Date:         Sat, 1 Jul 2006 08:38:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: rear wiper inop
In-Reply-To:  <44A5E226.2050209@rcn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

My '85 has a rear wiper - and not a swapped-in-later item, either. Real, from the factory, install. Say, is this the first contradiction between Bentley and reality we have found...?   ...LOL

Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM> wrote:  Chasteen, Jonathan M. MM3 (CVN69) wrote:

>Not sure what to search the archives for here. My rear wiper on 85 GL
>wont wipe, it will spray all day long but wont wipe. All fuses are good
>(new I changed em all) and I tried to get the hatch panel off but
>stopped after breaking 3 of the clips. Any input?
>
>
>
>Thanks
>
>jonathan
>
>
>
Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, but according to my Bentley, an '85
does not have a rear wiper, so of course it doesn't wipe! :-)

Wouldn't want to stereotype or profile, but I've heard strange
contradictory things about '85s.
IF yours is like an '86, you might direct your attention to 97.67 in
the Bentley and the relay in position 11.
Page 97.84 show its connections. Pull out the relay and try operating
the washer and wiper motors by jumpering the +12 slot to the ones
operating the motors.
If this works, the relay or the control signal from the switch are
suspects. Else the motor or its wiring may be bad.

The rear wiper on my '91 only worked a few times randomly over a 6 year
period. A few months ago I got tired of being at the mercy of the
Vanagon spirits and finally took control. I pulled out the relay and
plugged in spade terminals with wires leading to a push button and a
toggle switch mounted near the rear heater fan control. The push button
runs the rear washer and the switch turns on the wiper. Now I can
operate them when and how I wish. I can even squirt thoroughly BEFORE
wiping to avoid the dry scouring problem; wish I could do that on the front.

Larry A.



Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender
1972 Chevy P/U
1993 Bonneville