Superspec Wiper Stalk

[AndyW]

I'm fitting a Mini wiper motor to my Superspec, and now need to get the wiper switch wiring sorted out. Does anyone know what these column stalks come from?

 

 

I believe they were supplied by RHE with the original kit. Needed a lot of mastic to fit them to the steering column by the look of it (Escort or Mondeo column?). Note the wiper & wash stalk is on the left, and indicators & lights stalk is on the right.

 

They look similar to Rover 200 stalks EXCEPT that all the examples I've seen for sale have the stalks the other way round with the indicators on the left and wipers on the right, so not sure if they are the same.

 

Also, does anyone know what the pin-outs are on this wiper stalk and connections required to get the Lucas 14W wiper motor to work (live, fast, slow & park)? I've seen lots of info on the forums but they generally refer to using the Sierra switches.

 

AndyW

 

[alanrichey]

As the leading expert on Superspecs I have to admit I have absolutely no idea

 

Although I agree they came with the kit, mine are identical.

[Steve49er]

Mine are the same.

Mine has Sierra Sapphire DOHC engine and I thought they were from Sierra where the engine came from so sorry that is all I can tell you.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

Edited September 10, 2016 by Steve49er

[Big Jim]

Somewhere on the switch assembly there will be a part number, usually on the back side. find this and Google it, that should tell you what vehicle they're from. Probably either a Ford or Rover part.

Edited September 11, 2016 by Big Jim

[AndyW]

Hi Wanderer. My Superspec is the original build done by the previous owner, and has been on the road since 2009. It's got the standard RHE supplied Vicky Green loom but the wipers were never fitted - the previous owner used to remove the windscreen each year to get it through the MoT.

 

The switch stalk is fitted on the column but there is no wiring attached. Certainly no connector block in the back of it. That part of the loom might of course be tucked away in the nest of wiring behind the dashboard but it's so difficult to get at for a proper look.

 

Jim - the wiper stalk has been butchered to fit the column and the switch is covered with Sikaflex to glue it on. I haven't been able to find a part number on it yet, but I might strip all the mastic off and see if I can find anything marked.

 

I'll probably need to take it off anyway to get at the wiring.

 

AndyW

[Big Jim]

I've looked through loads of stalks on ebay, the nearest that I could find were Rover 600, but they were the opposite way around.

 

good luck

[AndyW]

Hi Wanderer - yes I can see my wiper motor. It's on my garage bench Not yet fitted in the car and there's no wiring connected to it. I'm fitting a 2nd hand Lucas Mini type motor rather than the cut and welded Sierra motor supplied by RHE.

 

But your description of the plugs and wiring colours is very useful. I need to go delving in the footwell and see if I can find anything behind the dash.

[AndyW]

Big Jim - me too. I've spent weeks googling different types. The stalks are certainly not Ford ones. I agree they are almost identical to Rover 200/400/600 stalks except they are the other way round.

 

I wonder if RHE bought some Rover stalks destined for foreign spec cars.

[IanS]

Rover had a tie up with Honda.

In Japan the switches are this way round so the could be something like Jap spec Honda accord shipped over in error and sold bulk (cheep) to RHE.

[bullfist]

The following circuits were excellent descriptions of how the super-spec wipers worked / parked (but don't use any of the pin-numbers / wire colours). If I remember, the switch operation was similar to "column switch" - always touching two adjacent contacts.

IIRC RH issued a bulletin revision on how to get the wipers to work this way. I'll see if I can find it.

-steve

 

www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/wiper3.htm#2

[bullfist]

Note from technical bulletin (March '05)

In the area of the wiring loom where the stalks are connected, there are three multiplug connectors. One has 3 wires to it, one has 6 wires to it and the other has 9 wires to it. In these instructions these plugs will be referred to as:

Plug X (3 wires)

Plug Y (6 wires)

Plug Z (9 wires)

1. The pale green / red wire on plug Z is shown as connected both to pin 2 of the indicator stalk and pin 8 of the wiper stalk

a. Connect pale green/red on plug z to pin 2of the indicator stalk ONLY. Do not make the connection to the wiper stalk.

b. Connect pale green / red on plug Y to pin 8 of the wiper stalk.

2. Connect wiper stalk pin 7 to green on plug z as shown in the original diagram.

3. Connect wiper stalk pin 6 to blue / green on plug y as shown in original diagram.

4. Connect wiper stalk pin 3 to green / brown on plug y. This is a new connection.

5. DO NOT make the connection from wiper stalk pin 1 to pale green / black as shown in original diagram.

6. DO NOT make the connection from wiper stalk pin 2 to Black as shown in original diagram.

Wiper motor

Connect the wiper plug motor as follows:

[[Drawing with 5 connectors in a line numbered from left to right (1 on left 5 on right), two locating tits at top, three locating tits at bottom]]

Connect blue / green wire to terminal 1 of wiper motor

Connect pale green / red wire to terminal 2 of the wiper motor

Connect green / brown wire to terminal 4 of the wiper motor

Connect green wire to terminal 5 of the wiper motor

Connect black wire to wiper motor body using a ring connector to one of the motor cover screws.

Terminal 3 is not used

===========

I guess from these you might need to see the original wiring diagram. I can try and scan parts of this at the weekend if needed - let me know.

-steve

[AndyW]

Hi Wanderer & Bullfist,

 

Your descriptions helped - I managed to find the 3 connectors. The 9 wire plug is connected to the light switch stalk, but the 6 way connector which should go to the wiper switch only has 3 wires out and they are not connected to anything. So I need to do some re-wiring there.

 

However, I haven't yet located the part of the loom that should go to the wiper motor. On the RHE wiring diagram this is marked as "5 sheathed wires to motor" of which only blue/yellow, light green/red and black were originally used. So do I still need to find this? Does it also come out of the loom in the central tunnel under the dash?

 

But I don't understand something - those wire colours don't agree with the technical bulletin. This says I need 4 wires for the wiper motor - blue/green to terminal 1, pale green/red to terminal 2, green/brown to terminal 4, green to terminal 5, and black to wiper motor body. Where do I get these wires from?

 

And I've just discovered another problem after delving into my loom nest tucked in the tunnel - my sidelights don't work now. Another job to fix!! Ho, hum.

 

Cheers, AndyW

[bullfist]

I'll have a look at the weekend -steve

[AndyW]

Steve - if you could, thanks.

 

I think I now understand the new wiring required for the wiper stalk switch. Although I can't get at the back of the switch so I'll have to remove it from the column. Should there be a connector block to plug into the back of the switch 'cos I don't have one? Or can I just make the connections with female spades?

 

Then I just need to know where to find the 5 wires part of the loom that connect to the wiper motor itself. Haven't located these yet.

 

Andy

[Guest 2b cruising]

That's part of why we love our kit cars.

Maybe not to much intelligence required but curious/inquisitive and active minds are an absolute must.

Edited September 14, 2016 by 2b cruising