wiper arm sparks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
wiper arm sparks
while installing the wiper arm door on my 70 vert, i forgot to disengage the battery shut off switch. one of the wiper arms touched the door and i got a few electrical sparks-not the dead short variety-just some 12 volt sparks like you'd get while testing a bulb or small motor.
i've got new rear,dash, engine harnesses installed with everything hooked up except for the center console and radio. all works as it should. the forward harness is installed, but only up to the firewall connections, alternator and horn relay. again this appears to be normal(as a matter of fact i drove the car around the neighbor hood three weeks ago after my body drop after a year of work). the wiper switch is not connected.
i measured 12 volts from the wiper arm to ground, but only when the door limit switch (the micro switch that the plunger hits when the door opens) is closed.when the plunger is not touching the micro switch there is no voltage.
any ideas? i can't believe this is the way the general designed this thing!
i've got new rear,dash, engine harnesses installed with everything hooked up except for the center console and radio. all works as it should. the forward harness is installed, but only up to the firewall connections, alternator and horn relay. again this appears to be normal(as a matter of fact i drove the car around the neighbor hood three weeks ago after my body drop after a year of work). the wiper switch is not connected.
i measured 12 volts from the wiper arm to ground, but only when the door limit switch (the micro switch that the plunger hits when the door opens) is closed.when the plunger is not touching the micro switch there is no voltage.
any ideas? i can't believe this is the way the general designed this thing!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Sounds like you have the wiper ground wire on the pos. terminal of the starter solenoid.Take your 12 v test light and ground the clip and touch the point end to the wiper case.If it lights the case is hot.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
down on the starter (if you have done anything there lately)there should not be a 14gauge black wire on the large lug on the solenoid with the positive battery cable.If that small black wire is there take it off and put it on one of the starter mounting bolts(factory)or put it on one of the bellhousing bolts(my choice).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 39
From: Fremont CA
Dude! you own a fiberglass Sports Car, I would just about be willing to bet that your wiper motor on the firewall is not grounded to the engine block like Chevy did from the factory. Ground your wiper motor and see if you still see sparks. Please post back the results and thank me for saving you HOURS of frustration while trobleshooting this problem.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
ok, i'll agree with my wife. i do stupid things!
it turns out that the red and white stripped wire from the micro switch, the grounding tab on the wiper motor, and the black wire at the back of the wiper motor all have similar connectors. need i say more? i connected the black wire from the harness to the black wire from the back of the motor, and the wire from the switch to the ground tab! well, it seemed ok then! just call me bubba.
it turns out that the red and white stripped wire from the micro switch, the grounding tab on the wiper motor, and the black wire at the back of the wiper motor all have similar connectors. need i say more? i connected the black wire from the harness to the black wire from the back of the motor, and the wire from the switch to the ground tab! well, it seemed ok then! just call me bubba.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Snellville Georgia
wiper motor grounding
I am having similar problems but am unsure where to look. Like in a previous post I installed a new engine harness on my 72/350. I attached the black wire to the starter and saw my wires on the ground to the wiper motor flame up.
I corrected the problem by disconnecting and also replaced my wiper motor. Still the wiper motor is not running.
with ignition off I have: ground at green/yellow/blue plug, ground at black and on the housing of the motor.
with ignition on and the wiper motor off: I am ground at gree/dead at yellow and blue, ground at black and the motor housing.
with the iginition on and the wiper switch in the first position: I am ground at green/hot at yellow/ground at blue, ground at black and on the motor housing.
with the ignition on and thw wipter switch in second position: I am dead at green/hot at yellow/ground at blue, but dead at black and on the housing.
At all times the wipers have not been put back at the motor crank and still no wiper motor turn.
Please any help would be greatly appreciated.
rt
I corrected the problem by disconnecting and also replaced my wiper motor. Still the wiper motor is not running.
with ignition off I have: ground at green/yellow/blue plug, ground at black and on the housing of the motor.
with ignition on and the wiper motor off: I am ground at gree/dead at yellow and blue, ground at black and the motor housing.
with the iginition on and the wiper switch in the first position: I am ground at green/hot at yellow/ground at blue, ground at black and on the motor housing.
with the ignition on and thw wipter switch in second position: I am dead at green/hot at yellow/ground at blue, but dead at black and on the housing.
At all times the wipers have not been put back at the motor crank and still no wiper motor turn.
Please any help would be greatly appreciated.
rt
