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weird electrical problem w/wipers and dome lights
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bikerfox View Drop Down
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Points: 4473 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bikerfox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: weird electrical problem w/wipers and dome lights
    Posted: Feb/14/2021 at 1:14pm
Situation 1 :  didn't have ground connected to headlight switch (small tab at bottom
of switch) but headlights and dome lights worked correctly.  However, the wipers
wouldn't park and also had one speed only.

Situation 2 today:  took black wire previously mounted on top of wiper switch
and attached to headlight switch (small tab).  wipers parked, but dome lights
wouldn't go off.

Obviously, the black wire isn't a ground, so what would electrically-minded peeps
suggest?
1969 Rebel SST (1970-1987)
1968 AMX (2005-2011)
1969 SC/Rambler (2011-2019)
1970 Javelin (2019 to ?)"Jane"
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Trader View Drop Down
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Points: 6912 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trader Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/14/2021 at 5:26pm
Do you have the copper wiper switch to light switch ground strap installed:
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george w View Drop Down
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Points: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote george w Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/14/2021 at 5:35pm
There should be a copper, flat metal jumper piece on the back side of the dash that grounds the wiper switch shaft to the headlight switch metal body. I suspect that yours is missing. It's about and inch wide and 5" or so long. There's a zig/zag bend in it to allow it to fit flush on the surfaces behind the dash between the headlight switch mounting point and the wiper switch mounting point. If yours is missing you could make a jumper with some flat metal or a wire jumper with a couple of large ring lugs and a piece of 16 gauge wire that you could place behind the dash to connect the wiper switch to the headlight switch body.
Does the black wire that was on the wiper switch have a black plastic terminal on it or does it have a bare female terminal on the end ?
The ground wire with the bare end is the ground for the headlight switch. A single black wire with a plastic end terminal is most likely the power feed wire for the windshield washer pump and that connects to the wiper switch.
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Points: 4473 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bikerfox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/14/2021 at 6:11pm
Thanks, Trader and George.

I'm pretty certain that the joining copper piece is there, as I heard a metallic
rattle when I reinserted the wiper switch.  And, Geo., I think you are correct
that the black wire is for the ww washer motor, as it's hot.
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Points: 994 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote troutwilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/14/2021 at 10:35pm

When you were messing with the wires to get to situation 2, did you maybe turn the headlight switch to the "Dome Lights On" position?

And x2 on George W's explanation of the black wires and their connectors.  If the connector is bare you could tone it out to see if its grounded.
Bill O.
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Points: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote george w Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/15/2021 at 7:31am
The black wire for the windshield washer should not be hot. It should be a single wire, not part of the main harness, and it should go directly to the washer pump motor. The "hot" wire feed for the wiper switch is part of the main harness and is dark brown. It should be hot only when the ignition key is on.
The wiper switch, which must be grounded, is grounded through that copper strap that connects the wiper switch to the headlight switch body. The ground path is through the connecting tab on the back edge of the headlight switch that connects to a single black ground wire that's part of the main harness.
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Points: 4473 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bikerfox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/15/2021 at 11:59am
Originally posted by troutwilly troutwilly wrote:


When you were messing with the wires to get to situation 2, did you maybe turn the headlight switch to the "Dome Lights On" position?

And x2 on George W's explanation of the black wires and their connectors.  If the connector is bare you could tone it out to see if its grounded.

It's strange that the headlight switch, while looking exactly like the factory switch,
doesn't seem to have a "dome lights on" position.
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1969 SC/Rambler (2011-2019)
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Points: 4473 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bikerfox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/15/2021 at 7:53pm
So, I have news to report, based on some testing done today.

Figured out that the black "loose wire" is the ww reservoir wire
and the pump works.

The "other" black wire I connected to the headlight "tab" on the 
bottom of the HL switch.  When closing the door, the interior lights
stayed on and the wiper parked itself.  This black wire has voltage
when the HL are on, but what it's supposed to be connected to is
the big mystery.  So, what's the function of this tab?  Where does
this wire go to?  And, as previously mentioned, the HL switch won't
rotate like it's supposed to, to dim the interior lights.  BTW, it's a
SMP DS165 and looks just like the original.

I tested the voltage on the wiper switch shaft while the wipers
were moving and it read .92 volts--should be 0 when voltage is
applied.

So, I grounded the wiper shaft and ran the wipers.  All worked and
when I closed the door, the interior lights dimmed slightly but stayed
on and the wipers unparked themselves!

I'm pretty positive the HL wiring connections are correct.  I found
the ww diagram online and matched all wires correctly, I think.  I'll
removed the ww switch yet again and check all wiring connections b4
I use my firearm for the final time...Wink
1969 Rebel SST (1970-1987)
1968 AMX (2005-2011)
1969 SC/Rambler (2011-2019)
1970 Javelin (2019 to ?)"Jane"
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Points: 994 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote troutwilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/15/2021 at 11:44pm
Don't mess with the WW wire.  You got that working.  That's one problem solved.

You need to verify where the other wire your connecting to the HL switch goes.  It should go to the firewall somewhere around where the steering column penetrates the firewall.  Tone it out to verify it goes to ground.  If not or you can't tell, add a ground wire and see what happens.

Most electrical gremlins end up being a ground issue.  You might also need to ensure both switches are making good clean contact with that copper strip.

Another question, do the dash lights that light up the lettering around the wiper and headlight switches work.  They are also grounded via that copper strip and headlight switch
Bill O.
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Points: 4473 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bikerfox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb/15/2021 at 11:50pm
Originally posted by troutwilly troutwilly wrote:

Don't mess with the WW wire.  You got that working.  That's one problem solved.

You need to verify where the other wire your connecting to the HL switch goes.  It should go to the firewall somewhere around where the steering column penetrates the firewall.  Tone it out to verify it goes to ground.  If not or you can't tell, add a ground wire and see what happens.

Most electrical gremlins end up being a ground issue.  You might also need to ensure both switches are making good clean contact with that copper strip.

Another question, do the dash lights that light up the lettering around the wiper and headlight switches work.  They are also grounded via that copper strip and headlight switch

Bill--if I didn't say so earlier, that "other black wire" has voltage
when the HLs are on and doesn't when the HL are off.

The dash lettering lights up for the HL but there's no wiring for the ww switch,
hence no lights there.

What I'd like to know is what is supposed to connect to that "metal tab"
at the bottom of the HL switch?  Where does this wire terminate?  The TSM,
to me, isn't clear about this.
1969 Rebel SST (1970-1987)
1968 AMX (2005-2011)
1969 SC/Rambler (2011-2019)
1970 Javelin (2019 to ?)"Jane"
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