71 Wipers
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
71 Wipers
The wipers have not worked correctly since my buddies owned this car.
Wiper door will only work with the overide. Then they quite doing that.
I got the overide working again, but the door will not open with the wiper switch. There is a solenoid under the dash, that I get shocked by when touched. Is this solenoid internaly or externaly grounded.
While trying to chase this out, with the door opening, the wipers engauged and got hooked up on the bottom of the door. Unplugged the power and got them unstuck. Now they won't park or run. Fuse is good.
Any ideas on how to correct these 2 problems.
Thx.
Wiper door will only work with the overide. Then they quite doing that.
I got the overide working again, but the door will not open with the wiper switch. There is a solenoid under the dash, that I get shocked by when touched. Is this solenoid internaly or externaly grounded.
While trying to chase this out, with the door opening, the wipers engauged and got hooked up on the bottom of the door. Unplugged the power and got them unstuck. Now they won't park or run. Fuse is good.
Any ideas on how to correct these 2 problems.
Thx.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Tough to get "shocked" on 12vdc. Perhaps you had some metal jewelry on and shorted something to generate a spark (maybe a pretty big one....take off the jewelry). Remove + battery cable before working on electrical stuff. Your problem is likely the wiper solenoid/switch you are speaking of (located on back of the tach). Or it could be that you have a large vacuum leak and the vacuum level is not enough to raise the door. You need to buy a cheap vacuum gauge and a diagnostic diagram and determine the cause of your problem (vacuum or electrical [switch]). Then you can find the source of the problem and correct it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
7t1 is right on! The wiper and headlight systems are too complicated to trouble shoot without a guide from a vendor or the GM Chassis Service Manual. You really need to figure out which components are working and which aren't. It's too expensive to just start buying parts until you get it to work. Dr. Rebuilds guide is good and easily worth the money.
Regards,
Alan
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Tough to get "shocked" on 12vdc. Perhaps you had some metal jewelry on and shorted something to generate a spark (maybe a pretty big one....take off the jewelry). Remove + battery cable before working on electrical stuff. Your problem is likely the wiper solenoid/switch you are speaking of (located on back of the tach). Or it could be that you have a large vacuum leak and the vacuum level is not enough to raise the door. You need to buy a cheap vacuum gauge and a diagnostic diagram and determine the cause of your problem (vacuum or electrical [switch]). Then you can find the source of the problem and correct it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
Just replaced all the vacuum hoses on my 71. You have to have a chart or drawing on the hoses to make sure everything is hooked up correctly. Then narrow it down. I still hooked up a hose incorrectly because I matched the ones that were already there by colors instead of looking at the chart---the old ones were in correctly but they used the wrong color hoses--everything is color coded to make it easy. Also always disconnect the battery!!!! You only need to get shocked once with 12 volts to remind you
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Ok. We have the diagrams both vaccuum and wiring. Got the vaccuum sorted out with the exception of the actuation with the wiper switch.
The shock I feel is not strong or uncomfortable, it is from the wiper solenoid switch behing the tach. Yes it's a 12v tingle, not a big shock.
No, I don't wear any jewelry when working on ANYTHING! I like my fingers and hands in they're factory locations! Safety Glasses TOO! (I need them to see anyway)
The question still remains, Is this solenoid internally or externally grounded. If the ground is not there or weak, the solenoid won't work.
Internally grounded would be that the solenoid case or mount is it's ground. Externally would be a seperate grounding wire or bonding strap as it's sometimes called.
If it's internal it would mean that the instrument panels ground is poor at best. Then it's a matter of chasing that.
THX
The shock I feel is not strong or uncomfortable, it is from the wiper solenoid switch behing the tach. Yes it's a 12v tingle, not a big shock.
No, I don't wear any jewelry when working on ANYTHING! I like my fingers and hands in they're factory locations! Safety Glasses TOO! (I need them to see anyway)
The question still remains, Is this solenoid internally or externally grounded. If the ground is not there or weak, the solenoid won't work.
Internally grounded would be that the solenoid case or mount is it's ground. Externally would be a seperate grounding wire or bonding strap as it's sometimes called.
If it's internal it would mean that the instrument panels ground is poor at best. Then it's a matter of chasing that.
THX
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The solenoid is grounded by the light blue wire that runs from the wiper switch straight to it.
The yellow wire is the power side, the light blue is the ground side.
The yellow wire is the power side, the light blue is the ground side.
