1963 Operations Questions

[c5vetter]

During a recent NCRS show the following problems were noted and wondering if folks had any hints before I start tearing things apart:

1. Windshield washer appears to not operate - motor shot?
2. Heater fan appears to only operate on high - ?
3. Cigarette lighter no light - element shot?
4. Everything underneath dirty - get in air and Simple Green?

 

[IH2LOSE]

Congrads on the judging

Now for your questions

Do you have power at the windsheild wiper motor and the cigarette lighter? start with the basics.

 

[magicv8]

If you hear the extra clicking when you press the washer button with the wipers already running - the pump is engaging. The pump needs to be primed (suck on the hose and spit) and/or the rubber seals in the pump cover need to be replaced. If no clicking, the switch is defective or the old wiper motor mechanism grease has the mechanism stuck.

The heater operates only on high if the three prong plug for the motor resistor is disconnected or the resistors are burned up (common).

As ih8tolose said, use a test lamp or multimeter to determine whether the lighter has 12 volts.
If yes, the element is shot.

Dirty under your dash? hahahahahaha.....
I have cleaned mine repeatedly over the last 15 years, and it always gets dirty again. I even waxed my heater and A-C ducts to make them easier to clean, to no avail. If you are working on a TQ, start with a brush on a vacuum cleaner, and work your way up to gentle cleaners. Do NOT get any metal wiring contacts wet.
Some instrument panel disassembly may be required, hahahahaha......
If you don't have a TQ, don't worry about it.

 

[c5vetter]

Folks,

thanks for responding to my operations question!

1. the lighter pops out after I push it in - but no hea/no light, that is why I assumed element shot
2. when I depress the washer button, I can hear the pump engage and wipers move - no fluid coming out
3. they hit me hard on car undercarriage being DIRTY - guess, I need to get car in air and SIMPLE GREEN to death
4. three prong resistor - hard to replace?

 

[magicv8]

Prime the pump and try again.

I didn't know that you meant the chassis dirt. NCRS recommends mild dish detergent and soft brushes. I am sooo glad I don't play by the rules. Although I am an NCRS member and I love to road tour with them (are you signed up fot the national convention in Hershey PA? - see you on the road), I keep the bottom clean with whatever it takes. I paint when it rusts and wax the chassis, suspension and engine once a year. That keeps the crud from building up if you drive a lot (and I do), but it won't gain you NCRS show points.

Originally I scraped off the thick crud and then used bulk low-flash-point solvent to get down to metal and plastic. In some places I still need to do that every year to get a clean surface to wax.

The resistors are not hard to replace.

 

[c5vetter]

MagicV8 - thanks for the response!

sorry, I was remiss on what I meant about cleaning! (VBG) - not too worried about it, as I do drive my 1963 SWC about 4000 miles during the summer months - will be at Hershey and hopefully we will hook up!

FYI - as far as the dirt - they were saying they couldn't read markings, etc. so they pinged me for everything when it came to "cleanliness"