Can’t find the wiper switch!

Wedgetail

Wedgetail

Member
Can’t find the wiper switch!

Hey, I’m new here. I just bought a ‘40 Ford Deluxe Fordor Sedan which is a survivor, and in pretty good shape. I’ve figured out how to start it, and use all the controls, but I can’t find the wiper switch. The person I bought it from said it has electric wipers, although I thought that vacuum was more common. I found pictures of a replacement dash knob and switch, but I don’t have any knob that looks like that. Does anyone know where the wiper control knob lives?
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Electric wipers had to be installed by a previous owner, so the switch could be anywhere. Look for a toggle switch on the bottom edge of the dashboard. Failing that, you'll have to look way under the dash and see if you can follow the wires back to the switch.

There is also the possibility that whoever did it never completed the job and there is no switch.

Or, eliminate the middleman and call the previous owner.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Ah, there is a mysterious red rocker switch that fell off the bottom of the dash. Do you know where the original switch would have been located?

(I bought the car from the previous owner’s representative, and we couldn’t figure out the wipers at the time)
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Seem to recall at the top /center of the dash in the garnish molding.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

There is a chrome disc in the top/center, right behind the radio antenna. Maybe the knob broke off from there.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

This is the original vacuum push/pull or twist switch.
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Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

The original actuator knob assembly was likely a rod or cable pull set up for the vacuum wiper motor that they originally had. Turn the knob and operate the rod or cable one way or the other. Many of the old Fords were set up this way after 1939 when they relocated wipers to below the windshield. I think the control was mounted in the lower center of the windshield garnish molding assembly.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Is this it here? Maybe the red knob twisted off flush.
 

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Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Wedgetail said:
Is this it here? Maybe the red knob twisted off flush.
Click to expand...
Yes. as previously stated. in the garnish molding.
You are going to have to trace wires from the electric motor to the switch and power locations to solve the mystery.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

And, remember the last comment I made in response number TWO.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Welcome to the 'barn and to a survivor '40 Fordor. I’ve had mine for seven years and like it more every year. Push the driver's seat back as far as it will go and wedge yourself under the dash and look up right in the center near the windshield. You should see a rod that connects to the dash knob and the vacuum motor. If you see something else, an electric motor connected to the wipers rod actuating arms, trace the wire to your elusive switch.
You’ll find lots of help here but join the Early V8 club, search and find Kube's book, It’s Ford for Forty, the best book out there for us 40's folks. More pics of your car would be nice to see.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Thanks for the warm welcome! Sounds like the next step is finding out if I actually have electric or vacuum. Crawling under the dashboard will have to wait for next weekend, but I have reached out to the previous owner to see if he knows the story.

I already bought the book you mentioned, it is fantastic. The only thing it doesn’t have (besides the location of the windshield wiper knob), is it doesn’t have any information on weather stripping gaskets, and all of mine have turned to goo. I’ll check out the Early V8 club.

Here’s another picture.
 

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Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Wedgetail said:
Thanks for the warm welcome! Sounds like the next step is finding out if I actually have electric or vacuum. Crawling under the dashboard will have to wait for next weekend, but I have reached out to the previous owner to see if he knows the story.

I already bought the book you mentioned, it is fantastic. The only thing it doesn’t have (besides the location of the windshield wiper knob), is it doesn’t have any information on weather stripping gaskets, and all of mine have turned to goo. I’ll check out the Early V8 club.

Here’s another picture.
Click to expand...
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Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

KUBE's book is a terrific restoration parts book, but short on restoration "how to". You will need a few others to learn the "how to" stuff.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Wiper switch is the top knob. It fits through garnish molding joint and windshield divider.
The lower plastic plug is where the radio antennae would go. The plug just sits in the hole in the dash.
 

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Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

I found the wiper knob! Mystery solved. The knob fell off the switch, which is at the base of the windshield as everyone suggested. The knob itself was under the carpet, under the front seat. With the seat out, I was able to climb under the dash board and see that the wiper switch is still connected to the original vacuum motor system. There are no electric wipers despite the claim in the car description. The extra, new red switch on the bottom of the dash goes to a blower under the hood for the cabin heating system.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Now that you;ve found the vacuum motor, you'll likely discover tht it's in need of rework. Before removing it for that, try letting it it suck up some light oil to lubricate the paddle. Don't use any product that you wouldn't want in your engine, as it is engine vacuum that operates the wiper.
 
Re: Can’t find the wiper switch!

Wedgetail said:
I found the wiper knob! Mystery solved. The knob fell off the switch, which is at the base of the windshield as everyone suggested. The knob itself was under the carpet, under the front seat. With the seat out, I was able to climb under the dash board and see that the wiper switch is still connected to the original vacuum motor system. There are no electric wipers despite the claim in the car description. The extra, new red switch on the bottom of the dash goes to a blower under the hood for the cabin heating system.
Click to expand...

I have the electric conversion in my '40 Deluxe. It is constantly getting in a bind and popping the retainer clips for the arms off and coming apart. You may be better off without it.
 
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