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1978 Pontiac Firebird Windshield Wiper Problems

Tiny
BGBARBER90
  • MEMBER
  • 1978 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,000 MILES
I can't get my windshield wipers to come on and work. Every time plug the wiper switch into the wiper motor the motor doesn't come on and it cause my dash to not function properly. Different lights come on by themselves and my voltage and fuel gauge no longer work.

I've replaced the wiper motor with a brand new so that's not the issue. What other issue could it be?

If its wiring problems or a shortage in a wiring, which wire could it be and how do I go about correcting this issue?
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Thursday, June 5th, 2014 AT 5:14 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check ground form battery to body you should have one as well as one from engine to body. Then make sure everything is grounded and power is going to wiper.
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Friday, June 6th, 2014 AT 6:32 AM
Tiny
BGBARBER90
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  • 4 POSTS
Would this still apply if the wipers were working at one point?

Before I bought a new wiper motor the wipers once worked but eventually stopped working
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Friday, June 6th, 2014 AT 6:41 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It cold if you pulled a motor or did something else besides. On those cars the people would take the engine ground strap off and turn the air on. Well there wasn't a good ground so it would ground through the trans cable and melt it so the car would be stuck in drive. But it was all from no engine and battery ground. It's may be something else but start there first. Also make sure the ground is connected for dash.
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Friday, June 6th, 2014 AT 6:44 AM
Tiny
BGBARBER90
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  • 4 POSTS
Where would the dash ground be located?
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Friday, June 6th, 2014 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It can be on the dash it self and or the kick panel it's a black wire. Our vintage books don't really give a location. It can also be your plug going through firewall so check with a test light whether the motor is even getting power or not. The switch grounds the motor so it will work. Also there may be a ground strap on motor that looks like alittle piece of metal that goes to one of the bolts.
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Friday, June 6th, 2014 AT 6:55 AM
Tiny
BGBARBER90
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I'm starting to notice that once I turn my car on, the wiper motor itself starts arcing a green spark, would that be a grounding issue? The switch itself seems functional. As I push the buttons on the switch it sends power to the motor which cause this arcing as well.
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+1
Sunday, June 8th, 2014 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It probably is we don't have diagrams of the motor to show you but check around for a strap like thing it should go on a bolt if I remember correctly been a long time for these. May be a bad motor as well.
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Sunday, June 8th, 2014 AT 3:32 PM

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