Okay, my minds totally blown on this one. The wiper/washer lever in my '77 had broke off several months ago, and since I've been restoring it, I hadn't really worried about replacing it, until today. I ordered a new lever from Ecklers and today I reached in with a pair of needle nose and pulled the broken off tip from the old one out and inserted the new one. Now this is weird so I sure you guys can help me figure this out. I had the hood up already because I just finished setting the timing, and I'm sitting in the drivers seat with the door open. I turned the key on and clicked the lever to check the wipers and yippee! they worked fine. I got out of the car and closed the hood and they stopped. Ehh? I opened the hood and they started again . I reached around inside the car, turned the wipers off then back on again, and they're working fine. I then shut the door and poof, they stopped again. I realized at this point that it had to do with the light buttons inside the door and under the hood. I had the wipers going and the hood up and door opened. I reached over and pushed the engine light button down and the wipers stopped. I let it back up and it started again. Then I pushed in the door button in (that controls the dome light) and wipers stopped again. (If I'm not mistaken these two buttons also control the factory alarm system, right? i.e. if somebody opens a door or the hood the alarm goes off. At least that's the way it's always worked since I've owned the car.) I don't get it. How could these buttons be affecting my wipers? Does anybody have any idea how I could trace it back and find out where the problem is? At this point, if I drive around in the rain, I'll have to leave the hood popped up a little and the door cracked open. Any help guys would be greatly appreciated.
Marc.

 

The switches are probably completing a ground circuit, which, for some reason, is missing on the wiper circuit. If I'm not mistaken, the wiper motor and blower motor ground is made at the right side bellhousing, via one of the bolts. I'd check that ground wire first. Then crawl under the dash and see if Bubba paid a visit to the wiper switch wiring.

 

also check to see the wiper motor ground plug is in place--black wire

 

Yep, Ground the wiper.

 

my crazy wipers would only work when i put the transmission into 4th gear.

as mentioned above. ground wire, bell housing, right hand side.

wipers work great now.

 

Docmac,
These guys will have you chasing wires for hours if you listen to them.
The system is functioning as GM intended it should. Your car has the RPO UA7 Hearing Impared Owner Factory Alarm System. Instead of honking a horn that a deaf owner couldn't hear, it simply waves the wipers back and forth until he sees it.
Good luck Bro'

 

my wiper's only work with the doior open aswell I will try a new ground tonight, thanx for the heads up guys