The Centech description at JBG in one sentence states that there is a replacement ignition and in the next that you reuse your ignition. There was no ignition in the kit.
Centech offers two kits. One has their own switch (which is nothing like a factory switch and a big pain to integrate) and one with the adapter to run their wiring harness to your old (or a new factory style) ignition switch.
This latter one is the more desirable for future replacements if nothing else.
The ignition switch looks pretty clean as compared to the wiper switch so I imagine that it has been replaced probably during the hair pulling time frame that your referencing.
That's good. As long as the switch is working properly, hopefully t won't throw any ghost gremlins at you while your'e working on things.
Are you saying a new switch could solve the problem or is still a problem?
I was referring to the wiper switch. I thought I remembered a new one that came with the harness that was more appropriate to the wiring? If not, maybe they expect you to use the factory one, which is fine too.
I'm pretty sure Tom's has the full Centech instructions available on their site. I'm glad someone took the time to scan them to PDF format! But they're available in multiple places here on classicbroncos as well.
Did you get the two-part instructions with your kit? One says installation manual I think, and the other says some variation on that like installation tips, or similar. Did you get those?
Back in the day, a person collected books because there was no Internet. Now with the Internet, you can download all the manufacturer's install manuals and compare. I pulled up parts and in the pic it has the harness attached to the wiper. There are 5 wires and I have 5 wires going up the window frame but ground can run to the window frame.
I hear you. I've got a ton of books that I'd either like to organize, sell or throw away!
Which instructions did you look at? Ford might be different from Centech, which might be different from AAW, etc.
Nevermind, I see below that you have them.
Problem, The lone light on the wiper cover in the interior works by turning the headlight switch. My wiper had 2 speeds and parked before the install.
Why is that a problem, and why are they related?
The AAW manual states there is 4 wires, low speed, high speed, return, and park.
They word "return" may be AAW-speak for "ground" or it may be something else. Wiper wiring is still part voodoo sometimes.
The Centech manual says there is a SPECIAL ground wire for fiberglass windshield frames. The ground is not there in a factory harness so it just goes to ground.
You can compare one manual to another, but I would not etch anything in stone unless it's from the manufacturer of the harness you're using. Not everyone is the same, although I can't say that with regard to the wipers for sure. Just that it's possible.
Don't worry about any additional wording regarding fiberglass frames unless you have a fiberglass frame. It means nothing at this point unless you do.
Except to remind you that grounds are critical and that in the case of an old Bronco, you may have to add one anyway. The metal-to-metal contact that they took for granted when new, is no longer your friend and you need to add grounding wires to multiple locations on your rig.
More on that in a bit in fact...
From the factory, the windshield frame was "bonded" (in ground-speak) to the system through the metal contact with the body tub. But that's not always good enough 40 to 50 years later. So with 50 years of added paint, rusted panels, broken welds and dirty threads, an additional ground wire of your own making is never a bad idea.
If Centech provided one though, use it.
The dome wire is white so I imagine it goes to that single connector in the harness although it is black. Im betting Ground is the frame.
Don't worry about colors. Only function.
I'm pretty sure that the circuit color is different because the light was made with pretty generic wiring right at the light. Especially if it was added or changed at a later date. The main harness would have had the specific factory color, but since the connector only fits one way, there was no need to pay more for colored wire at the rarely used optional lamp.
And remember too, that all the Centech wires are GM colors, which is why nothing is going to match except maybe by chance. This is why the descriptions are printed on all wires and should be heeded. And sometimes interpreted too. As is the case with the horn wiring!
Yes, grounding to the frame/body/battery/whatever is what you do. But YOU have to be the one mindful of your vehicles grounding scheme. If it's not good, no amount of written instructions will help you achieve a good working electrical system. And Ford was very frugal with grounding on Broncos, because they felt that (at least when new) everything was connected to the battery via the steel body. True enough 50 years ago, but it's why I mention age, rust, dirt and paint and user-modifications in any discussions about grounding.
Bottom line, Im guessing...I have to pull the cover and see whats going on.
The wiper cover? By all means! With wiring, you may just discover a problem lurking anywhere you hadn't looked previously. It's only a few screws, and lets you inspect one more aspect of your new rig anyway.
And this is the perfect opportunity to open up the wiper motor's gearbox and clean and re-grease the gears. And also to apply some sound deadener to the inside of the wiper cover to make those wet drives that little bit more enjoyable.
The grease is now pushing fifty, and probably looks like something else by now. Easy to clean the old stuff out and put some new stuff in. And quieting the linkage noise that can be so prevalent is a good thing these days.
We used to just ignore it as part of the landscape. But now we're spoiled and want peace and quiet more than we used to care about.
Back in the day, I would have not hesitated to take the cover off and look but because the harness looks untouched, thought there was going to be an easy answer. There is the backward action of the ignition switch still haunting me.
Did I miss that part? Or is my senile old mind forgetting? No, don't answer that!
What backward action of the ignition switch?
Paul
