1998 Astro Wiper Motor Problem

[nuarctable]

Hi all.
My wifes 98 Astro van, with 190K miles on it is having a wiper motor problem.
Earlier this spring the wiper motor went out, so I replace it no problem.
And things were fine until about 2 weeks ago, I went to take it to pick up some thing from Menards, and the wipers were on.
So I went to turn them off, only the switch on the turn signal lever was already off!
Thats odd I thought! So I turned the switch on, and the wipers did their normal thing, so I turned the switch off, yet they continued to run.
I turned the van off, and back on, and the wipers kept running.

Well OK, I thought, I got out, and unplugged the connection the wiper motor.
I didnt want to be driving around on a sunny day with the wipers going all day, a good way to burn out the new motor.

My questions is...
I think its an electrical problem in the turn signal indicator stalk/cluster.
Am I on the right track?
How do I take it out, and check/test it?
The manual I have has no information on getting that taken out.
Do I have to but and replace the entire indicator cluster?
Or is there a single part I can buy and replace once I get it out?
Also, how expensive is this fix gonna be, any ballpark ideas?

Thanks
Scott

[old_master]

Check the pulse board that attaches to the wiper motor. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...S_837588189___ The printed circuit board connections crack and can cause the motor to malfunction.

[aartod]

The pulse curcuit boards are garbage... I know many people who have had their wipers go nutso and the pulse bosrd was the problem. My 96 astro had the wipers acting up and I replaced it and they work fine now. Alot of parts stores (including the dealer) want alot of $$$ for the pulse boards, but autozone had them for $29. It only takes about 5-10 mins to replace it...

[nuarctable]

Update.....
It must have been the pulse circuit board.
I swapped it out about a month ago, and it seems to be working fine.

Thanks to Old_Master and aartod for the solution!
Thanks Guys!

[old_master]

Glad it's working for you, and thanks for posting back with the fix.

[fix-it-now]

my '94 had the same problem. It took my motor circuit board out and soldered the broken connections at the bottom of the board where the wires hooked up. that lasted about two years. I ended up just buying a replacment board from Auto Zone and it has worked ever since.

[hausdok]

My 98's doing that once in a while too. Now I just have to find where this pulse board is. My 91 used to give me a "complimentary" wipe whenever I put the turn signal on after the turn. When it shut itself off it woulg give a single swipe. It always freaked people out and I just laughed. I considered it a part of the old astro's personality.

[old_master]

Open the hood and the wiper motor is in plain sight on the firewall. Remove the 2 or 3 small screws and the electrical connector, the board just about falls off! 10 minute job, at the most.

[hausdok]

Thanks for the tip Old Master!