Starting a new battle with my new 81 4sp. Unfortunately a lot of surprises the seller forgot to mention. I don't have working wipers, turn signals, or a radio.

The radio turns on and will scan stations. When I move the fader I hear static through the speakers . I just don't get any sound. I also hear a click coming from behind the seat.

The wipers don't move but I hear a click from behind the seat.

The blinkers just don't do anything, but I do have working hazzards .

Are these issues completely sepesepa, or is there a common ground I should be checking first ?

 

If radio scans and locks station receiver is working. No sound and click could be an amp driving speakers? is it factory radio. I would follow click behind seat to find out what it is, Same for click from wipers. There is a delay unit for wipers I believe causes trouble. The turn signals probably have a separate flasher relay so I would check there. I don't think it is a common problem for these three. I would start with one problem at a time and track down. Always start at source ie power and follow to unit. Of course check the grouns is intact first as on fiberglass cars a common problem. I will include a wiring diagram for your reference. If you want to test wiper motor go to a site like Willcox as they have many troubleshooting guides on these cars.

 

Click behind the seats could be for the power antenna, either the relay (behind the passenger seat?) or the motor itself (below the antenna).

Wiper issue could be the control module (again, behind passenger seat). Check the ground here, too? Willcox has instructions for this.

Sounds like you have some time with a multimeter ahead of you. Good luck!

 

Had some time to work on this today. Started with turn signals. The fuse was blown so I replaced it, and it blew right away. I must have a short. Any common areas where a short might happen on these?

 

The ribbon cable in steering column is a common spot. Had the column apart? You can disconnect the banjo connector (multi pin) and try a fuse to see if it is in the column.

 

Keep in mind the fuse could have blown when you used the left or right turn signal. So if you have not replaced the fuse and tried the other direction. It can help you narrow down what side of the car the problem is located.

DUB

 

Unexpected "surprises" with old cars that sellers somehow forget to mention are common

Unless they moved the location between '79 and '81 the wiper delay module (almost certainly the source of the "click" sound you hear) is in the center console ahead of the shifter. Hearing that click with no wiper operation is a common sign of a failed module. Modern all solid-state versions are available but they're not particularly cheap and I won't suggest just replacing components without verifying that they are bad. The vendors sell a "cheater" connector for the module that restores wiper operation but without delay. I'm not positive that your '81 has identical wiper circuitry to my '79 so I won't suggest a way to easily "jump" the module and make the wipers work lest it cause damage.

The "click" sound you hear when turning the radio on and off is almost certainly from the power antenna relay located in the center console behind the emergency brake lever. Even if the power antenna was replaced with a fixed mast whoever did so may not have disabled the relay. Is a power antenna installed that raises when you turn on the radio and lowers when you turn it off?

The backup lights and turn signals are on the same fuse so if the fuse blows without operating a turn signal I would first look at the backup light circuit beginning with the fixtures themselves.

Your '81 has cornering lamps which are the only turn lamps with wiring not shared with the hazard lamps. Perhaps the Canadian nomenclature is different but the electrical connector henrikse referred to as "banjo" at the base of the steering column is called the "harmonica connector" in service manuals. Once you see it you completely understand the name