The wipers have never really worked on my 1968 convertible. Instead, I waxed the windshield, and did little driving in the rain. When I needed to clear the windshield, I would push the wiper button as if to activate the washers, let the wipers cycle one time, and return the **** to off. I thought I had a great plan...

However, today, I pushed the **** as usual to clear a little rain, and the light for the wiper override came on, and the blades stopped almost straight up and down. Since I was headed home for lunch, I pulled the car into the garage and figured I would just check the override switch. All looked well, so I pulled the wiper fuse to kill the power to the override system. No luck, override was still activated. So, I pulled all the fuses. Ugh! Override still activated.

After about 2 hours, I found that I could unplug a plug just behind the coil (not the one that plugs directly into the motor, but the other one), and drop the power to the override system. Viola, the system lost power. I removed the wiper arms, and figured I would deal with it later. Wrong......

With the wiper arms removed and the power plug disconnected, when the car is shut off, the wiper door opens up. :confused: Needing to get back to work, I removed the bolt that activates the door open switch on the firewall, and installed a longer bolt that would keep the door from opening when the car was shut off. Unfortunately, I now have to dive into getting this thing fixed. I have a pretty good (older) repair manual for the '68, but it does not have much information on the override system. I have done a lot of wrenching before, including motor swaps, transmission swaps, and complete rewiring of many vehicles, one wire at a time, so I have a good working knowledge of mechanics and 12 volt electrical. Now I just need to understand how the system works.

My question: Is there any good information available anywhere on the Internet or otherwise for the wiper override system? If I can just understand how the darn thing works, and the personality of the wires on the wiper motor, I can fix the system. But with the whole system in default mode, it's difficult to know where voltage should be and shouldn't be, as well as know where vacuum should be found in the off/on positions. I fear this may turn into a disassembly/figure the whole the system out/reassembly project, with about 15 hours invested, and probably the purchase of a few unnecessary parts.

Any ideas? The car only has 64,000 original miles, and actually sat on a show room from 1971 until I purchased her about four years ago. As a result, the car is really in great shape, with this being my first real problem.

Rick

 

not 100% sure but I think this is the guide I have at home, it is pretty helpful
http://www.vettevacuum.com/troubleshooting_guide.htm

hmmmm.... not sure if this guide only deals with the vacuum side of the system. I have something that deals with the electrical side also.


you have a light/indicator for your override switch?

My wipers don't work either. I got them going when I bought my car but I couldnt get them to STOP!! Pulled the fuse and havent put it back. When you pull the wiper fuse there is no power to the motor so they won't move at all. I am not sure how the override switch works.... or for that matter the entire system. What I do know, is that in 1968 there is always power to the wiper motor and the wiper on/off switch provides a ground, and 2) Although I am not clear on how the override switch works (to freeze the wipers) if you leave that switch on (and the wipers immobilized) it will drain the battery by design. MJ


[Modified by MNJack, 8:34 PM 11/13/2003]

 

kx,

I have a 68 and do not have any ideas for you - the wiper override switch under the dash is designed to enable you to move the wipers into position for changing the blades (I think) I know that this is stupid but maybe the switch is intermittant somehow causing your problem. Someone sent me a full blown 68 wiper system theory of operation document with photos and a hand written schematic a couple of years ago - I have e-mailed this you you at
rcorwin@rangen.com. If this is the incorrect address or someone else wants a copy send me a mail at kosman@charter.net.

Good luck

 

There's about three 68 wiper operation/trouble shooting guides at http://www.corvettefaq.com
I submitted two of them. A Word document and the Excel document.
The Word document has some good diagrams/pics of the 68 system.
All three are from Chevrolet service bulletins.

Let me add that you can find them in the Miscellaneous section.




[Modified by 68rdstr, 8:56 PM 11/13/2003]