So I just bought my '72 not too long ago.. I bought it without the wipers working, the guy said that it just might be the fuse, he didn't really know, nor care because he wouldn't drive it in the rain.. I'm a little different though and drive it every chance I get.. So I brought it home, changed the fuse.. I move the switch, the door comes up, and that's about all that magic that happens.. The wipers don't even act like they're thinking about moving.. Hoping for some suggestions here before I just send it to the mechanic to get ripped off..

Thanks,
Alex

 

Check the wires at the wiper switch and motor. Make sure both are grounded and make sure both have 12V when the switch is on. The motor may be bad.

 

Okay, so if I test these tomorrow, and I come up with a bad motor.. Since there's 2 wipers, aren't there 2 motors, or does 1 motor run both? Sorry I'm a little ignorant about all this.. But I need everything in lamens terms..

 

I don't know for sure with all years but I'm confident that one motor runs both wipers and they are connected by linkages.

 

Now why would you indict all mechanics like that? This one WAS going to tell you how to check it out.

 

ONe motor both blades.....look around wiper motor, you will need a DVM....voltmeter....start engine, try to run system....open the door....door open, no motor, check silver case/frame of wiper motor,....it better read nearly ZERO volts, IF it reads 12 volts you have a wiring error at the starter...will esplain IF that is the problem....

IF not....read the heavy red/red-white wires better see 12 volts, there is a door postion switch there, if no voltage, check the switch up under center of the steering column inside, 3 strange 'switches ' there....two pull vacum switches, one to open headlights without turning them on, other to open wiper door and keep it there.....the other round center switch turns the wiper system on and off, so switches the heavy red wires to the motor on and off, killing the motor...just as it would if the DOOR POSITION switch hit by that plunger rigged to the door would do, telling the wiper motor the door is not all the way up....so not to jamb the system up....

you maybe want to check see that the 12 volts is also on the yellow wires to the wiper motor....it passes throug two solenoid coils in the motor assy, and gets grounded by the wiper switch up top center of your console....NOW, IF your center bezel is broken, there is a chance the switch is not grounding correctly and/or you get very weird wiper operation, can be intermittant as hell....

 

Gene, for the electrically challenged, what's a DVM?

 

Ooh, can I answer this one?

Digital Volt Meter.

Nothin but net, and that's the game.

 

Can you give me an example? Pics, link?

 

I would think of a DVM as a tool that only measures voltage, unlike a multi meter that has a wide range of functions. Generally a DMM, or multi meter is mistakenly called a volt meter because the remaining functions are rarely used.

Here is a DMM that is referred to as a DVM by it's own manufacturer.

 

Thanks. What about those I've seen with a hoop at the top? what are those used for?

 

That hoop is just a sensor that determines if a signal or voltage level exists in a wire where you don't have access to it's core. Like a long stretch of wire back to a light, and you don't want to cut the sheath. You slide the hoop over the wire, and it used an electromagnetic field generator / sensor to determine if a flow of electrons exists.

 

here is my my .02

in the wiper circuit here are the key components if the vacuum system is operating.

wiper solenoid on back of tach
the micro switch activated by opening of the wiper door under the hood
the wiper switch on the console - and I have also seen the grounding problem with the guage bezel goo tip
the motor it self

if you are handy with a vole meter, start at the motor connector with the swith on looking for power and work your way back

if power is good, then the motor is the next step



and last the harness itseld