Need to Replace Wiper Stalk/Switch

[larrytxeast]

Yesterday I accidentally broke off my wiper switch on my 1991 Ford Festiva. Shame on me, I love this car, which I paid $400 for last December 2008 and it's worked fine ever since (except that the fuel pump seems to be acting up some lately, but that's another story for some other time).

At any rate, it broke down to the white rubberized tip on the stalk. My question is: how easy is this to replace? Will reattaching it be possible, or would I be much better served just replacing an entire assembly?

If replacing the assembly is the key, what is the route to take regarding parts? I did search the forums here, one post I saw suggested something like (say) a 1986 Mazda 323's stalk could be used instead; so just go to a junkyard and get one of those and I'd be golden, apparently. Any tips like that are appreciated, as I live "in the boonies" as it were and Festivas are very rare here, even more than normal.

Also, how easy it is for someone like me to do this? Understand I'm not mechanically sophisticated, I actually had quite a time simply opening up the steering column cover even after removing the screws. A shop has stated they'd probably charge $80 to repair it for me, should I go that way?

LRH

[batstiva]

If all you broke is the stalk for the wiper switch, replacing that is cake. They are a dime a dozen in junkyards. The last one I bought was 5 bucks. Actually, that was for the whole wiper switch/turn signal switch assembly. Which, if you can get one, would be the way to go. Just pull the steering wheel, unplug the connectors, loosen the pinch bolt, and it all comes off.

If you don't have access to junkyards, I'm sure someone on here has one they can send you.

Oh, and welcome to the addiction!!!

[larrytxeast]

Yes, thanks for the quick reply batstiva. By the way if I can't find a Festiva at a junk yard, what would be a suitable substitute? (I am guessing something like a late 80s Mazda 323 or something like that.)

I imagine I would need to replace the whole assembly, I say that I imagine so, can't say for fact--a certain portion of the stalk (can't recall which part) had an appearance that made it seem as it something, however small, broke off in the process. The white rubber tip on the very end looked solid, but then it's rubber--it's not plastic. The stalk otherwise is intact, it's just separated from the base/assembly.

I can't say I have an "addiction" to anything, as I have not "fixed up" the car appearance-wise in anyway. I bought it Dec 2008 as a backup car and only started driving it 2 months ago or so, as the tags weren't legal prior to that on account of the rare 12" tires. (On top of that we had a lot of 100'F days here in eastern TX and the AC doesn't work--to heck with that!) A new tire store opened up that was able to get them same-day for a decent price, and that opened it up for me to be able to drive it.

LRH

[batstiva]

Trust me, you drive that thing for a few months, and you will be addicted.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if there's an easily swappable option from another car. Anyone else want to chime in on this??

Never had to replace mine, just pulled one for someone else a few months ago. Very easy to do. If you can't find a festiva with what you need in your area, I'll almost guarantee someone here does.

TONYCASH comes to mind. Don't remember if there were any in all the pics he posted, but I'll bet he has one.

[JoDan]

Trust me, you drive that thing for a few months, and you will be addicted.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if there's an easily swappable option from another car. Anyone else want to chime in on this??

Never had to replace mine, just pulled one for someone else a few months ago. Very easy to do. If you can't find a festiva with what you need in your area, I'll almost guarantee someone here does.

TONYCASH comes to mind. Don't remember if there were any in all the pics he posted, but I'll bet he has one.

You can upgrade to an intermediate wiper from a 626... take old one out.. plug that one in

[FestYboy]

^correct!

[GenevaDirt]

Larry....do yourself a favor and grab one from a 626. Try for one without the big orange button on it....but that one will work also. It is a very easy swap on your car.

[batstiva]

Thought about that, just wasn't sure if it was plug and play. Didn't want to send him out looking for something he'd have trouble getting installed.

[larrytxeast]

Oh okay. I will look for a Mazda 626. That would be a nice "upgrade" indeed--I miss having intermittent wipers.

I still don't know that I will become "addicted" to anything, but I will say this--I do have a love for this make-model of car that is silly to others but it makes sense. It's based on one simple thing--the car is cheap, but dependable. I bought a brand-new 1989 model back in 1989, 20 years ago, as a 20 year old college student. It was the "L" model with no AC and a 4-speed. I wrecked that one 5 years later while working on the last car payment (total bummer) but I replaced it with--guess what--a 1988 Ford Festiva L Plus with a 5 speed and intermittent wipers. Barely a year later June 1995 someone rear-ended me and totaled it, I replaced it with--yes, a Ford Festiva, a 1990 with A/C and 5-speed.

I drove that one until 1999 and it would've kept going but I was negligent in fixing the overheating issue and blew the engine up. Three years later bought a 1988 black one and blew that one up during a period where I was so short of money I never got around to getting oilfor it--and blew it up in the process. (I mean, with the oil-light glowing, what did I expect?)

Now, 7 years later, I have this one, 1991 with 5-speed, which I paid only $400 for last Dec 2008, and it's doing fine. The fuel pump (apparently) has been acting up a little bit, making it hard to start sometimes and causing it to lose power briefly during other times--otherwise it runs just fine--starts easily, brakes fine, corners fine, gets about 40 miles per gallon. For $400 you can't beat that.

And that guy down the road is trying to sell a Chevrolet Beretta for $500 that "needs engine work." I always laugh at that--I paid $400 for a car that just runs and doesn't need engine work, haha.

[GenevaDirt]

nope...plug and play....and you can still take the whole assembly if you are so inclined...will swap right over....I have done it on every one of my Festy's....10-15 minute job.

[GUS]

Larry....do yourself a favor and grab one from a 626. Try for one without the big orange button on it....but that one will work also. It is a very easy swap on your car.

what year 626's work?

[doylerl]

what year 626's work?

I have the same question. I believe my switch just went out. It won't spray or move the arms, so I'm figuring it's the switch. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if it were the wiper motor, the spray would still work right? Anyway, thanks for any help you can give me.

[91blufestiva]

I have one from a 626 if anyone is interested..