Got taserred by the accessory panel?

[Tonker1]

Hey,
So essentially I was working on the accessory panel, the keys where in the ignition, my hands where on the accessory panel which is hanging in free space. It was hot as can be, put my leg out the door and got a light tasering by the chrome door stomp plate. As in the picture the panel was hanging in free space with only the wiper motor switch wirred. I got my multimeter out and established there was 11.5V between the panel and an earth. Amps would probably be more useful but the amps fuse in the multimeter is blown. Other things to note, no matter what position the wiper switch is the in the wipers move and when I got the car the wiper motor wasn't wired.

Does the accessory panel require an earth to function properly? This seems unlikely
Or is the wiper motor switch broken? Far more likely

[Kapteenikosmos]

If I recall right, the panel needs ground to operate properly. Someone with better memory will hopefully confirm this. Also check that the grounding strap is also installed on the wiper motor. Mine was missing (can't remember what were the symptoms) so I just ran a grounding wire from from one of the wiper cover bolts into the ground.

[Jamiez]

Almost everything in these cars uses a "Body ground".  This means most switches and panels won't work properly just hanging in space.  Typically the switch (or light) housing will ground to whatever panel it is connected to which will then ground to the frame.   

The light bar is an excellent example.  The light sockets ground to the bar, the bar grounds to the dash frame, the dash frame grounds to the frame.  If you remove the light bar and apply power to it, nothing happens...unless you run a wire to the frame then it instantly springs to life.

[Tonker1]

Awesome, I'll put in a ground wire tomorrow and hopefully that'll fix everything. 5" wires is a much cheaper solution than new switches!

Thanks

[johannes]

This thread might have some info that might be useful ?

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=82062.msg836097#msg836097

I made some comments at the very end of the thread...

[jhaag]

I will be interested in the outcome, because in reading your post (wipers are always on, panel/switch very hot, motor not wired) these things are a red flag to me. I would guess either the motor has been wired wrong, or the switch is bad. Keep us updated.

[dodj]

I will be interested in the outcome, because in reading your post (wipers are always on, panel/switch very hot, motor not wired) these things are a red flag to me. I would guess either the motor has been wired wrong, or the switch is bad. Keep us updated.

Very strange things can happen with poor or non-existant ground(s).

[johannes]

For a variable speed wiper, the Power is cut by a mechanism inside the wiper motor ONLY after the wiper is at the consealed parked location....
The switch ONLY reverse the motors direction of rotation.

This means that if the wipers are prevented from rotating (in reverse) to the consealed location,....the power will allways be ON.
...which means HEAT build up in the el.system...
NOTE; There is a buildt in thermal fuse inside your switch....if it works properly, that fuse will cut power is overheated....then put power back on...etc..

Best way to check function of switch is to remove the wiper arms....
Then put them back on when the you are SURE the wiper is in Parked orientation.

Should the torque from the wiper motor be unable to overcome the force needed to rotate the wipers from windshield-glass to crome-frame, you have a problem.

Also, check where the cables comes out from the wiper motor....that is where I experienced power-to-ground problems due to cable insulation issues.

Remember to tell us what you find out...

[Tonker1]

Okay, so I grounded the accessory plate and the wipers function perfectly.

Awesome help!

For those interested this (    http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Cardone-Reman-Wiper-Motor/1973-Dodge-Challenger/_/N-ip5n5Z9cia0?itemIdentifier=724476_482106_18447_   ) is where I got my new wiper motor from, it cost $99 and looks way better in person than the sale picture.


Here is a video of it functioning, I obviously need some new wiper arm rubbers. When I tried to make this video the first time, the driver's side wiper suddenly started flailing everywhere and the slender secondary arm was swinging freely. The little clip on the driver's side secondary wiper arm had broken, as opposed to finding and buying a repo clip, it can be fixed with an $0.05 E-clip.

http://s1161.photobucket.com/albums/q514/Tonker1/?action=view&current=VIDEO0052_zps9a48daac.mp4

photos
1. New wiper motor: http://s1161.photobucket.com/albums/q514/Tonker1/?action=view&current=IMAG0148_zps5a1a459c.jpg
2. E clip fix: http://s1161.photobucket.com/albums/q514/Tonker1/?action=view&current=IMAG0149_zps34fb75b0.jpg


Thanks again.