'67 BB electrical question

[Ray Dattilo]

I posted the other day about my wipers and heater blower not working. I began tracing wires right from the battery and found that the black (ground) wire comes from the solenoid to the blower rather than off the starter motor where the neg. terminal from the battery connects. The AIM diarram shows the black wire coming from the starter motor. Which is correct and does this matter? Since I am having a ground problem with the wipers and blower I'm looking for the source. Thanks.
Regards,
Ray

[Stephen L.]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

You didn't say which "pole" on the solenoid the "black wire" was connected to but in effect ALL poles on the solenoid are "hot" (positive polarity) at some point during the operation of the solenoid functions. The starter housing is the negative for those functions. Reconnect the black (ground) wire to the starter mounting bolt as shown in your AIM and things should work just fine.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

Lots of times I have found them hooked up to the positive pole on the starter solinoid. This is not good. Remove it and ground it as Steve said.

[Ray Dattilo]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

I repositioned the ground on the starter and the wipers now work. I can't believe someone went through the trouble to restore this car to its Bloomington Gold condition and doesn't know a ground from a hot wire! Now I need to figure out why the washer doesn't work and the heater fan doesn't work. Both units look restored and so I'm guessing it's an electrical issue given what I have seen so far. Any way to work my way methodically to the problems? It certainly could be a mechanical problem but the (quartz) clock also does not run and the passenger courtesy lamp does not work (the fuses are OK and the bulb is OK). I guess I'm back to tracing wires. Is there any other way to test the washer and blower?
Best regards,
Ray

[Wayne W.]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

Blower motors are pretty simple. There are two wires to check. Make sure of the ground, like you did on the wipers, and check the hot wire for 12V. If those are good at the same time and the motor doesnt work, you got a bad motor. If you dont find 12V then you are going to have to look at the fuse,wires, or the switch. Got a test light or a volt ohm meter?

[Ray Dattilo]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

Wayne,
I've got a volt meter I'll use. I know the ground is OK since I checked that link on the way to the wiper motor. If I don't get 12 volts (I presume with the switch turned on) can I check the motor by running a wire directly from the positive battery terminal to the orange wire connection just to know that the motor's OK? At least then I can concentrate on the wiring. What do you think? I see a capacitor there; what is its purpose and can it have a problem? Sorry for all the questions; feel free to bail out of my problems anytime you wish without apology.
Regards,
Ray

[Wayne W.]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

Sure, you can just run a hot wire directly if you want. The capacitor is just for noise supression. I have never known one to be bad, but I guess its possible.

[Ray Dattilo]

Re: '67 BB electrical question

Wayne,
I've checked and I'm getting 12V to the heater blower. I guess that means I'll be buying a new blower unless there's something I've missed.
My last problem is the washer motor. Can I presume that since the wipers are now operative that the washer is also getting juice and that it's therefore the washer motor (there's no pumping going on at all when I push in the knob). Is there someone out there who rebuilds these or are these a home repair job or simply a new purchase repro item? Thanks much again.
Regards,
Ray