Wiper Help Needed
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Wiper Help Needed
Before i pull my hair out because of the wiper problem i'm having on the '94, i thought i'd get some thoughts from folks that may have been there...done that.
Here's the story. One day, in a light mist, went to "bump" the wipers...nothing. Got home and pulled out my trusty Helms manual, and began the troubleshooting. Switch checks ok, voltages at the motor connectors check ok at all settings, so i'm thinking the motor's gone, or the cap. So i went down to the local parts store and picked up a replacement motor...installed the old cap...and no change. GOTTA be the cap then. Right?
So i got on the phone and ordered a replacement from Superior (thanks to Chris for the savings over my local dealer!
). Put on the new cap yesterday thinking everything will be hunky-dorry now. But STILL no wipers!
Switch is ok...motor's ok...cap's ok...all the voltages are ok...so WHY ain't the wipers working????
Here's the story. One day, in a light mist, went to "bump" the wipers...nothing. Got home and pulled out my trusty Helms manual, and began the troubleshooting. Switch checks ok, voltages at the motor connectors check ok at all settings, so i'm thinking the motor's gone, or the cap. So i went down to the local parts store and picked up a replacement motor...installed the old cap...and no change. GOTTA be the cap then. Right?
So i got on the phone and ordered a replacement from Superior (thanks to Chris for the savings over my local dealer!
). Put on the new cap yesterday thinking everything will be hunky-dorry now. But STILL no wipers! Switch is ok...motor's ok...cap's ok...all the voltages are ok...so WHY ain't the wipers working????
Thread Starter
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Wiper Help Needed (chb88)
Does the motor turn without being connected to the wiper linkage?
Nope...NUTHIN'! It ACTS like it's not getting power...but there's the correct voltages at all the connectors following the Helms troubleshooting guide (pg 8E-4)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
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From: Baltimore, MD USA
Re: Wiper Help Needed (Alchemist)
Disconnect plug C3 at the wiper motor. With the wiper switch in Hi mode ignition on engine not running, what voltage do you measure on connector C3 Purple wire to the battery cable ground? Should be 12 volts.
C3 looks like a two wire connector with a purple wire and a yellow wire.
Ignition off, disconnect plug C1.
C1 is a 3 wire connector Brown wire, Pink wire and Black wire.
Use an ohm meter and measure the resistance of the Black wire to battery
cable ground. Should be close to zero.
If both conditions check out, measure the resistance of where C3 purple wire plugs into the motor and the pin where C1 black wire plugs into the motor.
Should be a few ohms because your're measuring continuity through the motor brushes.
C3 looks like a two wire connector with a purple wire and a yellow wire.
Ignition off, disconnect plug C1.
C1 is a 3 wire connector Brown wire, Pink wire and Black wire.
Use an ohm meter and measure the resistance of the Black wire to battery
cable ground. Should be close to zero.
If both conditions check out, measure the resistance of where C3 purple wire plugs into the motor and the pin where C1 black wire plugs into the motor.
Should be a few ohms because your're measuring continuity through the motor brushes.
Thread Starter
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Wiper Help Needed (Hooked on Vettes)
Disconnect plug C3 at the wiper motor. With the wiper switch in Hi mode ignition on engine not running, what voltage do you measure on connector C3 Purple wire to the battery cable ground? Should be 12 volts.
Ignition off, disconnect plug C1.
C1 is a 3 wire connector Brown wire, Pink wire and Black wire.
Use an ohm meter and measure the resistance of the Black wire to battery
cable ground. Should be close to zero.
C1 is a 3 wire connector Brown wire, Pink wire and Black wire.
Use an ohm meter and measure the resistance of the Black wire to battery
cable ground. Should be close to zero.
I got chitloads of resistance here. NOW what?????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
Re: Wiper Help Needed (Alchemist)
The black wire is the ground for the motor. Resistance should be close to zero ohms. The book says the ground point is at G107.
To verify what you are saying. With the plug disconnected, you're measuring high resistance from the black wire on plug C1 to ground?
Okay G107 is one of the wires that bolts to the driverside bellhousing.
Then there is a braided cable that goes from the bellhousing stud to the chassis frame. That area has about 4 ground wires at that stud/bolt.
May need cleaning at that junction or the wire is cut going from there up to the wiper motor black wire at C1.
C1 plug has 3 wires Black, Pink, Brown
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 1:11 PM 7/4/2004]
To verify what you are saying. With the plug disconnected, you're measuring high resistance from the black wire on plug C1 to ground?
Okay G107 is one of the wires that bolts to the driverside bellhousing.
Then there is a braided cable that goes from the bellhousing stud to the chassis frame. That area has about 4 ground wires at that stud/bolt.
May need cleaning at that junction or the wire is cut going from there up to the wiper motor black wire at C1.
C1 plug has 3 wires Black, Pink, Brown
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 1:11 PM 7/4/2004]
Thread Starter
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Wiper Help Needed (Hooked on Vettes)
The black wire is the ground for the motor. Resistance should be close to zero ohms. The book says the ground point is at G107.
To verify what you are saying. With the plug disconnected, you're measuring high resistance from the black wire on plug C1 to ground?
To verify what you are saying. With the plug disconnected, you're measuring high resistance from the black wire on plug C1 to ground?
Okay G107 is one of the wires that bolts to the driverside bellhousing. Then there is a braided cable that goes from the bellhousing stud to the chassis frame. That area has about 4 ground wires at that stud/bolt.
May need cleaning at that junction or the wire is cut going from there up to the wiper motor black wire at C1.
May need cleaning at that junction or the wire is cut going from there up to the wiper motor black wire at C1.
Thread Starter
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Wiper Help Needed (Alchemist)
Ok...got access to G107 by removing the battery and the little platform the battery sit's on. Found several grounds that "look" ok...no corrosion, all tight, etc...but the odd thing is i don't see a black wire of similar gauge as SHOULD be coming from the wiper!
This may be a stoopid question...but i'm more mechanically than electrically inclined....but could i run a ground wire from the black C1 connector to complete the circuit? Guess this would also be a check at this point.
This may be a stoopid question...but i'm more mechanically than electrically inclined....but could i run a ground wire from the black C1 connector to complete the circuit? Guess this would also be a check at this point.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
Re: Wiper Help Needed (Alchemist)
Are you looking at the second bolt on the driver side transmission bellhousing to the engine block?
If you jack up the driverside you can see the wires. I don't think you're looking in the right spot.
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 2:48 PM 7/4/2004]
If you jack up the driverside you can see the wires. I don't think you're looking in the right spot.
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 2:48 PM 7/4/2004]
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: I live in my own little world
NC Events Coordinator
Re: Wiper Help Needed (Hooked on Vettes)
Are you looking at the second bolt on the driver side transmission bellhousing to the engine block? If you jack up the driverside you can see the wires. I don't think you're looking in the right spot.
In addition to the braided ground, there's two other grounds. One is a SMALL lead from the neg battery terminal, and the other looks like a relay box. It has 3 wires, sheathed in yellow, that lead inside the car.
Thread Starter
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From: I live in my own little world
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Re: Wiper Help Needed (Hooked on Vettes)
UPDATE: "Hooked on Vettes" is my HERO!!!!!
With his help, found SEVERAL chassis grounds that were not reconnected after a recent transmission swap (by a formerly "reputable" shop
)
Thanks again for ALL your help and patience walking me through this! Just once again goes to show the value of the forum, and again showed me the value of the commerodery (sp?) of Vette owners!!!
Hooked....You da MAN!!!
With his help, found SEVERAL chassis grounds that were not reconnected after a recent transmission swap (by a formerly "reputable" shop
) Thanks again for ALL your help and patience walking me through this! Just once again goes to show the value of the forum, and again showed me the value of the commerodery (sp?) of Vette owners!!!
Hooked....You da MAN!!!