I just replaced the washer pump on my camaro because it wouldn't spray any windshield washer fluid at all. I feared it was the mechanical arm switch because the guy I bought the car off of warned me that the arm was replaced but was "loose". It is slightly loose but it works fine with the signals and wipers themselves. Well...long story short, I replaced the pump and it works great. In fact, too good! Any time the wipers are on the pump is spraying washer fluid on my windshield. It doesn't spray unless the windshield wipers are on but when they are...look out! Anyone have any suggestions? I thought of wiring a toggle switch but I already have done that with my cooling fan and don't want to have rows of toggles to turn on all of my electronic stuff. Anyway, any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

I would check the wiring to the pump and make sure you don't have bare wires touching. If there are no problems there, I would check out the washer/wiper switch on your column.

 

Thank you for the advice I will check the wiring when I get home. As far as the washer/wiper switch, is there an easy way to check it or do I have to figure out how to remove my steering wheel and this switch? There's probably no easy way around this, is there? Thanks.

 

Not really. To check and see if your switch is functioning properly, check C1 and C2 (at the wiper/washer unit) for voltages w/ignition switch turned on Accy. This is from an '85 Firebird manual, but it should be the same as your '86 Camaro.

This is if you don't have the pulse wipers:
C1 A (Yellow) - Batt Voltage (+12VDC) w/wiper on "Hi"
C1 B (Gray) - Batt Voltage w/wiper on "Hi" and "Lo"
C1 C (Dark Green) - Batt Voltage w/wiper on "Off" and "Lo"
C1 D (Pink) - Batt Voltage w/washer "On"

C2 A (Purple) - Batt Voltage w/wiper on "Hi"
C2 B (Yellow) - Batt Voltage w/wiper on "Lo"


This is for pulse wipers:
C1 A (Yellow) - Batt w/wiper on "Hi"
C1 B (Gray) - Batt w/wiper on "Pulse" "Lo", and "Mist". Or washer "On" and wiper in "Lo" "Pulse" "Mist" and "Off".
C1 C (Dark Green) - Batt w/wiper in "Off" "Lo" and "Mist"
C1 D (Black/Pink) - Batt voltage in all positions.

C2 A (Purple) - Batt w/wiper on "Hi"
C2 B (Yellow) - Batt w/wiper on "Pulse" and "Lo"

If everything checks out, then I would say that the control board inside the replaced washer/wiper unit is bad.

 

Hey thanks for taking the time to write all of this info for me. I will have to get a voltmeter no doubt. Let's say hypothetically all of the voltages check out...is there anyway to check the switch in the column without taking off the steering wheel and column? Thanks

 

If all the voltages check out according to that map, then it's not your switch, it's your replacement unit. You can use a test light, as it is quicker for this procedure; it lights up when there is voltage, and there's no looking over at the voltmeter display. Hook one end to ground, and take the other and probe the connections with the switch in different positions.

 

If I remember correctly, there is a resistor in there that could be bad

 

A resistor in the steering column you think? A part available at a dealership perhaps? Any help would be appreciated.

 

But a resistor in the washer unit or switch wouldn't have any effect on the fact that the washer pump goes on at the same time. It would just mean that there would be no speed/timing control for the wipers.

 

Ah...resistor would have no effect? So back to original assumption that voltages are wrong or the switch itself is bad, eh?

 

Check the voltages, and then go from there.