68 wiper door

[steven kinross]

I cannot get the wiper door to function. I can manually raise the door but cannot do it through the switch. Please help....

[Richard D.]

Re: 68 wiper door

Steve:

Send me an email and I can send you a "Diagnosis Flowchart" that may help you get started on finding your problem.

It's an ExCel spreadsheet, so you'll have to have this on your computer to open it up.

Regards,

Rich

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 wiper door

Steven check that the electric switch below the steering column has not been activated. If this switch is turned on the windshield wiper control switch will not function. If you do not know, the purpose of the electrical switch below the steering column is to lock the windshield wipers in the up position to facilitate changing the wiper blades.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Jim,

Not trying to hijack your response or this thread, but:
NEVER EVER park your C3 Corvette with the wiper arms in the up position, especially on a 1968. Some relays and part of the wiper motor are electrically energized when the wipers are on the windshield, even when the key is removed from the ignition. This can and has lead to fires. It is also another reason to install and use a battery cut-off switch.

[George D.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution Attn Terry

Terry,
I'm not sure on a 68, but I believe on a 69 (this is how mine works) if the car is shut off with the wipers on the wipers should go to rest position and the wiper door closes. At least I think thats what the PV manuals says. If this isn't working properly then perhaps an electrical fire may occur.

George

[Richard D.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Yes, the 68 owner's manual cautions against leaving the override switch in the on position as this will cause the battery to drain, therefore indicating a constant current flow.

Rich

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution Attn George

The operation you describe is correct, however as was posted, if one turns the round knob under the steering column to stop the wipers on the window (so one can change the blades, etc.), and then removes the key.......
That is the situation I was describing and the condition I was cautioning against.
PARK THE WIPERS BEFORE LEAVING YOUR CAR!!

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Probably why the early 1968s had a warning light WIPER O'RIDE that illuminated when the knob under the column was turned. Too bad they didn't retain that warning feature.

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Terry having an original owner 68 there is another problem I have experienced. Say the car is parked and the ignition is not on, in fact the key is not even in the ignition. If I accidently move the windshield wiper switch from the off position say while cleaning the dash of dust, just a simple wipedown, and only return the switch to off and come back to start the car the next couple of days the batery will be dead. Now since I know this can happen with my car, if I move the windshield wiper switch from the off position I start the car and cycle the wipers with the switch returned to the off position everything will be ok.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

That is weird. Glad you figured out what causes the dead battery, it would have puzzled me quite a bit. Just another reason for a battery disconnect switch on the C3s.

[Roberto L.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Hello friends, never had a problem in my 70, but I don't park it with the wiper arms up of course. Is this strictly a 68 problem or it extend to the C3 family?

Thanks for the advices, Roberto

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Roberto my 70 has never run down the battery like my 68 has when the wiper switch was accidently activated and turned off when the car is not being used. I have not read if any other 68 owners had experienced the same for the battery to drain. I have never ran any subsequent tests to see how much of a drain the electical system experienced with my discovery as to how my battery was drained. Next time I drive the car I will check it out. The last time this happened to me was about 15-16 years ago and I can only remember it happening one other time years before the last occurance.
Terry I always disconnect my ground battery cable from the frame when I park my C3's any length of time. It is so easy to do, with a 5/8 ratchet wrench its done in about a minute and the time to reconnect is less than two minutes.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

I have not observed the problem of a run down battery when turning on the wiper switch with the ignition off on my 1970, but I have made no conscious effort to try that. The 1968 wiper motor and wiring is unique to that year.
I have seen about half a dozen 1968-1972 Corvettes with serious fire damage that appeared to be focused in the wiper area. The reports were that the fires started while the cars were unattended. In one case the owner mentioned leaving the wipers parked on the windshield, but I can't recall the year of that car. It just seems to me to be a prudent precaution to park the wipers and disconnect the battery. That solves the problem.

[steven kinross]

Re: 68 wiper door Caution

Thanks for all the warnings, however this is not my issue, the issue is that the wiper door does not operate when the switch is activated. I have constant 12 volts at the vacuum actuator behind the tac, irregardless of the switch position. I also have constant 12 volts at the 3 pin terminal connected to the wiper motor, again irregardless of switch position or key position.

Steve

[Terry M.]