1968 Wiper Confusion
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 11
From: Stowe Vermont
Pulled the wiper motor and bench tested it this a.m. It works OK. Remembered to be sure to park it after the test. Reinstalled it. Same clicking noises from the switch and motor.
Observations:
Battery connected, ignition off,wiper switch off - 12 volts on red wire (source of my battery drain?)
Ignition on, switch on (low or high) 12 volts on red, brown and white wire!
Motor clicks when moving switch from off to low and from low to high. If I hold the switch to the right (high speed side) it will continue to click. I am pretty sure the clicks are coming from the motor and not the relay under the console. The relay is new.
Motor clicks when wiper override switch is turned to the left or to the right. ( Bad switch?)Switch has two spade terminals and a brown wire is connected to one of them. PO installed a new harness, so I think the wires are not damaged, but something must be hooked up wrong?.
There is not a blue wire coming out of the harness to attach to the washer motor. Should not effect the wiper motor though. Will be at the computer for 15 minutes then back at lunch time. Computer is 4 miles from house. I do not get high speed internet at the house( this is Northern Vermont). Using the computer at work.
All thoughts on this problem are greatly appreciated.
Observations:
Battery connected, ignition off,wiper switch off - 12 volts on red wire (source of my battery drain?)
Ignition on, switch on (low or high) 12 volts on red, brown and white wire!
Motor clicks when moving switch from off to low and from low to high. If I hold the switch to the right (high speed side) it will continue to click. I am pretty sure the clicks are coming from the motor and not the relay under the console. The relay is new.
Motor clicks when wiper override switch is turned to the left or to the right. ( Bad switch?)Switch has two spade terminals and a brown wire is connected to one of them. PO installed a new harness, so I think the wires are not damaged, but something must be hooked up wrong?.
There is not a blue wire coming out of the harness to attach to the washer motor. Should not effect the wiper motor though. Will be at the computer for 15 minutes then back at lunch time. Computer is 4 miles from house. I do not get high speed internet at the house( this is Northern Vermont). Using the computer at work.
All thoughts on this problem are greatly appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
I believe you have a later ('69-up) override switch. The '68 should only have one spare terminal and the switch itself is grounded.
The override switch you have isn't grounded.
BTW, does your motor have two or three wires coming out of the can?
Battery connected, ignition off,wiper switch off - 12 volts on red wire (source of my battery drain?)
Red wire should always have 12volts.
I'll have to throw the battery in my car to check the rest. I believe all the voltages are listed in Willcox's troubleshooting guide though.
I need to get my car ready for summer anyway so I'll see what I can find out.
The override switch you have isn't grounded.
BTW, does your motor have two or three wires coming out of the can?
Battery connected, ignition off,wiper switch off - 12 volts on red wire (source of my battery drain?)
Red wire should always have 12volts.
I'll have to throw the battery in my car to check the rest. I believe all the voltages are listed in Willcox's troubleshooting guide though.
I need to get my car ready for summer anyway so I'll see what I can find out.
Last edited by DZRick; Mar 24, 2012 at 03:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 11
From: Stowe Vermont
Mandigo, I did move the wipers without the motor hooked up and they seemed OK, but did not test them to see if they were free today. I will go back for a second look, disconnect the motor-to be sure.
DZRick I think you hit on something! I thought I must have a grounding problem but did not know where to look.
The switch in my car has two spade terminals. If I run a ground to the second terminal, I am guessing it should ground the switch?? I'll order the '68 switch, but would like to get this resolved. I'll go back and try that. Mud season is ending here and will be able to get on the road for first drive soon.
Everything seems to be in order on the hot side. Except that brown is always hot. Which may have somethihng to do with no ground?? Your thoughts?
Additional info:
Wiper switch wired with two light blue wires on passenger side.
Relay wired with blue wire on top, yellow on bottom.
Key on, switch on: 12 volts red, brown, white and yellow. Blue .7 volts, green .9 volts
Thanks .
DZRick I think you hit on something! I thought I must have a grounding problem but did not know where to look.
The switch in my car has two spade terminals. If I run a ground to the second terminal, I am guessing it should ground the switch?? I'll order the '68 switch, but would like to get this resolved. I'll go back and try that. Mud season is ending here and will be able to get on the road for first drive soon.
Everything seems to be in order on the hot side. Except that brown is always hot. Which may have somethihng to do with no ground?? Your thoughts?
Additional info:
Wiper switch wired with two light blue wires on passenger side.
Relay wired with blue wire on top, yellow on bottom.
Key on, switch on: 12 volts red, brown, white and yellow. Blue .7 volts, green .9 volts
Thanks .
Last edited by peterman4551; Mar 24, 2012 at 04:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Mandigo, I did move the wipers without the motor hooked up and they seemed OK, but did not test them to see if they were free today. I will go back for a second look, disconnect the motor-to be sure.
DZRick I think you hit on something! I thought I must have a grounding problem but did not know where to look.
The switch in my car has two spade terminals. If I run a ground to the second terminal, I am guessing it should ground the switch?? I'll order the '68 switch, but would like to get this resolved. I'll go back and try that. Mud season is ending here and will be able to get on the road for first drive soon.
Everything seems to be in order on the hot side. Except that brown is always hot. Which may have somethihng to do with no ground?? Your thoughts?
Additional info:
Wiper switch wired with two light blue wires on passenger side.
Relay wired with blue wire on top, yellow on bottom.
Key on, switch on: 12 volts red, brown, white and yellow. Blue .7 volts, green .9 volts
Thanks .
DZRick I think you hit on something! I thought I must have a grounding problem but did not know where to look.
The switch in my car has two spade terminals. If I run a ground to the second terminal, I am guessing it should ground the switch?? I'll order the '68 switch, but would like to get this resolved. I'll go back and try that. Mud season is ending here and will be able to get on the road for first drive soon.
Everything seems to be in order on the hot side. Except that brown is always hot. Which may have somethihng to do with no ground?? Your thoughts?
Additional info:
Wiper switch wired with two light blue wires on passenger side.
Relay wired with blue wire on top, yellow on bottom.
Key on, switch on: 12 volts red, brown, white and yellow. Blue .7 volts, green .9 volts
Thanks .
Yes, if you run a ground wire to that spade terminal the switch should do it's job.
The brown wire should only be hot if the motor is running.
If you look at this diagram that Willcox (Ernie) made for us, you should be able to determine if your wires are all where they should be.
I'll have to look at Willcox's paperwork to check the voltages you're asking about.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 11
From: Stowe Vermont
I disconnected the wiper arms from the motor and ran a ground wire to the override switch. The click got louder (stronger?) and I can definately tell it is clicking at the relay, not the motor. Not sure if this means the relay is working, or that I fried it somewhere along the way. Leaving the wiper arms off the motor until I get the motor running. The motor does have three wires coming out fo the can. It is a '68 motor. I'll also remove the limit switch today to be sure both wires are connected-it's new, but ....I installed it.
I will connect the old relay today to see if I get different results.
The only thing I have not replaced is the solenoid on the back of the tach. I can see that the two spade electrical connector is connected to the solenoid. I think the solenoid is there to open and close the wiper door. When I start the car, if I have manually closed the wiper door, the solenoid opens it. I think it's working OK. Has not closed the door, as I have had constant power on the brown wire
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
All advice is greatly appreciated.
I will connect the old relay today to see if I get different results.
The only thing I have not replaced is the solenoid on the back of the tach. I can see that the two spade electrical connector is connected to the solenoid. I think the solenoid is there to open and close the wiper door. When I start the car, if I have manually closed the wiper door, the solenoid opens it. I think it's working OK. Has not closed the door, as I have had constant power on the brown wire
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
All advice is greatly appreciated.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 11
From: Stowe Vermont
Confusion no more! Working wipers are a beautiful thing! Relaced my newly purchased relay with the original GM relay. That was the last piece of the puzzle. Override switch was key too. I must have fried it somehow along the way.
Thanks to everone who gave me direction here! You guys rock!
Thanks to everone who gave me direction here! You guys rock!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: McKinney Texas
Red should be hot, brown should be hot if yellow is hot (the switch is on), white should not be hot (ground), blue and green are both grounds for controlling motor speed so your low voltage readings are fine.
You bench tested the motor, it worked properly, so the 12V getting to the white wire is not from an internal motor short.
I do not know the solution, but why is your white wire not reading as grounded?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Well, that was too damn easy!
As a favor to me and just to make things fair I'd like you to remove your drivers side dash pad now.
Glad you got it working, really these '68 wipers can be a real pain.
As a favor to me and just to make things fair I'd like you to remove your drivers side dash pad now.
Glad you got it working, really these '68 wipers can be a real pain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 7
From: Chetwynd B.C.
Confusion no more! Working wipers are a beautiful thing! Relaced my newly purchased relay with the original GM relay. That was the last piece of the puzzle. Override switch was key too. I must have fried it somehow along the way.
Thanks to everone who gave me direction here! You guys rock!
Thanks to everone who gave me direction here! You guys rock!
that is ALWAYS a good feeling when you complete a project. Especially when it's the wipers on a '68 
Glad you were able to figure it out in such a short time. Good luck on your next project.
:shmoky
