C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Wipers are trouble!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 5, 2009 | 11:26 PM
  #1  
vetteDreams69's Avatar
vetteDreams69
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Statesboro GA
Default Wipers are trouble!

I have an odd problem.

The wiper system works using the override, but I cannot get it to fully reset itself and operate with the wiper switches.

The wipers did not operate with the switch before but, the vacuum works, the door opens and closes, and now the override activated the wipers.

I checked the switch operation, it is OK. Currently the switch is out of the dash. I tested it grounded as if it was in the dash.

What do I check next?
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2009 | 12:37 AM
  #2  
Young69Owner's Avatar
Young69Owner
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
Default

Your switch probably isn't getting power. It's sounds like your vacuum system is fine. Can you test it with a multimeter? If you open the hood, in the middle on the firewall, there should be a plug. That is the wiper power. See if it is plugged in.
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2009 | 03:56 PM
  #3  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Here try this test procedure from Wilcox.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/instructi...st_69-72_4.pdf
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2009 | 05:11 PM
  #4  
PETKAH's Avatar
PETKAH
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
Default

This might be your solution as it was on my 1970. The top of the center bezel was slightly broken just above the gauges on the R and L sides and the wipers did not work all the time.
The wiper switch is grounded by the center bezel and if broken like mine I had to run a wire from the top portion of the bezel to the bottom - about 2-3" of wire to be make it was grounded. Just a thought.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2009 | 12:05 PM
  #5  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

First Guess: bad wiper switch.
Second Guess: bad solenoid on the back of the tach.

Wiper operation is 100% electrical. Wiper door opening/closing is 100% vacuum. With the override, your car is opening the door and tripping the wiper switch on the cowl as it does so. 100% normal operation.

The wiper switch in the bezel sends a signal to the solenoid on the back of the tach to open the wiper door with vacuum. As the door opens, it trips the wiper switch on the cowl.

Check the switch in the bezel; check the solenoid.


Last edited by Easy Mike; Jan 7, 2009 at 12:08 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2009 | 07:46 PM
  #6  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

When you power up the system with the wiper over-ride switch do you get different speeds with the wiper switch?

All the wiper over-ride switch is there for is to service the wiper arms and blades. It cuts the power to the motor off when the wipers are in motion.

This is a good one! Most people can't get them working at all. . .

I'm thinking you might want to take the car wiring out of the loop on this one first to see where the problem is.

Since we know you have power to the motor leave the red with a white stripe wire hooked up. Open the wiper door and use the over-ride to hold it up! Remove the three wire connector. Run a 12V. power wire to the wiper motor only on the #2 terminal (Middle one) in the wire dia. on our site. What I'm trying to see is if you have a ground fault in the system.

If you power up the first field, then power up the second one the motor should not run the field grounds are removed! If the motor runs you have a problem in the motor. Probably the park switch malfunction.

Now once you power the motor up this way and if it fails to run, apply a new ground from the engine to the wiper motor on terminal number 3. If the motor runs now, you do know there is a problem in the car somewhere.

Willcox Inc.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Wipers are trouble!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:02 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE