98 ranger half broken wipers

[jimbo74]

so i am having an issue with my wipers, they are the standard intermittent wipes... however they only work on hi

the stalk will not make the vehicle sray water on the windshiled if i push the end in

and only the hi setting makes the wipers come on at all.... on top of that, i have to time it jsut right to turn them off, they will not return to the down position on their own..... they will stop in hte middle of the windshield unless i get them very clsoe to the bottom of the stroke...


any ideas?

 

[98WARanger]

motor going bad

 

[dogfriend]

Multi Function Switch.

Any other symptoms besides the wiper problems? On the Explorer, mine would buzz when signalling a left turn + the intermittent wipers wouldn't work right. Some people have headlight dimmer problems also.

Motor is a possibility, but would not explain why the washer pump won't work. The MFS would.

 

[jimbo74]

stupid switch! those aint cheap or easy to fix.... dimmer function works.... but..... i do have at least a bulb or 2 out on the dash, i cant see the tach or the spedometer below 90 mph


thanks dogfriend, going to need to look into that, just don't want to start throwing parts at it....

i wouldn't think it was the motor, because it works fine when on high, seems more like an electrical problem than the motor.... mfs would explain it

turn signals dont make any unusual noises or anything

 

[dogfriend]

I bought the MFS through FordPartsNetwork (now fastpartsnetwork.com) for about $45, but that was a few years ago. I believe there are now aftermarket versions which may be cheaper (they fail alot). Some people have pulled them apart to clean the contacts, but it really depends on how much your time is worth vs. how much a new part costs.

Its not hard to replace. I was going to do a writeup on it, but others beat me to it. You should be able to find at least one writeup.

 

[jimbo74]

jtsmith sent me a PM saying it was a bad park relay, well, i tested all the relays, and they were good.....

wierd thing... all the relays are toyota relays! i swapped relays with each other, and same result, the relays under the hood do click when any selection on the stalk is selected, so i am beginning to think it may not be a stalk or relay issue.... hmmmmmm

 

[dogfriend]

Multi Function Switch.

 

[jimbo74]

Multi Function Switch.

how would this be tested before i spend the $ on it? the stalk will trigger the relays in all positions, but the wipers just dont come on unless its in the hi selection

 

[dogfriend]

Here is the testing for a 97 Ranger. I don't have 98.

 

[dogfriend]

More

 

[dmac0923]

multi-function switch, like said its not a bad or expensive repair. i also had the buzzing turn signals when my fathers went on his 95 explorer

 

[jimbo74]

anyone have a prt number on the multi function switch?

 

[dogfriend]

Sorry Jim, I looked at the email to FPN when I bought it, but it doesn't have the part number, just the description.

 

[jimbo74]

any other last ditch ideas before i drop the $ on a new multifunction switch?

the relay is clicking htough, so i wonder if its an issue somewhere else

 

[DBond]

Dogfriend, great information on the MFS.

I know you have a ranger I have a 96 explorer. The front washer motor pump is not running so I am trying to trace it. I metered the washer pump motor an its not getting power from B/W wire. Your diagram mentions a Relay in Box #2 being attached to the B/W wire. Do you know where said box may be located?

 

[dogfriend]

Dogfriend, great information on the MFS.

I know you have a ranger I have a 96 explorer. The front washer motor pump is not running so I am trying to trace it. I metered the washer pump motor an its not getting power from B/W wire. Your diagram mentions a Relay in Box #2 being attached to the B/W wire. Do you know where said box may be located?

For the 97 Explorer (and I think 96 should be the same) that relay is located in Aux Relay Box #2 which is under the air filter housing in the RH front corner of the engine compartment (as viewed from the driver seat).

 

[DBond]

Thanks for the information. I poked around more and found the box and took the gamble to investigate it. I found out it was the one, when I found the relay's in it and found the wiper pump relay had a corroded terminal which was broken off and stuck in the relay seat. I am attempting to extract the terminal, with WD40 but have had to take apart the entire relay box bottom to get at it.

It would appear given the proximity of the box to the front of the car, and lights all the road junk/salt got into the box corroding the front relay - which happens to be the pump one. No wonder the relay was relocated in later models, not to mention the headache to fix this I am going through. Thanks again...

 

[jimbo74]

anyone else think tis the wiper switch? a new one is $70 the cheapest i can find it..... EEK!

will buy it asap, if this is what you guys really think it is

 

[dogfriend]

Did you test it?

I only paid $45 or so, but that was a few years ago.

 

[jimbo74]

Did you test it?

I only paid $45 or so, but that was a few years ago.

i didnt test it

everywhere i have seen want major $ for it... 80 from fpn, 70 from autozone, 80 from lmctruck