So my wipers would not move when I would throw the switch. All I would hear was a clicking noise when the switch was first thrown. Naturally, I figured I needed to replace the wiper motor. I got my new wiper motor in and made my connections. I throw the switch for the first time and once again all I get is a single click. Well, that's not exactly all I got. I also got a small puff of smoke out of the wiper motor. So I checked my ground wire again and other connections and tried again. No more smoke, but still just a single click. Any ideas anyone?

 

wilcox.com - repair and install help - wiper moter

 

I checked them out, but no articles for a 73, but I guess I forgot to mention that my car was a 73, so my bad.

 

Make sure the wiper switch is grounded.If your gauge cluster frame is broken its possible the wiper switch has lost its ground.Run a temporary ground to the metal that holds the switch and see if it works.

 

ground is good on switch, still not working

 

Mine ended being the override switch was not grounded. Same exact issues. Clicking and a puff of smoke. Ran a ground wire to it and I was back in business.

 

Have you tried removing the 3 terminal connector from the dash switch and grounding the double light blue connector? This should run the wipers on high speed.If grounding the double light blue at the switch doesnt make the wipers run then try grounding the light blue at the 3 term connector on the wiper motor.(make sure the yellow wire at the wiper motor is hot with the key on)

 

Ever get to that point where even the simple things you try to do go wrong and you just feel like giving up on the whole damn car? Well that's pretty much where I'm at. So here's the run down of whats going on...something is definitely grounding itself out. My battery goes completely dead over night. I thought the ground on the switch was good, but I must be wrong. When I take plate the holds the switch and air vents out, the plate sparks against the gauge cluster plate. So that's the first part of my problems, still no wipers, and my battery keeps dying. Also, I went to put a new shifter boot on, and stupid me when I went to put the ball and reverse lever back on the shifter, I dropped the little spring for the lever down the hole in the middle of the shifter. I have no clue how to get it out of there without completely disassembling the shifter. Now I'm not sure if this is because of that, or just a coincidence, but now when I shift into reverse, the cable that releases the steering lock and key lock no longer moves, keeping my keys hostage. Also, along the lines of pain the neck, i went to bolt my passenger seat back in, and I can't quite get the bolts to reach the threads, no matter how hard I try. I'm at the point of just going over the Lowe's and finding some longer bolts. Also at some point during the chaos I seemed to have knocked off the clip that holds the rod for the door lock in place. So those are my current frustrations. I would greatly appreciate any advice anyone has on the above listed problems.

 

Battery going dead and wiper problems can be related---Have you replaced the starter lately? If so you could have the black ground lead on the pos term on the starter--just a thought.

 

Nope, haven't recently messed with the starter. Thanks for the comment though.

 

The reason the panel sparked is because it is going to ground. The wiper system does not work off sending power to it to work. It already has power, you are grounding it to work. So removing the panel just make it loose ground. As soon as you put the switch on it goes to ground, which is you or the dash.

Your wiper problem is just a simple ground. Go to lowe tomorrow and by you some alligator clips and wire. Make you a bunch of ground leads and ground everything. Gauges, wiper override, vacuum switch, Switch, motor frame, etc... You will find the issue by pulling the one by one off.

We have all been there. The best solution is to walk away and do something else. Read a book or mow the lawn. Just step back and don't let it get to you.

 

sounds like good advice. Question though, I've seen several people mention a wiper override switch, but from what I can tell, a '73 does not have this switch. Am I right or wrong?

 

No, that is to override the wiper motor while the door is up to change blades. Your hood covers it, so no door. You only have a headlight override switch.

Your ground issue might be the wire grounding the gauges. Sometimes they get knocked off. Once the system finds a ground it will then work. Your battery is dying because the wiper motor is not grounded. That might be you problem.

Hook a meter to you battery and watch it while you pull the wiper motor fuse. The draw should stop.

 

The wiper motor and the wiper switch must both be grounded. Try attaching one end of the alligator clip to one of the small nuts that hold the wiper switch to the bezel and the other end to a good ground. PG.

 

I guess you guys are going to make me post one of these things for the 73 and newer cars. . . . I've not read this entire post, I'm a little behind. . . But if the OP wants to email me direct I will be happy to help him. . . .I'm going out of town in a few weeks and when I return I'll do a 73 and newer help page.

However, the OP can test the motor on the car by using the test outlined in the 69-72 page on the site. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...elp.php?hID=95. If the motor will pass the operations test then the problem is in the car for sure. (this will tell for sure if the problem is the motor or the car).

OP. . . email me at Willcoxcustomerservice@willcoxcorvette.c om I'll try to answer you as soon as possible.

Willcox Inc.

 

Thanks everyone, I'll work on all these suggestions. The one thing I still need to know though is will that spring that fell down the hole in the middle of the shifter hurt anything?

 

If the spring stays at the bottom(cant remember if it will fall through and out)of the hole reverse will be locked out.A magnet will lift the spring out.