Windshield Wiper Issues!

[Bagman57]

Back in March of 2006, we were on our way out west and driving westbound through a driving rain storm on I-70 in Indiana and when it quit raining, the wipers would not turn off. Well, a RV friend of mine from Grand Junction, Colorado put electrical greese on all the wiper conections and they worked perfectly (2 1/2 years) till today. Once again we're heading west on I-70, but this time we got nailed with heavy rains in Illinois, and once again, the wipers wouldn't stop when I turned the switch off. Hopefully they will dry out tonight and will work properly for the balance of our round trip to Scottsdale, Az and back to Michigan. Our Allegro Bay 37DB is on a W-22 chassis. What say you? Any advise? Thanks in advance for your comments, Chuck/Bagman57.

[Bagman57]

Back in March of 2006, we were on our way out west and driving westbound through a driving rain storm on I-70 in Indiana and when it quit raining, the wipers would not turn off. Well, a RV friend of mine from Grand Junction, Colorado put electrical greese on all the wiper conections and they worked perfectly (2 1/2 years) till today. Once again we're heading west on I-70, but this time we got nailed with heavy rains in Illinois, and once again, the wipers wouldn't stop when I turned the switch off. Hopefully they will dry out tonight and will work properly for the balance of our round trip to Scottsdale, Az and back to Michigan. Our Allegro Bay 37DB is on a W-22 chassis. What say you? Any advise? Thanks in advance for your comments, Chuck/Bagman57.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bagman57:
What say you? Any advise? Thanks in advance for your comments... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Chuck/Bagman57, I would disconnect the modular connector to the wiper motor and re-seat it a few times to see if it improves the ground connection. Most often we see that a bad ground is the culprit in 80% of these types of issues. Good luck!

[-Gramps-]

The Bounder I used to own did the same thing coming back from Cape Hatteras once. The modular connector filled up with water after a big splash through a puddle. I took it apart and dried it out and then had no more problems. I think I sealed it with electrical tape to make sure it didn't happen again.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by -Gramps-:
I think I sealed it with electrical tape to make sure it didn't happen again. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>-Gramps-, I also want to suggest the following. I worked as a mechanic for a number of years. Tape may shield a connection and on the other hand tape may cause the retention of moisture. An open connection with the appropriate dielectric grease in place should be one of the best solutions to improve connectivity on a wiper motor and yet allow the connection to air dry and remain moisture free.

Tape does have a role to play however when it involves a lot of moisture care must be taken to allow whatever the tape is protecting to air dry. E-Tape is essential in a lot of applications just as long as its employed properly.

[paz]

Chuck, we had the same problem with our wipers (also an Allegro Bay 37DB) - they wouldn't stop after the connector got wet when driving in the rain. They were fine after the connector dried out. After this happened a couple of times, I put electrical tape around the connector and all was fine for about a year and a half. Then it started again.

Obviously, the electrical tape dried out and began letting water into the connector again. In your case, I suspect the electrical grease redistributed itself over time and has allowed a small path for water to open up.

The second time I had the problem, I installed a clip to move the connector high up under the dash so it would be out of any water spray coming through the grill. I have also read about some people installing a piece of weatherstrip along the top of their engine compartment door to help keep water away from the connector. The second time, I also used a self-sealing, stretchable electrical tape to wrap the connector. I found the tape at Wally World, but I have also seen it in Lowe's. So far, so good; but if the problem ever returns, I will just let it dry out and re-tape it.

[Bagman57]

We stopped at the Oklahoma welcome center and did what Driver suggested and it worked. Then we arrived in Oklahoma City about 4 1/2 hours and read his suggestion. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. Hopefully, we can make it back to Michigan without anymore wiper issues. Chuck/Bagman57.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bagman57:
We stopped at the Oklahoma welcome center and did what Driver suggested and it worked. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Joe Gilbert]

Many of us have had this problem. It seems to be a function of the coach grill design. My Dolphin had no seal (weather stripping) around the grill door. This allowed water to enter (about a foot higher than that flowing with the normal air flow through the grill opening) allowing the water to flow into the connector near the wipper motor. I taped the connector up with limited success. I than added 3M weather stripping around the grill door opening. I have driven through heavy rain many times since with zero problems. The 3M part number for the EPDM rubber stripping is 08650NA. You will find this at most automotive parts stores.

The weather stripping is black. I spray painted mine white to match the coach. Two years latter the paint looks fine (not that it shows with the door clossed).