wiper problems.

[74MOPAR]

 When I first got this car the wipers wouldn't move. 74Cuda.  Ran the troubleshooting test from a 1973 Chrysler Plymouth factory service manual on the motor.
Basically it had you jumper wires from the battery to different parts of the 4 way connector and amongst themselves and ground.
 So the motor worked as it should when jumpered. Fast and slow speeds, and return to concealed position.  

 Thought it was the dash switch.  Got a new dash switch. Put it in. The wipers worked  in slow speed until I turned them off.  On the next attempt at actuation, they didn't work.  Then they did. Now they don't.  
  Fuse seems fine- not blown anyhow.
So- now with new switch in place I attach multimeter to ground, and check for voltage in the harness connector.
With key to ON,  it gives 12 volts to one connection at off position,  12 volts to another connection at slow position, and 12 volts to another connection at fast speed.  So the power is getting from the battery thru the fusebox to the harness connector.
  I thought bad ground maybe, but then why did it work OK when I did the jumper type test initially ?

 Also , do the wiper arms differ from 73 to 74 - because the picture shows an arm with a little "lever" right near the pivot/mounting point, and I sure dont see a lever.{ for removing the wiper arm}

 I'd rather not pull the motor- but if I have to can I mark the "cowl arms" to motor position before undoing that nut ,--- and not pull the wiper arms and have to re calibrate them upon motor install ?

 Also - I checked the old dash switch per the continuity test in the manual and it checked out fine.  

 Any wiper or electrical insights greatly appreciated - it rains too much in WA to not have wipers. RAIN-X only goes so far...

[Chryco Psycho]

dumb ? but is there al the mounting screws for the switch panel in place , ther is a screw in the bottom left corner that creates a ground for the wiper switch  
 The wipr arms are the same for 73& 74 the left arm should have a second arm that mounts to a pivot beside the main wiper arm pivot to change the angle of the blade as it sweeps across
 the wiper switches are differnet between the 2 & 3 speed wipers , it is possible you have the wrong switch for the wiper motor you have or the wrong wiper motor for the switch & wiring , do yopu know if you have 2 or 3 speed wiper motor , 2 speed stand straight out from the firewall , 3 speed lays falt at a 90* angle tight to the firewall , this would explain why the motor works perfectly when tested but not with the switch

[74MOPAR]

I will have to check on that screw but I thought I put them all back in. Plus when I change the position of the switch on the dash it changes which female lead in the harness gets 12 V power - so that means the switch must be grounded ??

The drivers side wiper arm does have the extra pivot point. But I dont see the small lever arm that they show being manipulated to remove the arms.  So to pull the wiper arm do I need the spanner wrench looking tool ?

It is the 2 speed motor. It isn't 90* bent . The letters on the back of the switch correspond to those in the service manual for 2 speed concealed wiper diagnosis.

The car has hardly any options. So I doubt any 3 speed wiper anything is in it.

It did actually work a few times after I got the new switch in. But now no response from motor...

[Chryco Psycho]

I know the switch has to  be grounded to work properly , it mounts to a metal panel & grounds when the screws are tightened up
 There is a small tab under the wiper arm just pry it back with a small screwdriver & rock the arm up off the pivot , I may be able to get you the arm you need

[74MOPAR]

OK, I will check it out on Sunday/Monday.

So if this were a ground problem for the wiper switch, would the headlight switch and panel dimmer knob be affected as well - since they are all mounted on that same instrument panel corner piece ??

[Chryco Psycho]

no ther other switches don`t need the ground to work properly

[positraction100]

Can I get a quick question in here? I went from a non ralleye dash (with a 2 speed wiper switch) to a ralleye dash I purchased on ebay (with three speed switch) and hooked it all up. I dont have a usable battery in the car right now to test the wipers but will I need to find myself a 2 speed switch again to make it all work? Any input would be great! P.S. Because the battery in the car died *sigh* I hooked my battery charger up to the battery posts and ran current to the battery (from the charger) and ran the wipers for a quick check and they only worked at 1 speed in all positions (but real slow, slower than normal) and the wipers would not go back to the "relaxed" position. Im hoping its just because there was not enough "juice" to get them working properly. I hope I explained that clearly? Please help if you can! Thanks. Will the two/three speed switch interchange work?

Aaron (1970 barracuda)

[Chryco Psycho]

yes the switches are different & going back to the old switch will fix the problem

[positraction100]

Thanks, Ill look for one and try it!

[positraction100]

Ok, Now Im lost. I just followed your advise on what to look for in determining if I had a 2 or 3 speed wiper motor. I have a three speed motor because it mounts to the firewall and lays 90 degress tight to the firewall. Now, the standard dash I took out only had a two speed switch in it (i am saying a 2 speed switch because when you turn it, it only heard two clicks) And it worked excellent with the wiper motor in the car (which is a three speed motor). Now that i installed the ralleye dash with the three speed switch (and I say three speed now because it clicks three times when turning it) It wont work with the wiper motor...Ok, who's confused now?...I sure am......

[Chryco Psycho]

use the one that works I guess

[74MOPAR]

 Well, I removed the motor.  Scuffed the paint under it so there was some fresh metal, cleaned paint off the mounting studs [ where I think it grounds through ],
 scuffed the electrical connectors on the motor and resistor.
  Still nothing   .

 I am going to bring the motor to a rebuild place in a few days. I think their is an internal "park switch" inside  the motor casing that can short out. or maybe brushes are bad. Hopefully something not too $$$.

[JS27N0B]

Ok, Now Im lost. I just followed your advise on what to look for in determining if I had a 2 or 3 speed wiper motor. I have a three speed motor because it mounts to the firewall and lays 90 degress tight to the firewall. Now, the standard dash I took out only had a two speed switch in it (i am saying a 2 speed switch because when you turn it, it only heard two clicks) And it worked excellent with the wiper motor in the car (which is a three speed motor). Now that i installed the ralleye dash with the three speed switch (and I say three speed now because it clicks three times when turning it) It wont work with the wiper motor...Ok, who's confused now?...I sure am......

My 70 only clicks twice but it is a variable speed switch.

If it worked properly before use your old switch in the rallye pod.

[71 DEPUTY]

OK, I will check it out on Sunday/Monday.

So if this were a ground problem for the wiper switch, would the headlight switch and panel dimmer knob be affected as well - since they are all mounted on that same instrument panel corner piece ??

yes- the dimmer switch needs to be grounded for the interior light to be turned on for the dome, dash for all the lighting in it and voltage regulator, and yes for the wiper sw.

[74MOPAR]

well the dash lighting and dimmer switches work fine so that wasn't it.

I went thru the direct jumpering procedure again, and it worked as it should.

When I used the dash switch the motor went about 1/2 turn then stopped. Had to jumper it back to the "park" position [ 1/2 turn in reverse ] - then it would jolt foward 1/2 turn again with dash switch. - No jumper back to park = dash switch does nothing.

Local DC motor guy was a jerk. Other than being a jerk he said if the motor turned it was fine. He didn't even want to discuss degradation of brushes, internal park switch , etc.   Basically said maybe the problem is in the "gearbox" part of the unit - [Which included the 4 prong connector ] and he wouldn't deal with it.
Maybe he wouldn't make enough off the job or it wasn't easy enough money.He didn't even want to test it. Either way, he's lost a potential customer. This after both guys in the shop ignored me for the first few minutes. Sorry, had to rant against them.

Dealer located coupla places that had this motor. One parts guy is convinced everyone "is a jew" and doesn't want to look in the barn where it is supposedly stored. The other is going out of business and has said twice they would look for the part and call me back, but haven't.

Someone convince me the problem is elsewhere, before I pay NAPA for some rebuilt piece !