71 Wiper help

[Jim Paulsen]

I bought a basket case 71 and I am restoring, starting from the back bumper. I am at the dash, and the previous owner couldn't get the wipers to work. Does anyone know of any technical documentation on how to ohm the wiper switch and wiper relay? Would the wiper limit switch come into play? The wiper door assembly is disconnected at this time. Do I need to do anything special to bypass the wiper door assembly to make the wipers work (temporarily)? I don't want to finish putting the dash/console together if I have to replace the switch and relay. Thanks in advance for posts...

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Wiper help *TL*

Just off the top of my head (so to speak), I think there is a diagram in the 1971 factory service manual that shows just what you want. It is a handy reference for a whole lot of other information as well.
As a shameless plug for the organization which supports this site, the FSM is available from the NCRS store. Just click the buttons on the home page.

[Jim T.]

Re: 71 Wiper help

Two places to check that could prevent wiper operation. At the bottom of the drivers dash under the steering column there are three switches. Pulldown switch on the left raises and locks the headlights up. Pulldown switch on the right raises the wiper door and locks it in place. The middle switch is electrical and has an off and on. If the switch is on your wipers will not operate. The purpose of the switch is to stop the wipers up on the windshield to permitt changing of the wiper blades.
The other interlock switch that prevents the wipers from working is mounted on the firewall of the passenger side of your 71. It has a button that an arm presses when the wiper door is raised to the up position. This keeps the wipers from working until the wiper door is raised.

[Jim Paulsen]

Re: 71 Wiper help

Thanks for the post Jim - that's exactly the information I need! Fantastic. I'll give'er a whirl tonight...

[Terry M.]

Good post Jim *TL*

Wish I would have thought of that. We often "cure" non-functioning 1968-1972 wipers during the operations check with that center knob. I was thinking of the resistance values Jim asked for and didn't go out of that box.

[Erv Schlepp]

Re: 71 Wiper help

Since you have the Vette apart I would use an electrical toggle on-off switch from a auto supply and temporary wiring to wiper motor to put power on the wiper motor and make sure the wiper motor and wiper transmission are in good working order. Of course you will need to mechanically prepare for a test run also. I would not want to reassemble the car and find out I have to change them. It is a lot easier now with the car apart. Make sure you use temporary wire of big enough gauge and a fuse.

[Jim Paulsen]

Re: 71 Wiper help

It was the ground. The wiper switch has to be grounded for the wipers to work. The pump will function after grounding the motor, but the HI-LOW will not function until the switch has a functioning ground which is done thru the gauge assembly I believe.