wipers & heater fan - anything in common?

[Mark Schue]

This morning driving to work I discover that both my windshield wipers and heater fan/blower are broke. As I leave work, I find they are again both magically fixed. I stop for gas, and I go to actually use the heater and find the are both broke again. I get home, car still running...both still broke. Shut off car, start it again, both now work.

When they are "broke", headlights, dome light, turn signals all work and amp gauge reads normal.

I know there are lots of threads on why each of these could be broke. But whatever this is, its something in common....but not in common with other electrics. Any ideas what?

Thanks,

Mark

[Bambikiller240]

FUSE? Fuses can look good and still be bad. Pull them and test with an Ohm-meter. Cost about $.50 to put in a new fuse and eliminate that as a possible cause of your problem.

[hls30.com]

Get some Deoxit, and clean all of the contacts in the the fuse box. ALso check them for tension on the fuses.

Will

[Mark Schue]

Cleaned contacts and changed the fuses out. Still a problem.

The wipers, heater fan and rear defroster all seem to work when the key is turned to Accessory. Once the car is running they no longer work.

More ideas?

[Bambikiller240]

Bad Elecrical portion of the Ignition switch? (on the back of the lock assembly)

[Mark Schue]

Thanks Carl! I'll somehow look into that. These tips really help narrow the search!

[hls30.com]

Swap one form another car-just pull the plug off and plug it into another one. A two minute test!

Will

[Mark Schue]

Great idea. I have a friend coming over in a two weekend so we can install a new timing chain in his Z......so I'm pretty sure he would let me borrow.

If it is the switch, I'm assuming there is no good way to fix the switch and I'm in the market for a new switch. Keying or replacing the door locks is not something I want to deal with. Is it easy to key an ignition switch to the door locks?

[hls30.com]

Many locksmiths can do that, but replacing the electrial part of the switch does not change the key. I have a different ingition switch in my car, and I have one side of the key made for the doors and one side made for the ignition. That way I have one key to the car, but a better chance that someone elses keys won't let someone else take my car quite so easily.

If it is the electrical part of the switch, pitch it, and get a new one-cheep, available, easy to replace.

Will

[Mark Schue]

That is good news. I assumed incorrectly that the switch and key/lock were one part....in the same way the headlight switch is part of the stalk.

Of course, being that easy it won't turn out to be the switch.

Thanks again for everyones help!