Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

[Joel K.]

[Terry M.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I'm sure you have already checked this, but how about the round knob under the steering column -- or slightly to the right of the steering column if you have an early 1968? If that is "off" the wipers will not work. Try turning it the other direction.

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Terry,
Yeah, checked the override switch early on in the process and several times throughout. Initially, it didn't change anything -- override light remained on and wipers didn't work regardless of switch position so I replaced the switch, and actually have been back and forth between the replacement and original switches several times, all to no avail. As I said, the override light's out now, and the manual override valve now opens the wiper door, but that is the only "progress" so far.

[Terry M.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I forgot about your pictures of the single-wire and two wire switch and the ground to the plate.

Have you gone through the 1968 troubleshooting tree in the Chevrolet Service News? I seem to remember someone referring you to that in your previous post.

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Terry,
I do have a troubleshooting tree/flow chart that I got through this forum
-- don't know if it's from the Chevrolet Service News or not. Went back and spent some time reviewing over it again today. Based on what I'm observing, the tree offers five possibilities: 1. wiper fuse is out-relay won't energize; 2. no feed current at wiper red terminal (#8); 3. bad ground at wiper switch; 4. open circuit between wiper terminal #1 and the wiper switch; 5. wiper gear box relay inoperative. By observation I've ruled out 1 and 2, and since the wiper motor was just rebuilt, I'm guessing that would rule out 5, leaving 3 or 4. Being an electrical dunce, I'm unsure how to check for either of these conditions. I ran a ground from one of the wiper switch mounting points to one of the braces behind the dash panels. Is that proper routing? The #1 terminal on the wiper motor has a light blue wire that runs back to the switch, where there's a double light blue wire, one of which runs down to the relay under the shifter console. How does one determine whether there's an open circuit there?

[Mark F.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I noted in your prior note that you ran a ground to a brace. Make sure that brace is grounded, as if no ground, you get nothing. That was the problem I had, thought I had a good ground but found out differently.

Mark

[Richard R.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Joel have you checked the Micro-switch that the wiper door makes when the wiper door is up and clear of the wipers? Until this switch makes the wipers will not work. It is located next to the vacuum actuator that operates the wiper door.


Hope this helps.

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I noted in your prior note that you ran a ground to a brace. Make sure that brace is grounded, as if no ground, you get nothing. That was the problem I had, thought I had a good ground but found out differently.

Mark

I had assumed the brace is grounded; I'll double check that and see what happens.

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Joel have you checked the Micro-switch that the wiper door makes when the wiper door is up and clear of the wipers? Until this switch makes the wipers will not work. It is located next to the vacuum actuator that operates the wiper door.


Hope this helps.

I replaced the switch early on in the process. Have tried actuating it manually, but even with the switch pressed all the way in, no wipers. And so the battle continues... I gotta get myself smarter about things electrical.

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I replaced the switch early on in the process. Have tried actuating it manually, but even with the switch pressed all the way in, no wipers. And so the battle continues... I gotta get myself smarter about things electrical.

Going over all vacuum and electrical connections yet again. The electrical connection to the vacuum solenoid behind the tach, looking up from below (one of my favorite positions to get into!) has the brown wire on top, black wire on the bottom. Is this correct? I'd prefer to verify that before changing it, lest I cause damage...

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I noted in your prior note that you ran a ground to a brace. Make sure that brace is grounded, as if no ground, you get nothing. That was the problem I had, thought I had a good ground but found out differently.

Mark

Mark, the brace I was using is one of the braces behind the dash panels, going from the birdcage down to a bracket on top of the trans tunnel. I've used this as a grounding point for a test light, so I figured it would work OK for the wiper switch, but so far, no joy. Can you recommend a better grounding point? Thanks!

[Paul O.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Joel the best ground for testing is to use 2 alligator clips on a piece of wire say 3ft long and attach one end to the battery negative cable/post behind the driver. Then the other to what ever you need grounded. That is the best ground in the car. Paul 18046

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Joel the best ground for testing is to use 2 alligator clips on a piece of wire say 3ft long and attach one end to the battery negative cable/post behind the driver. Then the other to what ever you need grounded. That is the best ground in the car. Paul 18046

Thanks for that info, Paul. I'll try that.

Re-raising a question I posed earlier, the electrical connection to the vacuum solenoid behind the tach, looking up from below has the brown wire on top, black wire on the bottom. Is this correct? I'd prefer to verify that before changing it, lest I cause damage...

[Joel K.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

Over the past several weeks, I have posted numerous messages on the board in an effort to get the wipers working on a '68 convertible. I've followed suggestions offered, used the Troubleshooting Guide and flow chart, replaced switches, relays, solenoids, verified grounds and power flow throughout the system, checked vacuum throughout the system and had the wiper motor rebuilt. End result? The wiper door still doesn't open, now not even with the manual valve, and the wipers don't work. Is there some step or point, however minor, that I'm overlooking?? Two specific questions regarding wiring: Does the brown wire to the limit switch connect to the "NC" terminal or the "COM" terminal? On the vacuum solenoid behind the tach, does it make a difference which way the two-prong electrical connector is connected? Bench testing the solenoid off the car, it didn't make a difference, but I want to be sure I'm getting it right (being an electrical novice).

[Bill L.]

Re: Why Won't These #%^&* Wipers Work?

I can only speak from experience. You may want to get an untrained eye that has not looked at it a hundred times like you have. If I am too familiar with something I find it is easy to overlook something I would otherwise see.

This person should be familiar with cars and then have them independently walk through the trouble shooting chart. You will have to be patient because they will ask is this right? that right etc... I am not sure which chart you have but you may want to try Dr. Rebuilds vacuum hose routing chart and his trouble shooting chart.

I would suspect that even though you replaced most items with new that perhaps one of the new components is defective. You may want to test each switch to make sure they work as they should.

Oh and have a beer too


Bill