W/S Wiper motor problem

[BarryK]

hi all

yesterday I got caught out in some rain - figures since it was the cars first day out on the road in years and I just finished cleaning and painting the entire frame and underside........
Anyway, wipers were working just fine in all modes - slow, fast, and intermittent operation. Than I noticed the intermittent operation stopped working, they would just operate in "slow speed" mode although the switch was in the intermittent position and turning it to adjust the time for intermittent operation didn't make a difference.
Than out of the blue they stopped working altogether.

When I got home I checked the fuse under the dash and it was fine. I tested the plug that plugs into the wiper motor under the hood ( a 3-wire plug) and couldn't read any power at all.

Do you think this sounds like the switch or something else?
Are W/S wiper switch failures common on late model C3's?

This is in a '78

Thanks for any help or suggestions

 

[Mr. Chuck]

My 81 with variable control uses a control module located in the jack compartment behind passenger seat. I would check to see if the control module connector has become dis-connected or as I experience the module fell out of it's mounting bracket and was laying against the jack, which shorted out the solder connections on the back side of the module's printed circuit board.
You may get lucky and the system may work correctly once you put the module back into it's mounting. I ended up using duct tape to hold it in place since the retaining clip had long since broken off. Good luck!

 

[BarryK]

Hi Chuck

yes, since I've posted I've lerarned about the control module in the back. I didn't know it existed before so I'm going to have to check that out as part of my trouble shooting also.
Thanks!

I hope mine hasn't gone bad as I hear they are hard to find and expensive.

 

[82ColEd]

My 81 with variable control uses a control module located in the jack compartment behind passenger seat. I would check to see if the control module connector has become dis-connected or as I experience the module fell out of it's mounting bracket and was laying against the jack, which shorted out the solder connections on the back side of the module's printed circuit board.
You may get lucky and the system may work correctly once you put the module back into it's mounting. I ended up using duct tape to hold it in place since the retaining clip had long since broken off. Good luck!

Mmmmhhh.. Is that true for the 82's also ? I gotta go check now.. Mine has been weird for a while, but i thought it was the actual switch in the dash, which i didnt want to have to take down to get to it. My hand doesnt fit in between the dash and all the junk in there.

Same ops for mine Barry: Turn it on, works ok (mine clicks a couple of times), slow speed, fast speed (if you want to call that fast :eyerole). But the intermittant mode only does regular, slow speed. I figured it was either the turning of the knob (rusting??) or the switch itself..
I'll go digging tonight and see what i can find.. I love this site..

 

[BarryK]

mine currently isn't working AT all at any speed.
it STARTED acting funny with the intermittent mode but than cut out completely.
Right nowe they are stuck in the fully up position on either side of the windshield. Geez, at the very least they could have quit in the down position.

 

[Mr. Chuck]

Mine has become intermintent since it was shorted out on the jack and have yet to find a replacement at any price. Let me know if you find a source.
Regards:

 

[82ColEd]

OK, checked mine last night (man, if you're not a contortionist you'll learn it quickly.. :eyerole): All snug as a bug back there. Looks actually brand new, not that they are..
Well, i learned something else yet again, but i guess, i am still having to take the dash off to get that wiper thing sorted.. Ah well.. Worth a try..

Barry: did you get yours sorted ??


-Stefan

 

[Wegone]

I think the 78 & 79 has the wiper relay under the center console.