wiper door problem
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
wiper door problem
Hey guys, I have a problem with the wiper door on my '72 that has me stumped. I've been reading through the threads but can't figure this one out. My wiper door works fine using the override switch - opens/ closes as it should. However if I use the wiper switch without opening the door first via the override switch the wipers immediately go into operation, jamming against the door. The door doesn't move at all. I've replaced the solenoid on the tach, limit switch,and the safety switch under the right wiper arm. Also, I unplugged the the wires to the limit switch and the wipers still work when the wiper switch is turned on. My understanding of the system is that the wiper motor wouldn't operate unless there was power from the limit switch.
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
Roger,
There is a red wire with white stripe, has a female connector on it that I found to the left of the distributor. It's not connected to anything and as the wires connected to the limit switch are red/ white stripe I tried testing it with the limit switch depressed. Sure enough, with the limit switch depressed it has power. I'm starting to think a previous owner bypassed the limit switch for some reason.
There is a red wire with white stripe, has a female connector on it that I found to the left of the distributor. It's not connected to anything and as the wires connected to the limit switch are red/ white stripe I tried testing it with the limit switch depressed. Sure enough, with the limit switch depressed it has power. I'm starting to think a previous owner bypassed the limit switch for some reason.
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From: Dayton, Ohio
The small red coming out of the motor should connect to the larger limit switch wire so the power to the motor can be interrupted. If your motor runs without power to the small red wire someone has bypassed inside.
Are you sure you have a small red wire coming out of the motor ?
If you don't have wire coming out of the motor you could have a later model motor.
Are you sure you have a small red wire coming out of the motor ?
If you don't have wire coming out of the motor you could have a later model motor.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
Alan,
Yes I did check the limit switch adjustment, it looks to be ok. The limit switch isn't depressed until the door is fully extended. I was thinking that maybe the switch itself was shorted out, creating essentially a constantly closed circuit, thus giving the wiper motor power even when the limit switch wasn't depressed. So I replaced it with a new switch but the problem is still there. I tried unplugging the limit switch entirely yet the wiper motor still gets power when the wiper switch on the dash is switched on.
Yes I did check the limit switch adjustment, it looks to be ok. The limit switch isn't depressed until the door is fully extended. I was thinking that maybe the switch itself was shorted out, creating essentially a constantly closed circuit, thus giving the wiper motor power even when the limit switch wasn't depressed. So I replaced it with a new switch but the problem is still there. I tried unplugging the limit switch entirely yet the wiper motor still gets power when the wiper switch on the dash is switched on.
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
It worked. I cut the middle wire on the 3 wire connector, put a male spade on it then connected the female end of the limit switch wire to it. It seems to work as advertised, did a complete function check on it. A bit of a bubba job but a lot cheaper than buying a wiper motor for a '72. Thanks for the pic Roger, that helped a great deal.
Last edited by gulflyer; Oct 18, 2010 at 12:42 PM.
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From: Dayton, Ohio
It worked. I cut the middle wire on the 3 wire connector, put a male spade on it then connected the female end of the limit switch wire to it. It seems to work as advertised, did a complete function check on it. A bit of a bubba job but a lot cheaper than buying a wiper motor for a '72. Thanks for the pic Roger, that helped a great deal.
I'm going to have to think about this one , why didn't GM do it that way ? Hmmmmm
EDIT- Wheres Willcox when you need him ?
Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 18, 2010 at 01:55 PM.
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From: Orange Park Florida
It worked. I cut the middle wire on the 3 wire connector, put a male spade on it then connected the female end of the limit switch wire to it. It seems to work as advertised, did a complete function check on it. A bit of a bubba job but a lot cheaper than buying a wiper motor for a '72. Thanks for the pic Roger, that helped a great deal.
had a later GM wiper assy setting on the shelf yet....
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From: Dayton, Ohio
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From: Ft Walton Beach Florida
Well it looks like there's a part of the function check I missed. With the wipers turned on, turning the key off with the wiper switch left on should park the wipers followed by the wiper door closing (if your vacuum tank is good anyway). When I turn the key off and the wiper switch is left on the wipers keep running, obviously getting power from a battery source. So, if the wiper door is open, I can turn the wipers on and off without the ignition on.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Well it looks like there's a part of the function check I missed. With the wipers turned on, turning the key off with the wiper switch left on should park the wipers followed by the wiper door closing (if your vacuum tank is good anyway). When I turn the key off and the wiper switch is left on the wipers keep running, obviously getting power from a battery source. So, if the wiper door is open, I can turn the wipers on and off without the ignition on.
