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Does the knob on the steering column activate the wipers? Nothing happens when I turn the knob.

It does. Turning the knob towards you moves a cable which in turn is connected to a slide valve on the wiper motor and makes it move to admit vacuum into the motor and start it moving. The more you turn it the farther the valve slides and will give some speed control. If you have the optional windshield washer turning the knob toward the dash and holding it against a spring for a few seconds causes the slide valve to move in the other direction and opens a port on the motor to provide vacuum to the washer pump.

Make sure there is good strong vacuum at the hose connected to the nipple on the passenger side of the motor. If you have vacuum and the slide valve is moving there is a good chance the motor needs to be rebuilt which is a fairly common issue with the old motors that are worn or have gaskets and seals dried out.

If you find the motor needs rebuilding Ficken Wiper Service is about the only place that has parts. They do a great job at reasonable cost and with relatively fast turnaround.

Here is a bit from the 52 owners manual chosen because it is a better scanning. 53 reads almost exactly the same and both manuals are available for download in the literature archive.

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  wiper.jpg (122.33 KB)

Also, be sure to spray water on the windshield before trying the wipers. The blades may not move - even if they are working - on dry glass.

G'day david,
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '53 Patrician in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

I found the attachment for the cable at the wiper motor was damaged. Had to repair it so it stayed connected. Also I found the connection for the washer was leaking. Washer doesn't work very well anyhow, so I just plugged that. This made the wipers work better. They can be "resuscitated" by dripping some mills foot oil or other oil that is good for leather into the chamber and moving the wipers back and forth, the seal inside is made of leather.