Wiper Motor Problem
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Wiper Motor Problem
Yes Sir; In the 8 years I have owned my 1982, I finally was caught in a heavy rain storm. No Problem! Seven years ago I had installed a G. M Re- manufactured Motor installed & Tested. That's the last time, ( I Forgot to test them again. ) Pulled the lever down, nothing, it acted like it can't get out of Park. I gritted my teeth & drove in the blinding rain.. about 3 Minutes they came on. Next time I tried them, same thing. Anyone have a cure or knows what's happening??? Thanks
Gene
Gene
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
It could be the grease has froze up your internal parts/pivot points. I wouldn't expect that though in only 7 years if the rebuild included a good clean up and re-lube. My '67 motor froze up but that was with oem grease and 30+ years of infrequent use. I (finally got to) cleaned it up (last week) and it now works fine.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Perform a "bench test" with it still installed in the car. This takes out all car wiring. If it works correctly...then you have to see what the problem is when you actually go and switch it on and set low, high and park settings.
A very simple basic electrical system...to get the motor to function...GM just moved the ground in different configurations in the outer terminals of the 3 wire connector going to your wiper motor. ALSO..the motor HAS to be grounded...the ground supply for the motor is located down by your starter/transmission location....and it PASSES through the thick plastic electrical connector at the rear area of your passenger valve cover. This connector is known to go bad and cause electrical issues due to dirt and crud getting in these connections and they not making good contact.
DUB
A very simple basic electrical system...to get the motor to function...GM just moved the ground in different configurations in the outer terminals of the 3 wire connector going to your wiper motor. ALSO..the motor HAS to be grounded...the ground supply for the motor is located down by your starter/transmission location....and it PASSES through the thick plastic electrical connector at the rear area of your passenger valve cover. This connector is known to go bad and cause electrical issues due to dirt and crud getting in these connections and they not making good contact.
DUB
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Gene-
Possibly the motor.. but more common on your car to be the controller if you have pulse wipers. Or the switch...
The controller is located in the passenger side rear storage compartment area. If you test the motor and it works fine, I would inspect the connectors and make sure one has not worked loose...
If the controller is the problem I can usually fix them... I'm working on a replacement controller since the reproductions turned out to be a dud... but we are only in the development stages of this right now.
If the switch is the problem... I'm working on a video on this right now.. But I do have rebuild instructions on the site.. and a new switch is now available as well.
Wiper switch rebuilding instructions. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=249
Wiper switch if needed. http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...oducts_id=4812
Use the motor testing video and like Dub said above, you can leave the motor in the car. I prefer to remove the bell crank from the wiper arms when I do this too. But most important of all.. when testing on the car... you must make sure to remove all wires from the motor.. you'll run test wires when you do the test. This takes out the possibility of anything in the existing wiring from causing an issue.
1973-1982 Wiper Motor Testing.
Possibly the motor.. but more common on your car to be the controller if you have pulse wipers. Or the switch...
The controller is located in the passenger side rear storage compartment area. If you test the motor and it works fine, I would inspect the connectors and make sure one has not worked loose...
If the controller is the problem I can usually fix them... I'm working on a replacement controller since the reproductions turned out to be a dud... but we are only in the development stages of this right now.
If the switch is the problem... I'm working on a video on this right now.. But I do have rebuild instructions on the site.. and a new switch is now available as well.
Wiper switch rebuilding instructions. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=249
Wiper switch if needed. http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...oducts_id=4812
Use the motor testing video and like Dub said above, you can leave the motor in the car. I prefer to remove the bell crank from the wiper arms when I do this too. But most important of all.. when testing on the car... you must make sure to remove all wires from the motor.. you'll run test wires when you do the test. This takes out the possibility of anything in the existing wiring from causing an issue.
1973-1982 Wiper Motor Testing.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Nov 25, 2013 at 08:28 PM.
