Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Cany anyone tell me how to r&r bad wiper switch assembly on a 54 Panama?
Thank you!

Basic removal is disconnect cable at motor and pull it inside the car. Remove knob by pulling straight off shaft and use the tool to turn and remove the nut. Push the shaft into the shroud and pull on the cable to get the assy out of the shroud.

You will probably need to make something that will sort of duplicate the tool. It just a piece of metal with an opening to span the shaft and prongs on the end bent at some angle and sized to fit in the small slots in the nut. The prongs grab the slots in the nut and the long end of the tool becomes a lever to turn the nut. POSSIBLY if a gorilla did not tighten the nut it can be removed with needle nose pliers instead of the tool. Be careful whatever you use does not damage the nut or slip and scratch the paint on the shroud.

Once the bracket, felt washer, knob and nut is off the switch pushes inside and slides down the very limited space in the shroud and then out. If you have the optional electrically operated windshield washer you will need to also disconnect its control wire. There should be an inline connector joining the wire going to the washer to a wire pigtail coming from the assy. As I recall the pigtail is only a few inches long. It may reach to get outside the shroud or the connector may not be visible until the assy slides down a bit.

To reinstall is a reversal of the removal procedure but you may need to fuss a bit or even use a few strong words when trying to align the switch or help the shaft get back in the shroud hole.

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Wow, great inforation! Thank you so much! I acquired a NOS switch assembly, so this project will be challenging. Wonder if Merritt sells the tool? If not, I'll figure it out.
Thanks again.

Cordially,

Mark

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G'day Mark(Zim),
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '54 Panama in the Packard Vehicle Registry.