"Winter mode" switch problems
 

All of a sudden, my wiper switch under the dash (winter/normal) does not work correctly.

When I change the position of the switch, the wipers cycle, but return to the exact same position they were before. I figure the switch is good, since there is power to it to cause it to cycle.

All other wiper motor functions are normal and the blades travel smoothly without slipping or chattering. The nuts holding the arm to the shaft are tight.

The wipers just don't park in a higher position when in "winter" mode. (or else they are in the wintwer position already and don't cycle to the lower position in "normal" mode.

Any ideas? really not a big deal, but little things like that irk me and since I have never heard of this happening, I am at a loss as th what it could be.
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Are the wiper arms maybe stripping on the splines?

If they were slipping, I believe I would see erratic and jerky movement. Everything runs smoothly. When I try to move the wiper arms on the shaft, they don't move. They are tight without any looseness or play.

When they were parked in the upper position, I tried to see if I could push them lower, but they wouldn't move.

Can this switch wear out? I would think for as little use that the switch gets, it wouldn't.
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I swear mine does the same thing. I've never been too concerned with it as it does go back to the proper position eventually.

I also believe this is related to the issue where the wiper hits the "A" pillar.

is there a wiper module? or maybe its built into the wiper motor itself?

Maybe the arms were reset to the normal position while the switch was set on winter. Now you have both modes on the normal settings. Try to reset the arms a little higher while the switch is on winter mode.

The arms have never been touched since I has the car. All I have ever done is change the refills.

There should be two different "parking" points when the wipers are off. These points are controlled by this switch. Higher for winter, lower for normal.

If the arms were adjusted so that they were at the lower (normal) position while the switch was in the Winter position, shouldn't they go even lower down when the switch was in the normal position?

As I said, everything is tight, not slipping and working perfectly, except for this. A month ago, this switch operated the wipers as it should. Nothing happened or was adjusted between then and now. :confused:

Does anyone have a spare switch I could borrow and plug in to see if the problem is in the switch itself? They are $25.00 from the dealer. Is there some way I could test this switch to see if it was bad, bypassing it to see if things worked normally?
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on older GM's ( i cant speak of anything newish)

the wiper controls were mechanical inside the wiper motor assembly usually accessible by pulling off a cover or plate.they contained plastic toothed cogs and spring loaded stops and gawd knows what else to control park position as well as intermittent timing

if the svx wiper has a similar set-up, it could be worn teeth/shaft bushings/worn or broken stop mechanisms/ springs etc etc.......

i'd run out and look right now to check, but i'm in my undies and its dark out with a temp of 30 F....
lol

I have a spare switch laying around somewhere you can use....
The lower position is prettymuch all the way down. I believe that stoppers would prettymuch override the motor's power to let it go lower. I would suspect the switch being faulty rather than a wiper arm adjustment given your situation.

Ill see how much it is to ship this lil bugger to you, probly not much. You can pay pal me the shipping costs and call it even if it works...Looks like itll be about 7.50 to ship

your son's SVX works properly on this? swap his switch and try?

John the Winter/summer switch justs grounds the wire, from the 'wiper control unit' so you can just short the wire to ground to see if it is the switch.
Harvey.;)

I found a module in my box o parts let me know if you need it:D

Testing the switch in this way is of no use.

It is stated that, “The wipers just don’t park in the higher position.”

The wiring diagram indicates that the wiper motor, as one would expect, incorporates two limit switches. One for the high position and a second for the lower position. It is likely that these switches are in the negative supply circuit. One switch is shown normally closed the other normally open.

With the N/C limit switch is in circuit, the motor will stop/park when that switch opens which indicates this is the high position switch. At this point the N/O switch would close and when this switch is in circuit via the selector switch, this would result in the motor running on and stopping/parking in the second lower position when it opens.

Therefore there are the following possibilities:-

1. The selector switch is not opening the controlling circuit e.g. the contacts are frozen closed.

If this is the fault disconnecting the switch switch should result in the wipers parking in the high position.

N.B. shorting the switch line to ground by way of a test, will therefore not change this possible fault condition. The switch must be tested for continuity, open and closed.

2. The selector switch line is shorted to ground. N.B. If this is the fault, shorting the line to ground by way of a test will prove nothing.

3. The N/C limit switch is opening, but the N/O is not closing, e.g. the contacts are faulty or there is a mechanical problem.

In view of what has been previously reported, it would appear that item three is the most likely cause of the malfunction.

Edit P.S. There is a wiper control unit, but the probable electronic speed control and or intermittent functions are not reported faulty, so that trouble in this respect is highly unlikely.

Personally I do not use the feature proving faulty, as the wiper blades are given a hard ride over the window edge when traveling to the concealed position. Kinder to leave them on the glass.