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Electrical issue Power Wagon #2697502
09/14/19 03:17 PM
09/14/19 03:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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northcoastmopar  Offline OP
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Hi, have a 73 Power Wagon and I’m trying to track an electrical issue..
When I turn on the headlights the wiper motor runs. It doesn’t matter what position the ignition key is in and turning the wiper motor switch on or off has no effect on it, it continues to run.
The wipers don’t actually work, but the motor does run.

I pulled the dash and nothing looks hacked or spliced, everything looks factory from a wiring standpoint. I checked all the harness plugs at the firewall under the hood and everything is clean, nothing is corroded or burnt.

Don’t know much about the truck, got it last year on eBay and just starting to mess with it .

Any ideas on what to look at first?

Thanks in advance

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2697509
09/14/19 03:25 PM
09/14/19 03:25 PM
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illinois
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rbkt65 Offline
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look at all grounds. it should have a ground from battery to block and small wire from battery to core support. make sure you have all grounds. even add some made from jumper wires just to test systems. make sure firewall to engine ground is there. good luck.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: rbkt65] #2697595
09/14/19 08:23 PM
09/14/19 08:23 PM
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Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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I have a ground from the battery to engine and one to side of radiator. Have a braided cable from engine to firewall. I’ll double check everything.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2697630
09/14/19 10:22 PM
09/14/19 10:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,828
east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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bad wiper switch?


Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2698134
09/16/19 04:31 PM
09/16/19 04:31 PM
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UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
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NITROUSN Offline
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Quote
The wipers don’t actually work, but the motor does run.


So I have to assume when you make this comment there is no linkage attached to the motor? Wipers are keyed power and the headlights are constant power. I would unplug the motor and switch first turn on the headlights and see what wire is now hot. Then trace it back and you will most likely find the problem.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: NITROUSN] #2708516
10/20/19 12:06 PM
10/20/19 12:06 PM
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Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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Finally got a chance to look at this again.

I pulled the cowl cover and the wiper arms are connected. I moved the motor around a bit and the wiper arms pivots now move. The motor was seized.

However....even without a key in the ignition, the wiper motor comes on when I turn on the headlights. So the motor is getting power even without a key. I’ll trace back from the wiper motor and see which wire is hot. The wiper switch has no effect on anything.


Last edited by northcoastmopar; 10/20/19 12:30 PM.
Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2708685
10/20/19 10:07 PM
10/20/19 10:07 PM
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Paducah, KY USA Earth
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jcruse64 Offline
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I've read that some folks have run a ground off the case of the wiper motor itself to a spot on the firewall, because the motor is not grounded well enough to the firewall on its 3 mounting points.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: jcruse64] #2708746
10/21/19 07:08 AM
10/21/19 07:08 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
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east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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I've done that, went to go to work one morning and wipers wouldn't work. They worked the day before. Added a ground from the motor to the firewall and problem fixed. Only one I ever had to do that to in the dozen or more D/W series trucks I've had. But his problem is the motor running when the headlights come on. Wonder if there is a crossed wire....maybe at the bulkhead connector?


Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2708748
10/21/19 07:14 AM
10/21/19 07:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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Grey wire from the wiper motor switch is hot when I turn the headlights on even without a key in the ignition.

Given that the wiper motor switch is keyed power I’m wondering if there is something screwy with my ignition switch or wiring. Just not sure how it’s tied to the headlights.

I’ll keep tracing.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2709696
10/24/19 12:44 AM
10/24/19 12:44 AM
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Rancho Cucamonga, CA
D_C Offline
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Wondered if the wiper motor wiring is shorted to some other hot wire (insulation burned or scuffed/chaffed) ? Have you disconnected the wiper motor? With the connector disconnected it shouldn’t run unless the wiring IS shorted to a Hot wire somewhere in the harness.

Or, if the wiper motor does not meet resistance, like when it bottoms out, it cannot “Park”. When it “Parks” it shuts the motor off. Otherwise, it just runs and runs.

I (also) own a ‘74 W200.

Last edited by D_C; 10/24/19 12:54 AM.
Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: D_C] #2709777
10/24/19 01:31 PM
10/24/19 01:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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I have disconnected the wiper motor. When I do this it won't turn on when I turn on the headlights.

Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: northcoastmopar] #2709818
10/24/19 04:03 PM
10/24/19 04:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
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east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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ai in the engine won't turn over?


Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
Re: Electrical issue Power Wagon [Re: basketcase] #2710108
10/26/19 09:51 AM
10/26/19 09:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,366
Cleveland, Ohio
northcoastmopar Offline OP
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Originally Posted by basketcase
ai in the engine won't turn over?



As in the wiper motor won’t run in answer to D_C’s question.







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