Replacing Wiper Motor 2 to 3-Speed

[swinger73]

Hi,

A few days ago the wipers on my 1973 dodge dart stopped working. There's a broken 3-speed wiper motor in there now and not knowing how to fix it I took it into the repair shop.

To replace the 3-speed motor would be over $500, but to install a 2-speed would come to about $125. And I was actually under the impression my wipers had only two speeds the whole time anyway.

The mechanic wasn't sure if a downgrade from 2 to 3-speed would work, so I figured I'd post the question here before pulling the trigger as $500 is just way too much for me as I'll sadly be probably selling my dart within the next month.

Also, I've found both parts online and there doesn't seem to be that much of a price difference between the 2-speed and 3-speed on the parts order site.

Thanks a lot, in advance.

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum...

[emsvitil]

Are the 3 speeds high,low,off

And is the 2 speed on and off

?

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

[swinger73]

You know, I was assuming 3-speed meant off, low, medium, high and 2-speed meant off, low, high.

My wiper did have a 2-variable speed, so is that considered '3-speed'? I think I may have just been working off incorrect definitions of 3-speed and 2-speed.

Cardone makes the two re-manufactured wiper motors I saw online, which I'm guessing may be the same two my mechanic was looking at. From the online picture the cardone 3-speed looks like my motor (and the same i think i've noticed in other a-bodies of the era), the 2-speed is different.

They're both on the advance auto parts website but I'm not sure if I can post links or not.

Thanks!

[olafla]

Have you tried opening the faulty wiper motor? I recently took apart one from my Aspen (don't know if they are identical), and there are bearings to be lubed, and carbon brushes to be repaired/replaced, and then it will probably go on wipin'!

At least pull it apart before throwing it away, there's always lessons to be learned for later use!

Olaf.

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Aspenized

[swinger73]

Ideally I'd like to take it apart but at this point it's a time issue & I'm looking at having the sell the dart within the next month or so. That's why I took it too the mechanic because I don't have any experience with the wiper motor and at this point would like to fix the problem as soon as possible.

And I definitely won't be throwing away the motor in any case, haha! I hold on to everything.

But what are the chances of a 2-speed working as a replacement for the original 3-speed?

[SlantSixDan]

The linkages (where the motor crank arm attaches to the wiper transmission bars) are different for 2- vs. 3-speed. So's the wiring.

You're looking at two not-very-wise paths. The shop quoting you $500 is incompetent or dishonest or doesn't want the job. And Cardone's stuff is junk.

Hit www.car-part.com and see if you can scare up a working used correct (3spd) motor. Put a "Wanted" ad here and on FABO; someone is bound to have a working used motor kicking around. Interchange is '72-up A-body. Also be advised the 3-speed switch is rather complicated and can cause problems easy to misdiagnose as a faulty motor.

2-speed is high/low. 3-speed is high/med/low. "Off" is not counted as a speed. The 3-speed setup uses the same motor as the previous ('69 or '70 down) variable-speed setup; the change was made because the 3-speed switch was cheaper to make than the variable-speed switch.

See also here.

_________________
一期一会

By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class

[swinger73]

SlantSixDan - thank you for the advice! Looks like there are some original 3-speeds on car-part.com that are fairly close by.

[KBB_of_TMC]

On the Tidewater Mopar Club giveaway cars over the years we often had to mix 2sp and 3sp miper motors. Generally, they had different switches and wiring harnesses and it was a lot of work to mix & match, but it can be done. I don't have my notes in front of me, but remember that it is important that the 3sp/variable switches be grounded properly. I would recommend sticking with the same type of motor and doublechecking the grounds.

Some motors were clocked differently, so I strongly recommended testing it by running it with the arm detached 1st to ensure that it is clocked OK and parks where you expect it.

[Passion4Mopars]

New forum member and hopefully I can assist on this one...one of the few things I probably can help with LOL

If you are doing a conversion on a 70-71 E-Body or a 71-74 B-Body from a 2-spd. to a 3 or variable spd. motor, you will have to replace the wiper motor crank with part #2822289-(70-71), also the link from the motor to the driver's side pivot with part #2822293(70-71)or crank with part #3431518 and link #3431102 (72-74). You will need a variable speed switch ending with part number 3488380 (1970-71 Application: B,J CV, L Dash SW Bezel,PU2947792SOP,Ribbed) or part #3488380A (1970-71, Application: 1970-71 B,J CV, L Dash SW Bezel,PU3488406SOP,Smooth).

If you are doing a 2 to 3 speed conversion on a 68-70 B Body application, you will have to replace the wiper motor crank with part #2822273, 3 speed bushing part #2580200, and a 3 speed switch part #2864014. The rest of the linkage, wiring etc remains the same.

If you can let me know the wiper motor part number and what it's doing, I can probably assist. Not working at all, won't park???

[SlantSixDan]

[Passion4Mopars]

It's been my experience that A body, B body used the same components and they all work in the same manner, four main parts, the wiper motor, the crank arm, the drive link and the connecting link.

If this is a 3 speed wiper motor there are certain things that seem to happen to all of them. Sleeves have a tendency to disintegrate, cause the wires from the winding to the harness to touch and cause a dead short/ground condition where the motor won't do squat, or motor stops parking, usually the park switch on the reverse side of the switch plate.

If he can't find the correct wiper motor, whether it's 2 speed or 3 speed, it can fairly easily be bench tested, diagnosed and repaired. My example was to show that you cannot just replace a 3 speed motor with a 2 speed and vice versa without changing other components. That's usually an expensive adventure.

If your 2 speed motor fails, for example, and you put a 3 speed in it's place and don't change the crank arm from a 2 speed to a 3 speed crank arm and replace the switch as well, it can "bind", overheat the motor and will function usually in only one speed and will park only where you turn the switch off at...and vice versa.

It's usually less expensive and less frustrating to diagnose the problem with the motor and repair it and eliminate the problem. If it's something as simple as a dead short or no park function, I can usually walk someone through that...


Just a thought

[SlantSixDan]

[Passion4Mopars]

http://www.passion4mopars.com/blog.asp

I post as much information on Mopars as I can. Since the OP hasn't stated what the problem is or if it's a two or three speed motor, I'm not sure what direction to go except to post the info and see if he reposts. Kinda old post, the car may be fixed by now

Mid 68-71 A/B used the same part numbers and same wiper motors, B body wiper motors went to E body part numbers in late 71 for the 72 production year...for the most part, but anyone messing with Mopars knows you can never say "never"

[olafla]

Hi Passion4Mopars, did anyone remember to say: Welcome to the forum? Glad to have you on board.

Olaf

_________________
Aspenized

[Passion4Mopars]

I don't think so Olaf, but I didn't get an escort to the door either so I was feeling pretty lucky to get to stay Thanks for the welcome!