Forum;

I believe this component (shown below, broken) was a diode intended to suppress the inductive spark generated when the Park switch contact opens. This would minimize contact erosion and also radio frequency noise, but this component is not present on all Wiper motor assemblies...could it be it was only fitted to Wiper Motors on cars with radios?

Can anyone shed some light or tell me if I have this right...also confirm the polarity (I believe it should be Cathode to 53), which is obviously not possible to determine when much of the component is missing.


TIA

Back in the 60's a radio was a "dealer installed" option if I'm not mistaken.

Bill;

I was also under that impression, and given what Art mentions about "inventory and management costs" (which I also agree with), I would say all Wiper motor assemblies got that component (making them "radio ready")...now if someone could only chime in with what it is and function...

Cheers

Strictly by theory and no experience from me, I'd say you have the polarity correct, and the function correct. And, I can add from experience what's left of it looks much like what silicon rectifiers of that vintage look like when their guts have left the party and taken their armor with.

I'd pose another hypothesis for the version change, though, from my experience in the manufacturing environment. It was a change to improve reliability, or radio noise, or both, but not implemented by dependency on the inclusion of a radio as optional equipment. Simple inventory and management costs say it was an improvement to all wiper motors.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Engineering says: "Customer satisfaction is believed assured"
Engineers meant: We are so far behind schedule that the customer was happy to get anything at all.