Wiper Motor Questions
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Miami FL
Wiper Motor Questions
I have what appears to be a wiper motor that's not working, although I suspect it's the wiring/electrical more than the actual motor itself. I detached the wiper motor from the car, and brought it in to take a look.
The outside wiper motor cover has a red wire and connector, is this where the main power runs to the wiper motor? On the inside of the cover, this wire turns into a really thin silver thread and eventually forms into a little red plastic mold that's been severed. It actually looks chalky and tiny, brittle specks fall off when I touch it. Could this be causing a problem?
The motor itself is in the parked position. The previous owner mentioned that it was a brand new wiper motor but it just wasn't connected properly. The grease in the motor looks un-messed with, so he was probably right about the 'new' part.
Looks like I have an aftermarket wiper switch, too, it's the kind that goes up and down and has four positions. The wiring that runs from this box to the engine bay looks to be in good working order. Everything else looks normal except for that little red conductor on the inside of the housing. I can post pictures if y'all think that would help.
Your thoughts?
The outside wiper motor cover has a red wire and connector, is this where the main power runs to the wiper motor? On the inside of the cover, this wire turns into a really thin silver thread and eventually forms into a little red plastic mold that's been severed. It actually looks chalky and tiny, brittle specks fall off when I touch it. Could this be causing a problem?
The motor itself is in the parked position. The previous owner mentioned that it was a brand new wiper motor but it just wasn't connected properly. The grease in the motor looks un-messed with, so he was probably right about the 'new' part.
Looks like I have an aftermarket wiper switch, too, it's the kind that goes up and down and has four positions. The wiring that runs from this box to the engine bay looks to be in good working order. Everything else looks normal except for that little red conductor on the inside of the housing. I can post pictures if y'all think that would help.
Your thoughts?
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
You might post a picture of the wiper switch, on a 1979 there is not an after market switch that I'm aware of.
This is the 1969-1972 video but the motor test exactly the same.
I also have on our site instructions on how to repair the wiper switch if needed, written by Dale Wilson.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=249
and I also have motor testing help at this link.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=285
Willcox
Oh.. Hey Roger..
This is the 1969-1972 video but the motor test exactly the same.
I also have on our site instructions on how to repair the wiper switch if needed, written by Dale Wilson.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=249
and I also have motor testing help at this link.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=285
Willcox
Oh.. Hey Roger..
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Miami FL
Roger, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Dalewilson seems to be the go-to guy for wiper issues. Willcox (Ernie, right?), thanks for your support - I must say I've already watched that video about two dozen times trying to memorize what to do, I don't have a bench-test setup myself. Extremely useful stuff you guys put out (Willcox), so thanks again! Are you just running a 12V battery and some wire to the wiper motor?
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
No problem South.. The web site has Dale's pages and I did a photo edit on the pictures to make it a bit more clear.. that is the top link that I posted..
Willcox
Willcox
Cruising
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I am not as fortunate
I own a 70 T-Top with Tilt/Tele . I just had new wiring harness & vacuum lines installed my under hood and all was working, lights, wiper engine started. I now installed new wiring harness under my dash. Car is hard to start, head lights work- power on & pop up. The wiper motor is not receiving any power & vacuum door does not work.
I checked the over ride switch, no power is passing through switch.
Insured the wiper door is up (manually) and it engages the switch.
When I slide the wiper switch on - the vacuum solenoid registers 14.5 V
Any suggestions? Before I button up the dash and have it take it to an auto-electrician
Do you a photo of proper installation of connectors to Ignition switch
Do you have photo of Ignition switch adjustment, I read in one article this maybe a problem?
Pete
1970 LS5
I own a 70 T-Top with Tilt/Tele . I just had new wiring harness & vacuum lines installed my under hood and all was working, lights, wiper engine started. I now installed new wiring harness under my dash. Car is hard to start, head lights work- power on & pop up. The wiper motor is not receiving any power & vacuum door does not work.
I checked the over ride switch, no power is passing through switch.
Insured the wiper door is up (manually) and it engages the switch.
When I slide the wiper switch on - the vacuum solenoid registers 14.5 V
Any suggestions? Before I button up the dash and have it take it to an auto-electrician
Do you a photo of proper installation of connectors to Ignition switch
Do you have photo of Ignition switch adjustment, I read in one article this maybe a problem?
Pete
1970 LS5
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
In the help manual for your car on our site, there are detailed pictures of the switch connector installed in the proper way... this info is not located at the links above hence the different year car.
Go to this link, it will show you all info available on your car for the wiper motor and the electrical system. It also contains help and testing info.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...=wiper&x=0&y=0
Willcox Inc.
Go to this link, it will show you all info available on your car for the wiper motor and the electrical system. It also contains help and testing info.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...=wiper&x=0&y=0
Willcox Inc.
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Cruising
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Thank you, I did see these drawings earlier and yes the wiper motor and switches are wired correctly.
Question - do you have a photo of the proper orientation of the two connectors (White & Black) that plug into the starter switch for a 1970 Tilt / Telescopic steering column.
I suspect I must have them wired backwards - for the car will not start, the motor turns over but it does not start. The carb floods.
I did not have this problem prior to removing the old harness and installing the new.
Thanks
Question - do you have a photo of the proper orientation of the two connectors (White & Black) that plug into the starter switch for a 1970 Tilt / Telescopic steering column.
I suspect I must have them wired backwards - for the car will not start, the motor turns over but it does not start. The carb floods.
I did not have this problem prior to removing the old harness and installing the new.
Thanks
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Wilcox - thank you for the drawing and wiring diagram. I have reviewed and the factory harness is wired as you noted in diagram.
I do not have 12V hot at all times on the Dash Over Ride Switch Red wire, which leads me to believe I may have installed the two connectors to the Ignition Switch (Tilt / Telescopic) incorrectly. I have removed them and tried to rearrange them but they only appear to go in one position.
The car will not start, - starter motor turns engine over but no spark to distributor
Do you have a drawing or photo of the ignition switch for tilt telescopic which shows proper placement of the two connectors into the Ignition Switch?
Thanks
I do not have 12V hot at all times on the Dash Over Ride Switch Red wire, which leads me to believe I may have installed the two connectors to the Ignition Switch (Tilt / Telescopic) incorrectly. I have removed them and tried to rearrange them but they only appear to go in one position.
The car will not start, - starter motor turns engine over but no spark to distributor
Do you have a drawing or photo of the ignition switch for tilt telescopic which shows proper placement of the two connectors into the Ignition Switch?
Thanks
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Problem(s) solved.
Thank you for your assistance
I reconnected the ignition switch a second time, for what ever reason it worked and power was now passing through the over ride switch.
Then I discovered that I had two intermittent switch issues. The switch on the center dash and the safety switch for the vacuum door. Both we new switches
Thanks to all for your information.
1970 LS5
Thank you for your assistance
I reconnected the ignition switch a second time, for what ever reason it worked and power was now passing through the over ride switch.
Then I discovered that I had two intermittent switch issues. The switch on the center dash and the safety switch for the vacuum door. Both we new switches
Thanks to all for your information.
1970 LS5
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Miami FL
This is the resistor I was talking about. It just snapped in half when I touched it.
1. Is this causing my problem?
2. What kind of resistor is this/designation of resistor?
3. Can I find this at i.e. Radio Shack?
Last edited by southmiamiheights; Jun 10, 2010 at 09:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Miami FL
This is my wiper motor uncovered. Looks normal to me. Note the grease hasn't lubed the wheel, and it looks like the motor hasn't run since being re-furbished. I'm really no expert on automotive electrical, but when I replaced the fuses, I noticed that the wiper fuse was much higher than the diagram called for. My theory is that the current fried the resistor, thus not allowing a positive current to run to the motor. Does this sound right?
Last edited by southmiamiheights; Jun 10, 2010 at 09:22 PM.
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
Is the resistor in your picture the one between the 1 and 3 connector? If so yes this is a problem and yes you can purchase a replacement from Radio Shack.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
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From: Miami FL
Thanks again for getting back to me, Ernie. Resistor between 1 and 3 position? I don't follow. This resistor is located on the inside of the wiper motor cover. There's a red wire on the outside of the cover that leads to this inside portion, it becomes a thin wire, as pictured, links to the resistor (severed in the picture) and continues down to the bottom of the inside cover. It's not lodged between anything, it's just a wire that runs from out to in, resistor in the middle, and continues downward. Seems to me this is supposed to make contact with something on the inside of the wiper motor but it doesn't appear to. The concept is the same to me, and I should be able to replace it, I just need to know what kind it is so I can go to the store and say 'gimme one of those!'
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Came that a way from a factory too....
