Wiper Parking

Those of you glued to this blog will recall that I had managed to get the wipers working on both speeds and flash wipe, but that the parking mechanism didn't work.
Seems that these Lucas wipers have a detachable parking switch that is the devil to get to.... on most Excels. Luckily on this early model the wiper motor is simply accessible from the passengers footwell once the under dash cover is removed.- since my cover was always hanging off this was no significant problem!

Wiper motor seen from passenger's footwell. Park switch is white plastic assembly on left, served by 3 wires and a multiplug

Detach switch, note bar across motor body slot that is gripped by the clip on the switch body

Plunger switch on underside of switch body

Rear of switch showing mounting clip and small square "cleaning" hole below and to the right of the clip

The park switch is the small white plastic unit fixed to the motor and connected to 3 wires (spades) and a multiplug. Most articles will tell you to "pull this off" or "unclip" it. In fact its held very simply with a clip on the rear but this is a sliding fit There is a bar across the motor opening that a clip on the back of the park switch fits over. so you have to pull it gently downwards (ie away from the motor body) and then slide it sideways in the direction of the multiplug end.  Its one of those fittings that's obvious once you've taken it off (if you haven't broken the clip in the process).

The switch has no serviceable parts and doesn't come apart, but given the success of simply cleaning I opted to try that first.  I could direct a jet of contact cleaning fluid into the switch through a small squarish gap in the underside I shook the switch vigorously and operated the plastic plunger repeatedly before shaking the cleaning fluid out- it was a very satisfactory grey colour (motor brush dust?). Anyway I repeated this three times before shaking the last lot out and letting the switch dry thoroughly- I've no idea if this fluid is flammable and no wish to find out! I then refitted the switch, attach wires first then push it in and slide along to let the clip grip. A simple (surprisingly so) job and hey presto parking function returned!

If you have to replace these switches its worth shopping around, they are pretty common and mini replacements will fit - Lucas number 520160A for two speed wiper systems.