Super Duper Freakin' Vanity re: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado

me | 11/20/2008 | Me

[Dooderbutt]

HELP!! I'm so sorry to bug you all, but we have to replace a windshield wiper motor in my husband's truck before we can leave tomorrow for Thanksgiving vacation,etc.

Is there ANYONE out there who knows where the motor is mounted in the engine compartment. We will LOVE YOU FOREVER!!! ;-)

[Dooderbutt]

Help, Please if you can!

[martin_fierro]

Look for this.

[Dooderbutt]

Well, being the most non-motorhead you’ll ever meet, I have no idea if you’re playing with more or not...

That said, it’s rather dark outside and they have the part, they just don’t know where in the compartment to look!

[martin_fierro]

Is this a Vanity or a Bailout?

[Enchante]

Never had a Silverado but this is what I found in a search:

Q: How do you remove the wiper assembly on a 2003 Chevy Silverado?
In: Chevy Silverado

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_remove_the_wiper_assembly_on_a_2003_Chevy_Silverado

Answer

1) Remove the wiper arms

1. Mark the position of the wiper blade on the windshield with a suitable marker or a piece of masking tape.
2. Disconnect the washer hose.
3. Remove the cover from the nut on the wiper arm.
4. Remove the nut from the wiper arm.
Important: Use a battery terminal puller to remove the wiper arm from the drive shaft.
5. Remove the wiper arm from the drive shaft.
6. Clean the knurls of the drive shaft with a wire brush.

2) Remove the air inlet grille panel.

1. Pull up in order to release the outboard air inlet grille panel clips.
2. Remove the attaching clips running along the edges of the center air inlet grille panel.
3. Remove the sheet metal screws on each end of the air inlet grille panel.
4. Disconnect the windshield washer hose from the nozzle underneath the center air inlet grille panel.

3) Remove the 4 bolts and the reinforcement panel.

4) Disconnect the electrical connector from the wiper motor.

5) Remove the 2 bolts from the wiper transmission assembly

6) Remove the wiper transmission assembly from the vehicle.

7) Remove the drive link from the wiper motor crank arm.

8) Remove the 2 bolts retaining the wiper motor.

9) Remove the wiper motor from the wiper transmission assembly.

[Dooderbutt]

LOL - it could be a bailout if it snows or rains on our trip! We’re going from South FL to VA to Eire PA and back again in 6 days. I would LOVE to have windshield wipers that work. Especially with an almost 3 year old in the car.

[Azzurri]

Don't worry, it's not going to rain. But, if it does:

Where is the windshield wiper motor in '04 Silverado?

[martin_fierro]

I kiddeth you notteth (OK, it's a 1999-2002 Silverado ACDelco Windshield Wiper Motor, but you get the idea)

[Dooderbutt]

Thank you so much, I found that, too and my husband said...well I won’t say! He’s still confused...I’ll bring it to him again.

I knew that besides a couple of snappy remarks (which I LOVE by the way) that someone here would help.

Hey - if we can expose what we do, I’m sure we can figure out where in the h*ll a wiper motor goes!

[Ouderkirk]

This is not a job for the faint of heart. It’s not complicated....just a lot of R&R to get to it. It is buried behind the duct work for the A/C.

My advice is to pay someone to do it.

[mad_as_he$$]

Are you sure it is the motor? Most Chevy's of that era have the impulse motor control board mounted with the motor. It is behind a cover like the one pictured in the post about 2 or so. They are $29 bucks at Kragen’s, Schucks or Auto Zone.

[Popman]

That sounds like a $75.00 an hour job

[CH3CN]

Don’t know about the wipers, but if the fuel pump goes out, stick a paperclip in the circuit and whack the gas tank with a hammer. It’ll start one more time. Will save you a tow.

[LiberConservative]

Take it to a dealer. You will pay out your arse but the effort of trying to do it yourself isn't worth it.

[mad_as_he$$]

Oh and I am not going to ask how you chose your FR name.

[Pafreedom]

Check the switch on the steering column. I have a 2003 GMC Sierra and that was the problem...not the motor.

[devane617]

do you have a library card? log onto your local library website and look in their auto database. it will give complete instructions. also I believe autozone.com has a complete auto database on their website. this should be an easy find if you look...

[devane617]

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/04/f5/02/0900823d8004f502/repairInfoPages.htm

[lilylangtree]

I have my late dad’s 2003 Silverado. I’m looking at the manual. Are you sure you need the motor replaced or just perhaps replace a fuse? According to the manual for the 2003 Silverado, the windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical problem and not snow, etc, be sure to get it fixed.

The fuse block access is located on the driver’s side edge of the instrument panel. Pull off the cover to access the fuse block.

To remove the fuses, hold the end of the fuse between your thumb and index finger and pull straight out.

You may have spare fuses located behind the fuse block access door. These can be used to replace a bad fuse. However, make sure it is of the correct amperage.

[smokingfrog]

Check the fuse, switch, relay and circuit board before replacing the motor. I’ve used Starbrite marine polish on a windshield before, and it is almost as good as having wipers.
(water beads up and slides right off)

[6SJ7]

Hate to ask, but is it possible the wiper motor is fine and it is just a blown fuse?

[lilylangtree]

The picture in the manual shows the underhood fuse block. Looking under the front hood, the underhood fuse block is the box north of the battery. Hope this helps.

[deport]

If all else fails go to the Chev. Dealership parts department and ask one of them to print you a layout of the wiper motor. Most likely they will and it should give you a detail drawing of the assembly.

[mad_as_he$$]

Mine wore all the copper off the commutator in a very inconvenient place.

[LibraTango]

90% of the time it is the circuit board behind outside cover of wiper motor. wiper motor is located on firewall on drivers side of engine compartment just below windshield cowl on vertical part of firewall just inboard from power brake booster. 3 or 4 small bolts hold cover on and simply unplug and replace. best test if it is circuit board is to see if wiper motor starts by tapping same outside cover lightly. it is a PITA for most DIY’ers.
good luck

[djf]

Whatever you do, make sure you disconnect the battery first.

I’m normally pretty handy, but I blew out a headlight switch the other day working on the console.

I ferget the headlight switch is always hot!!

[devane617]

see the diagram in #18...from autozone

[Dooderbutt]

I really don't know how to reply to all of you, but I SO appreciate all of your help. We got the motor replaced!!

This is the best forum (both with camaraderie and smarts) that I have ever been at...I love you all!

Thanks again, and I will you all the happiest and most amazing Thanksgiving!

[Dooderbutt]

LOL! It’s the nickname I have for my 110 pound Pit Bull. He hasn’t got pissed off with it yet, so I think I’m fine!!

[djf]

Good for you! Actually, most auto work is fairly easy, as long as you don’t mind getting dirty.

I just this week got what I consider a MAJOR SCORE!!

Chassis Overhaul Manual and
Chassis Service Manual
Chevrolet Chevelle
Chevy II Corvette

!966 Edition
Printed Fall, 1965

Chevrolet Corporation

So I find out:
My car is 17’ 9” long
Curb weight 3,685 pounds

350 engine putting out about 360 HP

But I gotta say out of all the things I can do, even if it’s crawling underneath replacing the starter, or whatever, I hate electrical the most...

:-(

Bottom line - buy the manual, it’s well worth it.

[tubebender]

I’m really really glad you came back and told us because I have been holding my breath since post #4...

[right way right]

If you can not even figure out where the motor is than you have no business working on it.

Take it to Mr. Goodwrench.

Have the problem verified than buck up and pay up.

[djf]

Dood got it done. Might have voided his warranty, but...

With all the egr and weird electrical stuff on newer rigs, things that used to be obvious ain’t so much anymore.

Years ago, my wife had a leak in her Geo. I crawled underneath and it was obvious it was coming from the oil filter. She took it in and they said it “might” be the tranny.

I got fed up, had to jack it up and block it because it was only about 4 inched off the ground, and pulled the filter. There was a tiny piece of ground metal under the oil filter ring. Coulda cranked that thing tight until hell froze over and it would have never sealed - NEVER.

So I took the filter back to 13 Monkeys Lube and Tune or whatever and asked to talk to the manager.

This pimply faced kid about 13 comes out and I hand him the filter in a plastic bag and explained I would never come back to the joint.

He hands me a new filter and I was outa there.

So it’s easy to say to take it to some professional but when they make a mistake you start to change yur tune...

But I have to admit unless it’s something simple like changing plugs or an alternator or whatever, I don’t like working on newer stuff, because unless you have the machine to read the codes, you might end up SOL.