Electrical problem, wiper switch

[mpro69rr]

Bought a new 3 speed wiper switch because I thought the other one had problems, when I plugged it in and tried to use it I would get a shock. Well the new one is doing the same thing. When the whole bar with the switches was leaning on the steering wheel I could see a little blue spark every time I turned on the wiper switch. On the old switch it melted the pink wire a little, I have since put black tape on that part but still get shocked. This is a brand new wiring harness, I don't understand why this is happening. All the other switches are fine. I have the grounding wire underneath the steering wheel hooked up. Does anyone have a clue what's going on?

 

[mpro69rr]

Any one have any ideas?

 

[mtbase]

Could it be a "dead short" in the wiper motor?
They're a bugger to remove, but if you can get your hands on another wiper motor, you could connect it electrically ans
d see if the problem persists. I know they don't give those away, the wiring harness couldn't have been cheap and they are a bother to replace. You shouldn't risk the harness if you know its good and for your year.
Unlikely that the washer motor is the problem, but be sure to unplug it to remove it from the equation.

 

[mtbase]

Whats the model and year??

 

[mpro69rr]

Could it be a "dead short" in the wiper motor?
They're a bugger to remove, but if you can get your hands on another wiper motor, you could connect it electrically ans
d see if the problem persists. I know they don't give those away, the wiring harness couldn't have been cheap and they are a bother to replace. You shouldn't risk the harness if you know its good and for your year.
Unlikely that the washer motor is the problem, but be sure to unplug it to remove it from the equation.

Good idea, I'll unplug the wiper motor from the bulk head. Thanks. I'm also going to run a wire from the switch to ground, see if that works.

 

[mpro69rr]

Whats the model and year??

1969 RR 383

 

[Badvert65]

Little known fact, both the wiper motor (case) and the wiper switch itself needs to be grounded. It hast to do with how things are wired (the wiper motor reverses itself when turned off-goes to park.)

 

[mpro69rr]

Little known fact, both the wiper motor (case) and the wiper switch itself needs to be grounded. It hast to do with how things are wired (the wiper motor reverses itself when turned off-goes to park.)

That's what I thought. I'm going to run a wire from the switch to ground on the steering column, that's grounded.

 

[mpro69rr]

That's what I thought. I'm going to run a wire from the switch to ground on the steering column, that's grounded.

OK, I ran a wire from the switch to the steering column for ground. I turned on the wipers and no shock! Could it have been that simple, is it fixed?

 

[Gold Rush]

Little known fact, both the wiper motor (case) and the wiper switch itself needs to be grounded. It hast to do with how things are wired (the wiper motor reverses itself when turned off-goes to park.)

Now that is interesting.... Didn't remember a ground on my two speed wiper switch so I compared the two and three speed diagrams in the FSM. Sure enough, the three speed is grounded and the two speed is not. Of course, the motors are totally different.

One would think that ground would be provided via a metal strap in the dash mounting hole.