Yup, your pulse module is shorted. 85 and up Fieros have the pulse board built into the wiper, 84's have a separate module for it.

'85 2.5 manual, 96k miles. Tilt wheel, delay wipers and no cruise. Wipers don't work at all - fuse and circuits are good. Does anybody know what would cause this?

Well I replaced my wiper switch (in a 85) a few months back w/ the 87-88 switch. Since then everything has been working fine. Fast forward to about two days ago, and its started again. At first I thought that maybe I had hit the lever wrong and I had turned the wipers on as well. But now I'm experiencing full-blown phantom wipe. They wipe when I turn the signal on and after I finish the turn they wipe again...

So I guess its back to the drawing board for me. On the plus side the 87+ switch is cheaper to replace so there is always that, but I still need a real fix.

Keep up the good research Whuffo!

Drew

And here I thought I was just rotating the switch a tiny bit when I hit the turn signal....

Thanks for all the research and footwork you've done, Whuffo! Once my phantom wipe gets more frequent, I'll have to replace the switch with the '87/'88 unit.

Again, thank you!

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1986 Fiero GT
1997 Camaro SS #2703
2005 Honda 600RR
2001 GMC 2500HD
2004 Cavalier

My "ghost" wipe ONLY happens when the car is started, (right now anyways), and sometimes it doesn't even cycle all the way, and I can touch the wiper mist, and it will go back, and be fine until I start it the next time. Someone said I might have to drop the steering column, and replace the switch inside the column. I have a 1987 Fiero GT, Tilt, cruise, and wiper delay.

If it only wipes when starting the car and not touching the stalk then Rodney's cap kit may fix it and it's inexpensive to do. If doing anything to the wiper stalk triggers one or more phantom wipes then the switch is bad. You can do the switch in the car or pull the column, whichever way is easier for you. You can get a rough idea what needs to be done here:

Inside the GM tilt steering column

JazzMan

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 01-24-2008).]

I have an 86 GT with the intermitent wipers and cruise. Mine will wipe once when I use the turn signals or high beams. It's a little annoying but not too bad. I also have an 88 Trans Am with what appears to be the same wiper switch. I didn't have the ghost wipe problem with it. That one just stopped working. I replaced that switch with a junkyard replacement. I didn't take the column apart. I tied a wire to the connector at the end of the switch wire and then pulled the old switch wire out through the top of the column. If it got hung up I just pulled it back with the wire I tied at the bottom end. You have to be gentle with this but it's just like using a fish tape for running wire through a wall at home. Once the connector came out the top I tied my fish wire around the new connector and pulled it back through the column from top to bottom. This may not work for everyone especially if your wire is wrapped around or through something inside the column. It could get hung up and not pull all the way through. But you could try it first and if it works it saves you a lot of time. If not you just have to dissassemble the column which you probably would have to do anyway. The Fiero and Firebird column may be too different for this to work but it's worth a try.

On the Fieros there's a plastic sleeve that the wiring goes through in the bottom of the column, it is physically impossible to pull the connector through that sleeve and attempting to do so will just rip the connector off the ends of the wires.

JazzMan

Has anyone found a cheaper price than $60 + shipping for the 88 switch?
********************** Nevermind ***********************

Fierostore has it for $29

[This message has been edited by flimbob (edited 06-20-2008).]

quote Originally posted by flimbob: Has anyone found a cheaper price than $60 + shipping for the 88 switch? ********************** Nevermind *********************** Fierostore has it for $29

I can only find a $149.95 wiper switch at the Fiero Store, what is the part number of the $29.00 switch?

I have an 88 and my wipers do one swipe when I hit the brakes.

quote Originally posted by sparx22: I can only find a $149.95 wiper switch at the Fiero Store, what is the part number of the $29.00 switch?

Turns out the switch for $29 is the turn signal switch. The following link has them for $60 + shipping:
http://www.carpartswholesal...ro/wiper_switch.html

quote Originally posted by flimbob: Turns out the switch for $29 is the turn signal switch. The following link has them for $60 + shipping: http://www.carpartswholesal...ro/wiper_switch.html

We were just discusssing this very thing Here.

What is leading you to believe that the turn signal switch is not also the wiper switch? (I thought there was a possibility of a separate wiper switch elsewhere in the steering column until I was corrected.) Keep in mind I'm not referring to the stalk.

quote Originally posted by Whuffo: Yup, your pulse module is shorted. 85 and up Fieros have the pulse board built into the wiper, 84's have a separate module for it.

where might i find the pulse module? is it easy to replace? im glad youve kept this thread going. i just checked back and noticed you replied (life goes on....) many thanks whuffo,
jon

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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

Good information for me too. My '87 never did the phantom wipe thing, now I know why. My present '85 is doing it now, it has the wobblies so I'll replace the switch while I'm in there. Maybe rebuild the turn signal cam setup too, parts are cheap for that.

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'85GT Indy clone 4.9 4T60E
'78 Toyota longbed, parts runner
'89 Bonneville daily driver
'87 30' Kit Classic TT, living in it.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: We were just discusssing this very thing Here. What is leading you to believe that the turn signal switch is not also the wiper switch? (I thought there was a possibility of a separate wiper switch elsewhere in the steering column until I was corrected.) Keep in mind I'm not referring to the stalk.

The picture of the wiper switch looks completely different than the turn signal switch. Maybe the actual problem is associated with the turn signal switch ( I don't know ). I also do not know where the wiper switch is located. I have yet to purchase either one as I have other Fiero priorities at the moment. If you do change the turn signal switch and it fixes the problem, please post about it. A lot of people would definately be interested in your findings.

quote Originally posted by flimbob: The picture of the wiper switch looks completely different than the turn signal switch...

Well, as it turns out, I was corrected in the thread I earlier linked to again! Read the latest Here.

i answered my own question with a search.
here is the answer for an 84:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/092582.html
(edit)however mine looks quite different from the one in the schematic on the link. does anyone have a picture of the pulse wiper module?
thanx

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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

[This message has been edited by longjonsilver (edited 08-13-2008).]

bump

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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

85 with tilt, cruise, pulse....

I get the phantom wipe each and every time the turn signal is activated. Need a new switch. Thanks for the Rockauto link.

i found an 84 in the scrapyard and pulled the pulse wiper module. i now have wipers!
thanks guys
jon

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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

quote Originally posted by rdean: 1985 GT Tilt and Delay Wiper switch bad If you find a correction or a reasonably priced switch please let me know. Ray

Same here- 85 GT, tilt, delay. Bumps and turn signal use often (but not always) cause a single swipe. Delay funtion barely works (I have low-high and off, delay stays off until just before the low setting)

I have an 87 with tilt wheel and my wipers are always on till I take the fuse out. Its not that bad till i'm going 80 on the highway with no shoulder and it starts pouring rain out of nowhere. The switch is all the way off and they will go a little slower then the slowest setting, but I can still make them go faster by turning them up.

I have a 86 se and my wipersdoes the same thing. Comes on by there self when I turn or hit a bump. It is a tilt wheel. It is very aggrivating.

86 2m4 five speed, tilt wheel, delay wipers, come on when you flick the headlights.

Hello Everyone: I was following this thread and remembered seeing this on Craigslist and thought it might prove useful to members of the group, it concerns rebuilding the steering column in GM Cars. Have a great day and "GOD" Bless

USED AND REBUILT GM COLUMNS 1970 -2003 ** (916) 947- 0565 *clevelandcory@ymail.com

CAN REPAIR YOUR EXISTING COLUMN * THEFT REPAIR* IGNITION REPLACMENT** OR JUST WORN OUT ,** mobile repair ,**weekends & nights ok ! I have many refrences on request, no money due until the job is completed.... Have many parts in stock , most jobs take a couple of hours ..

if i dont answer please leave a message, Thank you

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Ghostwalker

1985 SE 2.8, AUTOMATIC, tilt, does it when I turn the key on initially, just 1 swipe ! if I shut it off then turn it on again, it won't do it. it has to wait awhile before it will do it 1 time again, then not for awhile.

86 GT. Tilt and wiper delay. It does it almost every time I switch the high beams on or off. Very annoying

87GT The phantom wipe on startup began about 30K miles. Changed the board several times but didn't help.
Drove it for awhile with unplugged board, plugged it in for rain. Then became more erratic and finally wouldn't
work at all so I just leave it unplugged. Have had a motorcycle for many years and used to riding in the rain
so not a problem. I took the wipers off and car looks better without.
The $100 part would not be a problem but the labor to put it in would be. Am not a mechanic.
Has tilt and delay.

85 2m4 tilt, delay, no cruise. wipers go if gently touch the swich or even just hit a bump.

[This message has been edited by Mr.Goodwrench (edited 02-21-2010).]

does anybody know a source for new capacitors for repairing the wiper module? i have an 84 and there is no kit available.
thanx
jon

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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

quote Originally posted by longjonsilver: does anybody know a source for new capacitors for repairing the wiper module? i have an 84 and there is no kit available. thanx jon

If you can identify the capacitors, you can likely order what you need from Digi-Key Corporation.

bump

I can't find the wiper switch for any year Fiero from any source. Does anyone know if the switch (with tilt and delay) from an 1987 Chevy S10 is compatible?

Thanks in advance,
Rob
86GT

quote Originally posted by PhatMax: 85 GT No ghost wipes but....no low sped or delay. high speed only and it wont park. No cruise on this car. V6 4 speed

I'm pretty sure that's the motor, not the switch. Common to all vehicles with electric wiper motors. I have same problem, bought motor, still not installed.

Lately I've been having ghost washer pump operation, usually at startup. Pump doesn't work when intended. It did before taking the steering column apart to replace the cylinder. Dangling wires may be to blame.

I don't think you have to disassemble the column all that far to replace the switch.

86 SE. intermittant/ tilt. everything works as it should , BUT any time at "cold Startup" (not after it's been running for a minute & then restarted), it will take 1 swipe, then return to normal.

Still interested in info?

86 GT, tilt, delay, cruise.

Swipes once on occasion when using turn signal (ensuring I do not actually initiate the wipers)

The wiper switch is in the column and requires a fair amount of disassembly to get the upper shroud off to remove the switch. The switches for the cruise are in the stalk, not the wiper switch. The turn signal switch is operated off of a cam from the wiper switch, which actually moves up and down inside the column as you apply turn signals. Wiper switches come in two varieties, intermittent and three speed, and do not interchange electrically. Many GM products over the years used the same column and wiper switches, across multiple car and truck lines. Basically, if you're in a wrecking yard and the column looks like a Fiero's column, then the switches are the same respective of the two types.

Just read this whole thread and wondering if any of the contributors experienced my issue...

Everything with the wipers, turn signals etc works perfect but the Washer pump does not work?

Pump is new and I tested.

I have another thread created on this, but after reading this thread I am wondering if my particular issue could be caused by a mismatched wiper control board and wiper switch?

I still have some reading to do in the service manual and troubleshooting, but this thread sparked some thoughts on this issue I have been living with forever.