65 wiper switch questions

[70bus]

I was discussing wiper switches with a vendor this evening, and I don't think we came up with an answer that satisfied either of us as correct to the question: "how many terminals should a 1965 wiper switch have on it?"

My truck has the original 12v 65-only wiper motor, with a self-parking feature. It has 3 terminals on the motor - 31b, 54d and 54 (plus a ground 31 through the body). It is unclear to me from wiring diagrams if the switch should have 3 or 4 terminals; the Wolfsburg West repro has 4, and doubles as a flasher switch. Their wiring diagram shows 4 connections, but I assume that's to their repro; a VW wiring diagram in the gallery showed 3, with one doubled - but that could be doubled wires vs. 2 terminals:

A samba post shows a switch that might have 3, with a double set of terminals on 54:

If WW makes a flasher/wiper switch with 4 (presumably to save costs), can a VW 4-terminal flasher switch be used as well? Or is JUST the WW one internally wired that way?

From some of the photos in the classifieds, i think a few OG flasher switches are listed as wiper, but without a clear shot of the back and all terminals it's hard to tell. If it doesn't matter, that makes shopping for one a bit easier... as long as there's more than two!
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[BarryL]

Mine has 4 wires and none are double.

[70bus]

Yes, factory 12 volt. M codes 620 and 621 (12v and 12v flasher relay).

Does yours resemble the emergency flasher switch, 1 terminal in each corner on the backside? Can you see the terminal numbers? I'm curious how they handled 54; it feeds power from the fusebox to the switch, and then continues on to feed the parking circuit on the motor. The switch pictured above shows two terminal lugs attached to the same corner for this.

If I understand correctly, when you pull the switch, power is connected from 54 to 54d, making motor run. Pushing it back in cuts off 54d, but the wire from 54 keeps motor running until a cam trips a set of contacts in the motor, parking it.

Do you have one side of switch 1 black/purple 1 and black wire, the other side 1 black/purple and 1 brown? That should make the numbers 54/54 and 54d/31b. How many terminals on the motor?
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[BarryL]

Here's mine the best I could get photo. I was wrong about the two-on-one terminal.

Someone else will have to provide the wiper motor photo as mine has the radio in the way.

[70bus]

Thanks Barry! That confirms my thinking; I've got a question in to Wolfsburg West to see what the back of their wiper/flasher combo switch looks like, and the terminal numbers.

The original switch grounds to the motor with the brown wire, 31b, and to the body internally through 30 at upper right. I think that has an effect on the parking circuit, so I'm curious if stock wiring can be used with the WW 4-lug switch. I have a Wiring Works loom (should be same as current Wolfsburg) from 1995 or so that I will be installing, so I'd prefer to figure all this out before being in a fetal position under dash...
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[70bus]

Well, slightly embarassing...and a bit pricey.

Digging in one of the big tubs of baywindow parts in the garage, I found:

In a box marked 'ashtrays' no less. And after I bought one online. Definitely the original switch, as the loom has the same lovely housepaint overspray the entire bus had.

Anyways, yes - a 65 with it's one-year-only wiper motor should have a switch with 3 terminal positions rather than 2 or 4. In addition, the terminal marked 54 has two terminal lugs.

Interestingly, whilst digging through a friend's parts stash, I came across a switch like this, but with a squirter knob and associated black plastic valve thingy on back. Not sure what VW it goes to, but tempting to see if it can be set-up to get rid of parcel-tray washer handpump...


Speaking of knobs - I do not seem to have a knob for my switch, as all the loose knobs I have are too big at threaded hole. Headlight switch knobs seem to be all I have. The emergency flasher knob fits, tho. What size thread is that, 4mm? Is there a different shape for different years?


thanks to Barry, and apologies for making you crawl under dash for that photo!
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[BarryL]

Wow what a happy accidental score. Look in the classifieds as there has to be that dark bakelite knob for sale.

[Eric&Barb]

[70bus]

Sean at WW also emailed me to say that yes, all get connected; as for a wiper switch with a 31b ground: "31B is not a direct body ground, it’s a ground for the circuit."

Not sure if any of that affects the parking circuit in my 1-year-only motor, but since I found mine I don't need to experiment.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater