[ossodiseppia]

Yesterday, I got a call from a buddy who purchased a new foot pump and was having trouble with it. It wasn't parking the wiper arms. He asked me to check one of them for functionality. I had 4 of these things and only one worked. The one in my car was even broken.

So, I decided to see what I could do to fix one of them. I chose the one that could pump water.

Inside is a bulb or bladder. When the button is depressed, it compresses the bladder. As the bladder expands, it engages an actuator lever that actuates the switch.

One of my pumps was already sheared in half. So, I decided to cut it up. Inside the bladder is a check valve. The one I tore apart has a broken check valve. That explains why it does not pump fluid.

 

[ossodiseppia]

I removed the switch from the one I wanted to repair. The actuator was really rusty, so I tossed it in favor of the one from the broken pump. I used contact cleaner and applied some into the interior of the switch. Low and behold, the switch started working.

Some of the switches are held in place with plastic rivets and others use screws. For those with the plastic rivets, use a utility knife to remove the rivet head. You can drill holes and use screws to hold the switch in place, once repaired.

 

[garwood1]

My weekend project has just arrived. No park on wipers, and a weep of fluid on the floor mats, both of which I think relate to this foot switch. Thanks for the cutaway photos - takes away a lot of the mystery.

 

[ossodiseppia]

My weekend project has just arrived. No park on wipers, and a weep of fluid on the floor mats, both of which I think relate to this foot switch. Thanks for the cutaway photos - takes away a lot of the mystery.

Hopefully, the leak is from a supply tube and not the foot pump. Best of luck with your repair.

 

[garwood1]

Got it all apart, and found the rivets securing switch had sheared off. Drilled and replaced by screws (recommended - ensures the switch is correctly located and properly actuated by the push bulb.) Contacts were only making on one side of the switch, and not the other pair - tweaked the contact arm and cleaned the contact pads. In the 4th and 5th pic above showing the switch and actuator arm, the two tan coloured side plates pop off, exposing the switch contacts inside, making them easy to clean with contact cleaner / emery cloth. Side plate then snap back on. Easy peasy, and it all now works great !

 

[ossodiseppia]

Chris,

I'm really glad this post helped you out. Congratulations on the repair.

 

[divotandtralee]

what is the trick to reinstall the switch and actuator arm through the switch mounting? Lots of head-scratching going on here.

 

[ossodiseppia]

what is the trick to reinstall the switch and actuator arm through the switch mounting? Lots of head-scratching going on here.

I had a devil of a time as well. I ended up cheating because I didn't have the patience to figure out how to hold my tongue. I used a dremel and knocked down a couple of the corners. Don't take too much off.

 

[divotandtralee]

Thanks.. Nice to know I'm not alone....Got it in just as the ink was drying on this post. Held up the tongue with a small flat screwdriver just barely enough to keep it horizontal and enough clearance to put the switch on the pegs.. micro switch was sticking closed and hot wired wipers on all the time. seems ok now with a drop of oil. Thanks

 

[Nakagtv]

Some great info here, thanks all for posting this. I am missing the harness/plug and can't figure out which wire goes where. Can someone post a pic showing wire arrangement. Thanks

 

[papajam]

Here ya go.
If you need a wiring diagram to go with it, please let me know.

 

[ossodiseppia]

Some great info here, thanks all for posting this. I am missing the harness/plug and can't figure out which wire goes where. Can someone post a pic showing wire arrangement. Thanks

Papajam will be the best source for this info. He should have a wire diagram for our car. You'll more than likely need a donor harness or, supplies to make your own. Supplies can be found at British wiring. They will have all of the proper connectors.

 

[Nakagtv]

Windshield washer pump wiring

Thanks for the pic Papajam. I have your wiring diagrams printed and laminated, use them all the time. They are great :thumbup:

Papajam will be the best source for this info. He should have a wire diagram for our car. You'll more than likely need a donor harness or, supplies to make your own. Supplies can be found at British wiring. They will have all of the proper connectors.

I did find the harness tucked way up under the dash, I only miss a white plastic housing at the end of it.
Cheers

 

[memorse]

Does anyone know the best way to electrify an electric pump using the existing foot pump? I bridged the hoses coming in near the foot pump and put an electric pump inline near the reservoir, but can't figure out how to connect so that water only squirts for the same duration as the wipers when pressure is applied to the foot pump. Somehow it was easy years ago when I installed one on my '74 spyder, but the '78 is giving me grief. Any suggestions?

 

[ossodiseppia]

I did find the harness tucked way up under the dash, I only miss a white plastic housing at the end of it.
Cheers

I have a nice collection of spare plastic connectors. Do you need the one that has for connectors that goes to the foot pump?

 

[Nakagtv]

I have a nice collection of spare plastic connectors. Do you need the one that has for connectors that goes to the foot pump?

Hi Brian, yes I do need one. I'd appreciate if you could dig one out for me. PM sent

 

[JandA]

Newbie here-(‘67 duetto) My switch's inside the unit look different Than the ones illustrated, and I see no way to open the bell to expose the permanently depressed/collapsed diaphragm which appears shot anyway. The reservoir bag seal top/tube intake is long gone but still have original “Tudor” bag. Any thought?

 

[Alfajay]

Classic Alfa sells replacement floor switches/pumps. Their p/n is WI017, costs ~$80. Personally, I have never put water in the system; I'm happy just to be able to swipe the wipers a few times with the foot switch. Then again, it doesn't rain that much here.

 

[divotandtralee]

These fall into the scientific definition of a .. contraption. They are not like light bulbs They can and do go south without use and most never got used. Some fire up and some won't shut off after they do. I just consider them ornamentation at best and a distraction that can result in a scratched windshied or worse an off-road excursion. It's really a "dummy actuator" but SPICA already took that monicker.

 

[yvesmontreal]

I decided to get my pump back to work. This thread helped my enormously. I had a few discarded pumps; they all had issues with the switch (cleaning did the trick) and they all had something rattling inside (broken valve). Hmmm... the pumps will suck and push fluid, but inconsistently.

While fishing information on similar foot pumps, I discovered that many cheap French cars (R4, 2CV) used a rubber pump made simply of a rubber bladder with a single bib. 356s had a similar pump. How can these contraptions work? Answer: with a tee and two check valves. When you compress the pump the fluid can only go through the check valve directed towards the jets, and when you release the pump it can only suck fluid through the other check valve directed from the bag.

I ordered a handful of check valves, installed one on each side of the pump, and sure enough it now works... a slight pressure on the plunger and there you go, a nice mist on your windshield.

ACI 399004 or Anco 4821 are available windshield washer check valves.