'68 Wiper Motor Problem

[Anthony S.]

I just installed my restored wiper motor for my '68. After I connected the wires to the harness & re-connected the battery I left the garage for about 5 minutes.

When I came back to test the wiper motor, it did not work but the motor was getting hot to the touch so I disconnected it form the harness. The car was dead cold when I started the install.

The engine harness is new from Lectric Limited & the switch is NOS. The wiper limit switch was not connected.

Any thoughts???

Anthony

[Bryan M.]

Re: '68 Wiper Motor Problem

I'm not an expert, but it could be a stuck wiper motor gear box relay.
If you look at the 68 wiring diagram, the motor is fed directly from the battery, the motor needs to be in the park position to break the wire.
If everything is in working order, you have to cycle the wipers to get the the motor back to the park position.

[Jim T.]

Re: '68 Wiper Motor Problem

Anthony my original owner 68 still has the original wiper motor. I learned a very long time ago not to do something. If the wiper on/off switch is moved from the off position to the onposition with the car is not running it activates the wiper system and just returning the wiper switch to off will not stop the electrical drain. If not attended to it will continue to drain the cars battery unitl you have a dead battery.
If you drive your car literally every day, you may not notice this.
If I accidently turn on my 68's wiper switch I have learned through experience that I must disconnect the battery until I drive the car again or just start the car and let the wiper cowl come up and let the wipers wipe and and shut them off, go through the complete operation cycle.
Following this practice, I have no dead battery after a few days.

[Terry M.]

[Jean C.]

Re: '68 Wiper Motor Problem

Thanks Terry, this '68 owner has duly noted your suggestion and the problem you identified . I sometimes forget and keep the battery hooked up with the battery minder attached. My routine just changed.
Best regards,

[Anthony S.]

Re: '68 Wiper Motor Problem

I had some more time to test the wiper motor today. I connected & pressed the wiper limit switch and connected just the motor's power leads. There was no heat build up.

After I connected the switch wires, the motor heated up within 5 minutes. For both tests, the battery was connected & the key was off.

I then turned the key & turned the switch on w/ no luck. I even tried the "park" switch in both positions with no luck.

Using a test light, I got power from the harness, but no power from the switch leads.

I did get some clicking from the motor & pump when I connected the battery, but that was about it. Also, the fuse has power on both sides.

I guess it's time to pull the wiper motor & send it back.

[Jim T.]

Re: '68 Wiper Motor Problem

Terry I never have left the wipers on the windshield of either my 68 or 70, just never did that, I have left the wiper doors open with the pull down vacuum switch when stopping anywhere when it was raining and turning off the wipers. It was a very long time ago on my 68 I was cleaning the interior and accidently turned the 68's wiper switch on when cleaning the top of the dash. Did not drive the car for a few days and the battery was dead.
My 68 and 70 are sitting in the garage right now with the batterys disconnected, so easy to hook up the negative battery cable to the frame with a 5/8 inch ratchet wrench. Since they are no longer daily drivers, the batterys stay disconnected a lot. Charge the batterys before start up and during non use periods.
Another precaution I take is to turn off the gas hot water heater in the garage when I leave town. (Was told the other day that gas lights in the yard cost about $30 a month to use now by a neighbor, I don't have one.) No trouble for me to relight my gas water heater. Also turn off water at the meter. Another real easy thing for me to do.