my 41 packard windshield wiper has a 1 inch by 1/2 by 1/4 black gizmo with an arrow with 3 dots above a bar with one dot what is it and can it be replaced
That's a capacitor on the motor, likely for inteference suppression for the radio. The rectangular molded capacitors may be paper dialectric instead of mica dialectric; this depends on the value range and cost requirements. It's likely that a paper dialectric molded capacitor is no good by now, since it is very old. The molding material was not always good at sealing around the leads, so these capacitors were exposed to air and moisture, etc. People who restore old radios always replace all the molded capacitors without bothering to check them, since they often leak severely.
Here are some links that show reading the color code, represented by colored dots on the capacitor body (I don't think these examples are exahustive, but one may match what you have.)
That's a capacitor on the motor, likely for inteference suppression for the radio. The rectangular molded capacitors may be paper dialectric instead of mica dialectric; this depends on the value range and cost requirements. It's likely that a paper dialectric molded capacitor is no good by now, since it is very old. The molding material was not always good at sealing around the leads, so these capacitors were exposed to air and moisture, etc. People who restore old radios always replace all the molded capacitors without bothering to check them, since they often leak severely.
Here are some links that show reading the color code, represented by colored dots on the capacitor body (I don't think these examples are exahustive, but one may match what you have.)
