Apologies for shotgunning the forum tonight, but i have tomorrow off so i want to fix as many things as i can!
Using the squirter switch at the column, my wipers go on, but theres no squirting! I put my volt meter across the terminals at the washer motor, and with the switch held on i'm getting .3 volts at it. This cant be right, can it? What do you think is screwy with my squirters?

Bad control board on the wiper motor...

Is the electric motor running?You may need a replacement.But often the squirter holes become cloged with dirt,disconnecting the tube and use an air hose (low pressure) to flush any dirt out.

James, would that cause a super low voltage reading?
Whuffo, wouldnt that mean 0 voltage?
Should i just smack the thing and see if tat fixes it?

Motor doesnt come on at all btw.

quote Originally posted by InaneCathode: James, would that cause a super low voltage reading? Whuffo, wouldnt that mean 0 voltage? Should i just smack the thing and see if tat fixes it? Motor doesnt come on at all btw.

Well the voltage is going 'bye bye' someplace, it could be a seized motor. No spin but still drawing down the voltage. Or it might be a partial short.
It's just possible that crud has stopped up the pump. Crud in a 20 year old car? I'd remove the tank from the car, its easier to clean and to trouble-shoot that way. You may get lucky blowing, air or fluid, backward from the squirters. Be advised that some cars had a 1-way valve installed in there somewheres.


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Ol' Paint, 88 Base coupe auto.
Turning white on top, like owner.
Leaks a little, like owner.
Doesn't smoke, unlike owner

[This message has been edited by DtheC (edited 07-24-2007).]

2 places for power loss to the squirties:
the wiper motor & the squirty switch
the squirty motor will only do the squirting when the wipers are in the wiping position. to do this, there is a switch in the wiper motor. when this switch goes nasty - you get low power to the squirty pump.
and, the squirty switch - just old....like every other switch in the car.....

Washer page 988 if you got the manual downloaded.
Interesting they run the power thru the wiper motor.

quote Originally posted by InaneCathode: James, would that cause a super low voltage reading? Whuffo, wouldnt that mean 0 voltage? Should i just smack the thing and see if tat fixes it? Motor doesnt come on at all btw.

Possibly a bad or poor ground.You can try useing a jumper wire (ground) at the electrick motor and see if that improves your voltage reading.You can allso test the electric motor with a 12v power source to see if it's working.I have allso seen fuses that are so old that the contacts are causeing a poor power source.You might try useing some fine sand paper and cleaning the fuse contacts one at a time.I allso agree that the wiper switch may be shot.It allso depends wear your reading the voltage,rusty contacks at the electric pump will probubly give a low voltage reading.
Try to find the source of the problem befor you go and smack the thing...

[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 07-24-2007).]

quote Originally posted by Dodgerunner: Washer page 988 if you got the manual downloaded. Interesting they run the power thru the wiper motor.

The wiper switch is just a potentiometer - the pulse board in the wiper motor decodes the various resistance values into the necessary functions, including the washers.

For what it's worth, 0 ohms resistance from the wiper "switch" signals "washers on".

It's some pretty fancy electronics for an 80's car - and done with discrete components, too. This thing has puzzled mechanics for years...

Found out whats wrong. With the motor hooked up, out, and in my hand, i can feel it clicking, but not spinning when the squirter is activated. New squirter motor is in order
Glad thats an easy fix!