1968 C3 Wiper Door is Stuck

[Mike Wiesner]

Here is my situation:

The windshield wiper door is stuck on my '68, and I think is draining the battery. Stays up all the time, regardless of position of wiper button, unless car is shut off and neg. terminal is disconnected, in which case struggles to go down. Removing wiper fuse doesn't help. Once I start the car again, the door comes back up. If I turn off the car and leave the batt connected, door stays up.

If anyone has advice or a solution, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mike Wiesner

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1968 C3 Wiper Door is Stuck

The electricals have nothing to do with holding the door up, except for the vacuum switch under the dash. This switch simply turns the vacuum on or off to the door. It would have little to do with draining the battery. Because it will come up it can be assumed that the main vacuum is getting to the actuator. The system always fails in the safe position, which is up. That means that there is no vacuum going to the vacuum switch. Try this simple test. Use a little vacuum hose and apply vacuum to the small hose on the vacuum switch. The door should close.

[Don Barnes]

Re: 68 battery drain from the wipers

if you turn the switch on while the car is on or off adn not let the wipers go through the sequence and return home then it will drain your battery something with a 68 some one here on the board told me that.

[Mike Wiesner]

Re: 68 battery drain from the wipers

Thank you both very much for your input. I appreciate it.

[John D.]

Re: 1968 C3 Wiper Door is Stuck

Sounds like the solenoid valve at the back of the tach is shot. If you bypass the vacuum line that goes to the solenoid and only go thruough the overide switch you should be able to get the cover to work manually. I did this on mine as a temporary measure..

The wiper system on a 68 is a BEAR! Mine does the same thing yours is doing and also drains the battery. If I disconnect the battery and when I reconnect it I can hear the solenoid click in. I think mine has a dead short. If you want more detail on the vacuum rerouting drop me an e-mail.

[Bryan M.]

Re: 1968 C3 Wiper Door is Stuck

Sounds like the wiper motor gear box relay is energized which is fed directly from the battery. With this relay made, power is supplied to the vacuum solenoid mounted behind the tach. That's problably the clicking noise you hear when you reconnect the battery. With the wiper motor in park position the wiper motor gear box relay should not be energized.

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 battery drain from the wipers

I have posted that once or twice. I have learned from experience that if the wiper switch is accidentily moved from the off position or turned on with the ignition off that just returning the wiper switch to the off position will run down the battery of my original owner 68. If this happens I always go ahead and start the car and the wipers cycle through their operation.

[Terry M.]

CAUTION to 1968-1972 owners *TL*

Never, ever park your Corvette with the battery connected, the wiper door open and the wipers extended (on the windshield), particularly 1968 owners. You will be lucky if the only result is a run down battery. It could easily be a FIRE.
The relays that are energized in the above conditions can overheat and cause a fire. This could/has happen(ed) hours or a day after parking the car. The results are NOT pretty.
As Sgt. Esterhauz said: "Let's be careful out there."
I recommend disconnecting the battery whenever you park your Corvette.
Terry