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[GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171009] Sun, 27 May 2012 20:03 Go to next message
Dave Skowron is currently offline  Dave Skowron   United States
Messages: 46
Registered: March 2012
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Member
The cable apparently came off or broke off at the switch end of my wiper
switch (1976 Eleganza). I can actuate the wipers from the lever on the
vacuum device under the hood, but the switch just flops up and down
without any resistance at all. I removed the dash panel and was
presented with a sheet-metal panel under it. I do not see a way to
actually get at the switch without removing the entire dash console. So
I guess my question is, how does that entire dash console come off? Just
giving it a once-over tells me that the gauges, heater panel, radio etc.
all must be removed. I need to get up under there. How's that best
accomplished?

TIA!

Dave Skowron
Ely, NV
1976 Eleganza "Gift" Coach
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Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171015 is a reply to message #171009] Sun, 27 May 2012 20:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
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Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
Sir the back comes off, 1 screw on each side. be careful when you try the left corner against the windshield.





Dave Skowron wrote on Sun, 27 May 2012 21:03

The cable apparently came off or broke off at the switch end of my wiper
switch (1976 Eleganza). I can actuate the wipers from the lever on the
vacuum device under the hood, but the switch just flops up and down
without any resistance at all. I removed the dash panel and was
presented with a sheet-metal panel under it. I do not see a way to
actually get at the switch without removing the entire dash console. So
I guess my question is, how does that entire dash console come off? Just
giving it a once-over tells me that the gauges, heater panel, radio etc.
all must be removed. I need to get up under there. How's that best
accomplished?

TIA!

Dave Skowron
Ely, NV
1976 Eleganza "Gift" Coach
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C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171020 is a reply to message #171009] Sun, 27 May 2012 20:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Dave,

The forward cover on the instrument pod is secured with one screw at each
side of the pod. With that removed, if you lift the cover it will become
disengaged from a slot behind the "doughnut" surrounding the pod. At the
top left corner the flange which just disengaged will interfere with
removing the cover because it will hit the windshield. If you're lucky,
some previous owner will have trimmed a little of that flange away; if not,
you'll need to do so. Then the cover will come right off. You can then
look through the windshield at the back (forward side) of the instrument
panel.

What you'll see for the wipers is a bracket welded to the left side of the
slot in which the lever moves. Two screws hold the lever assembly to that
bracket. That lever is not a switch nor any part of one -- there is NO
switch anywhere in the wiper system. Nor is there any vacuum involved.
The wiper motor is hydraulic, powered by return fluid from the power
steering. The lever is the actuator for a cable to operate the hydraulic
valve you manipulated under the hood.

Those levers are no longer available but you may find someone here who has
a usable one which they removed when they installed my replacement electric
motor kit.

HTH,

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com



On Sun, May 27, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Dave Skowron wrote:

> The cable apparently came off or broke off at the switch end of my wiper
> switch (1976 Eleganza). I can actuate the wipers from the lever on the
> vacuum device under the hood, but the switch just flops up and down
> without any resistance at all. I removed the dash panel and was
> presented with a sheet-metal panel under it. I do not see a way to
> actually get at the switch without removing the entire dash console. So
> I guess my question is, how does that entire dash console come off? Just
> giving it a once-over tells me that the gauges, heater panel, radio etc.
> all must be removed. I need to get up under there. How's that best
> accomplished?
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171022 is a reply to message #171020] Sun, 27 May 2012 20:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Cruse is currently offline  GMC Cruse   United States
Messages: 606
Registered: June 2009
Location: SE Michigan
Karma: 3
Senior Member
The area Ken was talking about to trim is shown here in Gene F.'s (mrerf) photo:


http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/alternator-light-77-78/p2563.html


Mike K. '75 PB Southeast Michigan
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171030 is a reply to message #171009] Sun, 27 May 2012 21:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zhagrieb is currently offline  zhagrieb   United States
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Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Like Ken Says...

Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG '73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'

[Updated on: Sun, 27 May 2012 21:59]

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Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171034 is a reply to message #171030] Sun, 27 May 2012 22:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
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Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
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We can supply one and use your old one as core .Call if you need one.

On Sun, May 27, 2012 at 7:52 PM, Glenn Giere <glenngiere@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Dave,
> You can remove the rear of the instrument panel.  There are two screws, one at each end.  You'll need the world's shortest screwdriver to access the one on the left.  After the screws are out you'll probably need a Dremel tool or similar device to cut away a portion of the lip in order to clear the front panel.
>
> Once the panel is off you'll have a better chance of removing the broken cable.
>
> Glenn
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171233 is a reply to message #171020] Tue, 29 May 2012 11:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Ken Henderson wrote on Sun, 27 May 2012 18:47

... The lever is the actuator for a cable to operate the hydraulic
valve you manipulated under the hood.

Those levers are no longer available but you may find someone here who has
a usable one which they removed when they installed my replacement electric
motor kit.
...


Before I learned to "Call one of the Jims," I replaced one with a lawn mower throttle control. It works, but I am not really happy with it. OBTW: Be careful with the mounting screw on the body of the wiper motor... they break of very easy. (I found this the hard way...)

As JimK states, they carry these levers. They must rebuild them as he does want the old one as a core.

He once stated to me that they (Applied GMC) would buy old levers. ... If anyone has some laying around. Twisted Evil


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171252 is a reply to message #171233] Tue, 29 May 2012 13:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Mike,

Maybe you now want to try the fix I used enroute to designing the electric
wiper kit:

After my lever failed, I also installed a mower throttle cable. When that
failed, I fitted an eccentric to a small, high quality, surplus gear motor.
The eccentric pulled a short cable attached to the motor control valve. A
DPDT-Spring loaded CO switch replaced the dash lever. It worked great to
control the wipers. Just one little flaw -- I never put any limited
switches on the eccentric so holding FASTER soon caused the wipers to go
Slower & vice-versa for SLOWER.

SHE never could comprehend the logic of that operation.. Nor could my
daughter who drove her family through Chicago in the GMC one Friday
afternoon at 6 PM in a thunderstorm. The subsequent berating I received
caused me to design the electric wiper kit.

I may still have the motor & eccentric if you want it. Or the current
wiper kit production run should be completed within a month. :-)

Ken H.

On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 12:23 PM, Mike Miller wrote:

>
>
> Before I learned to "Call one of the Jims," I replaced one with a lawn
> mower throttle control. It works, but I am not really happy with it.
> OBTW: Be careful with the mounting screw on the body of the wiper motor...
> they break of very easy. (I found this the hard way...)
>
> As JimK states, they carry these levers. They must rebuild them as he
> does want the old one as a core.
>
> He once stated to me that they (Applied GMC) would buy old levers. ... If
> anyone has some laying around. :twisted:
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Windshield Wiper Switch [message #171264 is a reply to message #171252] Tue, 29 May 2012 14:51 Go to previous message
mike miller   United States
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Ken Henderson wrote on Tue, 29 May 2012 11:30


Maybe you now want to try the fix I used enroute to designing the electric
wiper kit: ....


I saw your album on that modification. A novel idea.

When I get back to it, I have a different solution: Replace the system with the one from a different coach!

Both my #1 and #3 coaches have good systems. The #3 (my "keeper" coach) will get electric wipers before it is all said and done. The control and the wiper "motor" from it, should make it into the #2 coach. (My in-use coach.)


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
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