How do parts know the WORST time to grenade?

Yes, my windshield wiper motor started going haywire last night right in the middle of a nasty little sleet/snow storm. A couple good wacks on the motor got her going again, but I think she's done. I don't feel like buying a new/reman one, and I don't feel like going out to the "pick-your-part"....too cold. Might have to bite the bullet, though.

Ian

Funny, I changed my leaking washer pumps a few month ago, Now my nozzels froze up the other day, and it must have ruptured the hose under the cowl. Just a twinkle, and a big wet spot on the driveway.

Cheers

Parts follow O'Brian's Law which is much easier to remember than Murphy's law, as he only has one, Murphy was an optimist. Whitelightning

Come on Doc, you know the answer to that. If not you'll find it here.

It cracks me up that washer fluid rated to -20* still freezes on my windsheild, in my driveway (not moving) on a +20 degree morning.

Doc

I find that the Concentrate holds up better to low temperatures. Or even the Orange Rainx does a good job too.

Cheers

There must be something wrong with the product you're using Doc. I use typical service station washer fluid, this morning it worked just fine at -30c (-22f) with windchill of -48c (-54f) My poor old 90 Sierra standard, pulled out of the driveway this morning in first gear, almost came to a complete stop before I could get it into second, lol. Frigging brutal man. (this is in Ottawa, Can.)

Wind chill only works on animals that produce their own heat or on vehicles that are running (producing heat) or are plugged in (producing heat). The juice in your windshield washer jug could only get to -30C no matter how hard the wind blew.

-- Best Regards Gordie

that's not entirely correct, living creatures experience wind chill because of moisture evaporation from the skin. a vehicles radiator will cool much faster with a stiff breeze, but will not get below the ambient temperature. the fluid in the jug won't be effected until it's sprayed onto the windshield, then evaporative cooling (aka wind chill) will affect it.

-Bret

Well that's rather obvious, however my vehicle was producing heat which was being blown againsed the inside of the windshield by the defroster. This heat eventually works it's way to the outside of the windshield. If the washer fluid is not rated low enough, or maybe cut with a bit of plain water may work on the slightly heated windshield but will freeze over when you start moving or a decent side wind moves across the windshield.

So yes, windchill does not effect the fluid itself in the reservoir but does effect it's performance on the windshield.

From: "Bret Chase" Subject: Re: How do parts know the WORST time to grenade? Date: Monday, December 20, 2004 8:07 PM

that's not entirely correct, living creatures experience wind chill because of moisture evaporation from the skin. a vehicles radiator will cool much faster with a stiff breeze, but will not get below the ambient temperature. the fluid in the jug won't be effected until it's sprayed onto the windshield, then evaporative cooling (aka wind chill) will affect it.

-Bret

Windshield solvent dilutes when it melts the stuff on the windshield.

Al

Who would have thunk it...Overheard eldest daughter tell my wife about green puddle under Suburban this AM (I had just hit the sack after night shift)so up early, showed it to local rad specialist. His visual verdict good condition for repair, Says no problem to fix so back home removed rad, will drop off on way home from work tomorrow AM, sleep, while tank re&re'd for around $120 cad Up early tomorrow pick up rad, install, good to go by tomorrow night. This recore was installed 6 years ago to the week whilst on Christmas Road trip HO HO HO Rolf

$120 CDN eh? You could get a new one down here for a few more bucks than that.

Doc

Hi!

Two words: "Murphy's Law". That'll do it every time. :-)

William The Guesser

froze up the other day, and it must have ruptured the hose

Memory doing well?

GMC Gremlin