol. I also gently lifted up on the copper fingers to provide more contact. Put it back together. The Ford charge to replace the entire stalk is $175 and they won't just try and fix the switch. I've had to clean all of my Ford's after a while. I had my Warranty company pay Ford to fix my Explorer's for the $175 charge.

Could you please explain to me if you mean the signal arm on the steering column or somewhere else (I'm pretty dense sometimes)I have the same problem and I can't figure it out

Tim K · December 20, 2000

Yes...the signal arm. The tip of the arm is actually a little black cap. Pry it off carefully and there is a screw behind it. Then pull the black plastic "sleeve" off of the signal arm. remove and clean with alcohol.
Start pulling out the pieces. Inside there will be a spring and a white plastic thingy - remove and clean with alcohol. Running down through he signal arm itself will be a skinny spring with two metal "nubs" on each end...pull this out and clean it. Then put it all back together nicely.

I did mine about 10 days ago and it works better than when it was new. It was like cleaning someone's ear after 4 years of neglect. It was full of this yellow, greasey, wax. It was all clumped together and caused parts to stick.

Good riddance!

brandon11 · December 20, 2000

Originally posted by Tim K
Yes...the signal arm. The tip of the arm is actually a little black cap. Pry it off carefully and there is a screw behind it. Then pull the black plastic "sleeve" off of the signal arm. remove and clean with alcohol.
Start pulling out the pieces. Inside there will be a spring and a white plastic thingy - remove and clean with alcohol. Running down through he signal arm itself will be a skinny spring with two metal "nubs" on each end...pull this out and clean it. Then put it all back together nicely.

I did mine about 10 days ago and it works better than when it was new. It was like cleaning someone's ear after 4 years of neglect. It was full of this yellow, greasey, wax. It was all clumped together and caused parts to stick.

Good riddance!

ThankS I'll try it tomorrow

Okrazie1 · July 4, 2001

Thought I'd bring this thread back up for people that haven't seen it but might have this problem. I had the wipers turning on by themselves in the '95 Ranger I just bought. I pulled the switch apart and cleaned it as described above and the wipers have worked fine since.

COMMOCOZY · August 12, 2001

I just tried this didn't work! must be the pump, or the switch it's self.

Any ideas?

Windshield Wiper Fluid Pump gone goofy?

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