Volvo RWD 444-544 Forum

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544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

Another electrical question... In my 544 I have a single speed wiper(with a single postition switch). I looked up under the dash and the wiper motor actually has 4 electrical prongs... I do not know if this is a multiple speed motor or not. I believe it is... If not i could make it so... I noticed that on the dash light switch that a simple turn of the knob will dim the light (or make it brighter). Could one of these switches be used on the wipers to increase and decrease the speed of the wipers on the first position(slow) and have full speed on the second position???








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    544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

    I was looking at this a ew weks ago - my wiper motor assembly is removed from the vehicle. The motor is one speed. There are 4 male electrical prongs on the motor; 1 ground, 1 switched power for constant running, 2 hooked up to the internal park switch (SPDT) which is controlled by a cam on the motor output shaft.

    An aftermarket electronic wiper delay or a manual momentary switch (turn signal pull), perhaps tied into the washer pump, may be the best solution.








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      544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

      "He who stands on head will see things in proper perspective." - Old Chinese Proverb

      I knew if we waited long enough someone would know the answer!

      Thanks...you just saved me some uncomfortable time upside down under the dash!

      Steve








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    544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

    Rheostats won't work in this applicaiton very well for various reasons.

    If you have several male spades on the motor, I'd try them out by attaching the power lead to various ones to see if there is a speed (or delay) difference, as you may already have a later model motor.

    If so, a multi-position switch would be the way to go to power the various leads independently. Unless the motor is set up for some other triggering method.

    Mike!
    --
    Mike!








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    544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

    I put a cheap wiper delay in my 544; works like a champ.
    A rheostat isn't a very good motor speed control.








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      Wiper Delay 444-544

      Is this an aftermarket product with instructions and pictures or did you adapt a delay from another car and used your knowhow to make it work?

      I am more the instructions and pictures person when is comes to electrical changes so if it is aftermarket, please tell more.
      Dennis








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        Wiper Delay 444-544

        It worked for me with a switch out of a early 140 with the relais from the 240 try the link to http://www.volvoclub.ch/Rohdaten/Anschlagbrett/Bilder/Intervall.jpg
        hope it helps Michael








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    If you find a solution... 444-544

    A solution to this would be a huge improvement to the single fast speed wipers so if you solve this please post the results.
    Dennis








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      If you find a solution... 444-544

      I made a two speed wiper control by putting two ballast resistors (from GI Joes auto supply) on a metal arm bracket under the dash. I ran the hot wire from the motor to the main switch after going through the resistors and a second switch. Now when I turn on the wiper motor with the dash switch I can flick between warp speed and regular fast speed.








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    544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

    It might work but it would be better to see if it is indeed a multi-speed
    motor and if so, use it that way. The dash panel dimmer rheostat probably
    will not handle enough current to adjust the speed of the wiper motor.
    --
    George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!








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      544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

      The key to this problem is to discover whether you have a multi-speed wiper motor or not. If there's only one set of contacts on the motor, that's a pretty good clue.

      You options - if it IS a single speed motor - would be to replace the motor with a multi-speed unit, possibly from a slightly later model Volvo or to install an electronic delay as mentioned above.

      For me, the electronic delay would be the route to go, since the wiper already goes fast enough to throw the blade across the road into oncoming traffic!

      This gives me one more project to add to my list; not that it's likely to ever rain out here!

      Steve








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        544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

        My wiper motor has four spade contacts. It was very robust so I put two ballast resistors on a metal bracket that helps dissipate the heat, and these have slowed the speed down, but it is still just one speed.

        I haven't tried testing the different contacts to see which ones may be fast or slow.








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          544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

          Ancil;

          You could conceivably have two current paths, one direct and one through a dropping reistor selectable by a Hi/Lo speed switch located on the bracket/heat-sink. If you send me an e-mail of what you have found and done sofar, I can probably make some further suggestions.

          Further, right off the bat I would say that if the owner of a 544, with a single speed wiper, who wanted to upgrade to two speed, were to procure a 122 four-position switch (Off, Slow wipe, Fast Wipe, Pump while fast wiping), I will go to work on coming up with the upgrade wiring and changes required.

          Cheers








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            544 Wiper upgrade/modification 444-544

            Thanks, good idea, to put a switch for the two levels of juice. I found that two resistors were too much of a draw down most of the time, but just right in a downpour. One resistor works most of the time, and no resistors allows the wipers to go at warp speed, which is way to fast for the mechanical connections to maintain for more than a few minutes at a time before stuff starts wearing out.







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