Wipers

[Kaddo]

My wipers work very well, except for the intermittent mode.
Also, they don't park normally. I don't think it's the motor, nor the switch.
If the relay defective, I suppose replacing it is easy and would immediately
answer my question. Where is it hidden? But first, is there a relay?
Any helpful comments will be much appreciated.

[hill8570]

No relay, other than some solid-state stuff built into the switch.

www.camrystuff.com , Generation 4, Body Electrical section starting around page 40 has the inspection stuff for the wiper motor. It also has the inspection for the switch, but since that's more than a bit painful to get to, I'd at least rule out the motor first (even though dollars to donuts it's the switch itself).

[Kaddo]

Originally Posted by hill8570

No relay, other than some solid-state stuff built into the switch.

www.camrystuff.com , Generation 4, Body Electrical section starting around page 40 has the inspection stuff for the wiper motor. It also has the inspection for the switch, but since that's more than a bit painful to get to, I'd at least rule out the motor first (even though dollars to donuts it's the switch itself).

By removing the motor ass'y (easy) and opening up the plastic cover
(3 Torx screws, 1 broke during process, corrosion), I found inside a
PC board with 2 contacts facing each other.

A flexible blade (a mini-wiper itself controlled by a tiny cam) was broken.
I soldered the blade (not easy) to its other half mounted on the PCB.
My wipers are working now as they should: I regained the intermittent mode
and they also park correctly.

The entire job took me 2 hours and $0.00.

By soldering that blade, some of its flexibility was lost and I wouldn't be surprised
if one day it'll break again. But who's perfect?

[93celicaconv]

Do you know if you have the Denso or ITT motor assembly for your windshield wipers?

A friend of mine had the exact same problem, so I went out to the salvage yard and found two units on different 1999 Camrys, so I took both along. I checked with Toyota, and sure enough, Toyota used both manufacturers for these motors, and one wouldn't know what they have until they remove the plastic cowling below the wiper arms to expose the motor assembly.

Anyway, my friend had a Denso assembly, and his contact was also broken, so I just replaced the black plastic cap from the one from the salvage yard that matched his Denso unit, and that worked great.

But I still have a complete ITT unit here. If your's is an ITT unit, and if your 1997 uses the same one that a 1999 does (I think they are the same), then for the cost of shipping & handling, you can have mine, if you think your temporary fix will only be temporary (and I think it will, solder doesn't hold up well to the flexing that goes on with that spring and cam assembly).

[Kaddo]

Originally Posted by 93celicaconv

But I still have a complete ITT unit here. If your's is an ITT unit, and if your 1997 uses the same one that a 1999 does (I think they are the same), then for the cost of shipping & handling, you can have mine, if you think your temporary fix will only be temporary (and I think it will, solder doesn't hold up well to the flexing that goes on with that spring and cam assembly).

Thanks for the kind offer.
Frankly, I didn't pay attention to the name.
I will check and let you know.

[PortugalFocus]

Very cool. I have the same issue, it just never bothered me to park the wipers, but it bothers the hell outta my wife when she drives it. I guess I know what to do this weekend.

[Kaddo]

Originally Posted by PortugalFocus

Very cool. I have the same issue, it just never bothered me to park the wipers, but it bothers the hell outta my wife when she drives it. I guess I know what to do this weekend.

Go for it.
I must point out that when wipers don't automatically park where they should, we have to do it.
This is a trial-and-error procedure and as in any other context, it has a price.
With wipers, it will reduce the life of the motor, switch and everything else in the system (not to mention the driver's life, as he/she should be watching the road, instead of playing the game).
But I suspect saying all this wasn't necessary, a wife's complaint is always sufficient motivation.

[73sport]

^+1 for broken parts under the wiper gear drive cover leading to a bad parking job!

Open it, you will see the fault. It only take a minute to check it.