1968 windshield wiper motor won't work

[D. Sizemore]

I recently lost my original wiper motor to old age and have not been able to get any response out of any motors that I install. I have purchased two different motors and a new wiring harness and still have had no luck. The motor has two plugs going into it and when the switch is on both leads have 12v going through them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[mike y]

Re: 1968 windshield wiper motor won't work

D: Since you have tried several motors it sounds like the problem is in the car. Here's some info that I hope will help;you can use these connections to bench test your motor and also to see if the wiring and swithces are in order.

Red at square plug: +12 volts

# 2 at terminal board (center of three in a row): +12 volts

Yellow at square plug: ground

#1 and #3 at terminal board: ground

Connecting it like this will run the motor on low. Lift the wire at terminal #3 (it has a black wire going into the motor) it will run at high speed. There is also an external relay under the dash near the speedometer. This runs the wipers on slow to park when the key is turned off. Also check the service switch at the steering column, and a limit switch on the cover door. I hope this helps. MHY

[Thomas Christopher]

Re: 1968 windshield wiper motor won't work

I had the same problem, but my problem was only on one motor. I found that the contacts inside the motor casing were not making good enough contact to start the motor. I was getting 12 volts through the motor, but no amps. That one really had me scratching my head. I eventually had to take a toothpick (not enough room to fit anything down in there), and bend the contacts so that they would close tighter. This being AFTER I had my motor rebuilt! The wiring diagram in the service manual is a life saver. Follow it to the tee, and you'll find your problem.

good luck. Tom

[Gary Schisler]

Re: 1968 windshield wiper motor won't work

Just a shot in the dark here, assuming that a 68 is similar to a 73. My neighbor's 73 had the same problem. We swapped in a new motor and still no wipers. His problem was the ground in the wiper switch itself. If your wiper switch is similar to his try that. If these swithces are different, then, as Miss Emily Latella on Saturday Night Live used to say, "Never mind."

[Juliet P.]

Re: 1968 windshield wiper motor won't work

If it's like a '70 setup also check that the washer assy is mounted correctly on the front of the wiper assy and does not have something broken inside it and is binding up the works. This you probably already checked, but anyways... make sure the override switch is turned so that the wipers can run (part of the knob closest to driver when sitting in the seat looking forward goes to the right) Also make sure that the wiper door is open with the door closed lockout button depressed. ~Juliet

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968 windshield wiper motor is different

The 1968 windshield wiper motor and wiring is unique to this year. 1969 and later are different. One has to use 1968 technical information when troubleshooting that system. We did print the 1968 troubleshooting tree in The Restorer some time back. I'll look when I am off line and post later the issue it was in.

Terry