Windshield wipers don't work: Removing and replacing the combination switch

[JasonP]

So my windshield wipers stopped working properly. I had to twist the combination switch as hard as I could to make them work, and when I let go they would stop. I drove home for an hour in the rain tonight doing this. They actually stopped working about a week ago, but this is the first rain we have had - the night I planned on doing this.

I could not for the life of me find how to do this anywhere on the web. Even my manual was useless:



Really?

So, green parts car to the rescue once again: it's time for a swap.

I always learn how to find and remove things by first going to my green parts car. This time was no exception. I just pulled of the rubber cover and began unscrewing things. Then I followed the wires from the end of the steering column and pulled both connectors loose. Then I had to pull these connectors through the inside of the steering column to remove the combination switch entirely from the car. The only advice I had from the web is "they do pull through." So, knowing that it was possible (just like it is possible to install a window regulator even though it defies all logic) I persevered and got them through.

Now it was time to remove the bad one from my daily driver. The connectors had a really hard time coming off. I was worried I might break something, but they come off eventually, and nothing broke.

So, to the pictures!

The first thing to do is to take the cover off. Just pry it off with your fingers or a flathead screwdriver, and pull it over the combo/cruise control sticks to remove.



Now you have a total of 4 screws to take off: two phillips (one you can see here) and two you cannot see until you remove the phillips and pull it out (standard). The standard screws hold two wires, which are shown here. They fall as they are screwed on, but remember for sure which one goes on which screw. For both of my cars the dark wire was towards the front of the car.



Tape them out of the way so you can have room to play.



Now, here is a picture of the rear of the steering column, where you will push the connectors through as you install the combo switch.



Here the nightmare begins. Just as it is possible to remove the connectors through the steering column, so, too, is it possible to install the connectors through the steering column. Just play with it, twist and turn, be patient. They will go through. Just get jiggy with it.




Here comes baby,



and here comes big brother.



It's all downhill from here. Just install the connectors. Here is where the big one goes - the small one you will know by following the smaller cable when you look under there. Sorry, no pic for the small one.




Re-attach the two small wires with the standard screws, re-attach the gizmo with the phillips screws, put on the rubber cover, and you are done. Total time: about 60 minutes. And that is for first time.



Yes, that is oil you see. My oil pressure gauge is leaking. Hopefully I will soon have a write-up for that as well.

[gavin116]

Hi Jason


Great write-up and good pictures too!  When I did mine [size=78%]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/msg118245/#msg118245[/size] I had to swap the position of the black and brown wires as my new combo switch was for an early 80's car.  My advice when removing the plugs under the dash is to tie a length of string to the plugs before you pull then through the steering column.  In this way you simply attach the string to the new plugs, and you can pull it through the column easy.  It was a tight fit even so, so good on you for getting it through without the string method.


In your last picture could you tell me what the silver relay is for (toward the bottom of the picture)?  I'm looking for my rear window de-mister relay to replace it as the de-mister no longer works (light comes on in the switch but the lines don't work - in my case I have the conventional gold horizontal lines - all intact).  My car is of course RHD so slightly different, and none of the relays in the driver's kick panel are for the rear window.


Good work,


Gavin

[JasonP]

Thanks, Gavin. That string is a good idea.

I don't know, off the top of my head, what that relay is for. I will dig around my manuals and see if I can find out.

Jason