erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

[BoostedSUV]

I changed my wiper motor, wiper switch, and wiper stalk beacuse I could not get my wipers to turn off after swapping my fuse box and wire harness from my 92 with one from a 93.. I can now shut my wipers off but when they "park" the voltage drops to under 10volts and will not return to normal unless you unplug the wiper motor or turn the wipers on. Pulling the wiper fuse will not return the voltage to normal either, I have to unplug the motor. With the wipers on the voltage bounces from normal to low, turn them off and voltage drops so bad the truck will barely stay running and kicks on the "check gauges" light. I am lost... Help please!

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: New wiper issue! Help!

Re: New wiper issue! Help!

What I've realized about this forum:
A. i must have problems that no one else has ever had
B. Nobody wants to share their knowledge
C. Nodody really has any clue

I'm struggling to get this truck straightened out and I'm striking out miserably with help on this forum. It seems that my problems are not common and knobody has a clue what to do. I'm getting very frustrated because I'm missing something that I was hoping somebody would point their finger too.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: New wiper issue! Help!

Re: New wiper issue! Help!

upon further ivestigation the volts jump from about 14-8 then back to 14 with the wipers in motion as well. They fall to about 8 and stay there with wipers in off position. Any Help?? Please.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

somebody... anybody?? I'm about to buy a new wire harness and start over again. I was hoping someone could save me the trouble.

 

[tnsyty]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Man, I wish I had an answer for you, but wow. I know that with my wipers on or my blinkers on, the voltage gauge on my truck will bounce all over. Even my tack will dance some. Did the wiper motor come with a new board?

 

[91blazins10]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

dont drive in the rain :dunno: has to be something with the wiper motor.

 

[Daryl H]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

What did you swap the harness from besides the year? Did it have intermittent wipers?
Can you slave in the old motor?
Could the wiper transmission linkage binding? Maybe take off the wiper arms and check again.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

I've tried 3 different motors, 2 different switches, 2 different circuit boards. everything worked fine before I had to swap harness'. everything else seems to be fine other than this wiper issue. it's almost like the motor is back feeding a ground through the system when they are off. This truck is killing me!

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Hey Boosted,
If you pull the wiper fuse and the voltage stays low but you unplug the wiper motor and the voltage returns to normal, it sounds like you may have two wires swapped at the motor, or at the switch - probably cuz of the swapped harness. Do you have a factory wiring diagram, and a test light that you can use to start tracing voltages?

 

[vinnieTy]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

You stated you unplug the fuse and the same thing happens, but do the wipers work with that fuse unplugged? If so then there is a split somewhere that should not be connected. If they dont work try turning the wipers on with the fuse back in and unplug one fuse at a time to see when they stop. That might help you figure out at least which wire can be crossed. Dont forget to check your ground. You never now.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

No no, when I pull the wiper fuse the wipers do not operate but the voltage will not return to normal unless I unplug the wipers either at the switch or the motor. I checked the fire wall ground because that was my initial suspition but it was fine. I don't know what other grounds to checks?? Nothing else seems to be effected.

 

[vinnieTy]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

No no, when I pull the wiper fuse the wipers do not operate but the voltage will not return to normal unless I unplug the wipers eithe at the switch or the motor. I check the fire wall ground because that was my initial suspension but it was good. I don't know what other grounds to checks?? Nothing else seems to be effected.

okay,okay,okay..........When you changed out the harness did that also include the part of the harness that goes up to the switch? I know that is a seperate harness. I am trying to look at the wiring diagrams right now.

You now what when you unplug that fuse does anything else not work. Like the radio, gauges interior lights and etc...Maybe it is linked to something else. Look behind the fuse box and see if any other wire is tapped in that fuse holder maybe from previous owner. What about your alarm. Disconnect it and try. Sorry to through alot of things out there but just trying to help out. :roll:

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

I appreciate the help. Question are good because maybe it will trigger an answer that will help. I drove the truck around for some time with out the wiper fuse and I did not notice anything else not working. I checked the fuse panel and it seems that the wiper is the only thing running off that circuit. I've even compared the 92 and 93 wiper harness and they appear to be the same. I really can't figure out what the deal is. I'm about to replace the 93 harness and put another 92 one back in. Unfortunately that's a lot of work if that's not the problem.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

I was watching the voltage in relation to wiper position and the voltage only drops when the wipers reach the "park" position. On the way up and on the way down the volts read 14, they drop to about 10 when they reach the bottom of the cycle. I'm wondering if the wiper switch is different from a 92 and 93???


Another thing... the squirters haven't worked since I swapped harness' I get power from the switch to motor when the squirter is pushed, but no power from switch/motor to the squirter.

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Hey Boosted,
Got home to look at my electrical diagrams.
On a "Conventional Wiper/Washer" system the switch assembly is definitely different from the "Pulse Wiper/Washer" system. On the pulsed system the circuit 93 feeds the washer pump and on the conventional system circuit 94 feeds the pump. With this difference I would think all of your problems are being cause by the wrong switch mounted on the column.

The plugs for these two switches are the same.. if you can find the other type of switch that will probably cure your problem.

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Also,
the 'conventional' system feeds directly into the wiper motor via a 4-pin plug, but the pulsed system feeds into a 'wiper motor module' which has a bunch of extra circuitry for the pulse part of the system.

.... hope this helps

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Hey Boosted,
Got home to look at my electrical diagrams.
On a "Conventional Wiper/Washer" system the switch assembly is definitely different from the "Pulse Wiper/Washer" system. On the pulsed system the circuit 93 feeds the washer pump and on the conventional system circuit 94 feeds the pump. With this difference I would think all of your problems are being cause by the wrong switch mounted on the column.

The plugs for these two switches are the same.. if you can find the other type of switch that will probably cure your problem.

Thanks I really appreciate that info! I was thinking about that today. I was trying to find out if 92/93 wiper switches were different. I think I have/had a pulse system in truck, I guess that would be intermittent wipers correct?? I would only assume that the harness from the 93 would be the same. Are you saying the switch is different from a 92 to a 93? or are you saying that one is a pulse system and one is a conventional w/o intermittent wipers? I'm a little confused by "pulse" vs "conventional" but the wrong switch idea definately makes sense. any more info to clarify?? Thanks again!

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Hi Boosted.... No prob.....
From what I can see in the diagrams the harness in the car is exactly the same between the two systems. The 'pulse' system is the intermittent wiper system.
The 'pulse' system has its own, specific switch and motor/control module (module built into the motor it appears).
The 'conventional' system has its own, specific switch as well. The windshield wiper motor it uses is much simpler than the pulse-type motor.

Looks like you just need to pair up the right switch and motor assembly... maybe a GM parts guy could look those up for you and get you the correct pair.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

I would be surprised if there where different motors/switches available in typhoons. Figured they were all the same. I used a 93 typhoon harness in my 92 typhoon. My wiper motor has the pulse board built into the motor and from what I've seen/heard/read that's what they all had. not sure if they changed the board or switch from 92-93. I will do some research and see what I can come up with. At this point I'm willing to try anything. The next step is to pull out the harness and put a new one from a 92 in. Simple jobs become so difficult.....

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: erratic voltage when wipers are "Off"

Simple jobs become so difficult.....

Isn't this the truth! I pulled my inner fender to check my wastegate linkage and am now replacing the turbo.... gotta love these trucks!