Wipers wont work

[kjphilippona]

I have a very strange problem, my wipers do not work with the engine running but work with the engine turned off ??

[SteveJ]

First guess - Bad accessory relay.

[Mikes Z car]

I wonder if the wires on the accessory relay could be switched around so the normally open connection is now the normally closed? Also does the radio do the same thing, play when engine is off and not play when it is running since it is supposed to be on the accessory circuit?

[kjphilippona]

Where is the accessory relay i need to look at ?

[Mikes Z car]

Hmmm I just realized I am in over my head here as the accessory relay only has a normally open contact the normally closed contact would not be used.

Now I wonder if the ACC circuit is wired to the wrong wire on the ignition switch?

Hope this helps, I am outta ideas.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Mikes Z car

[kjphilippona]

Thanks Mike you have been a great help. I do not drive the car much so the battery goes dead when i start the car and let it run for a while so i could not check if the radio does the same thing. I know over the last year i have been having some weird electrical problems. The radio, wipers and fan blower motor would not work then a few days later start working. I do remember when the car is running and i turn the wipers on you can here a clicking coming from where you said the relay could be. I will get a new battery and follow your instructions, and get the old girl on the road again

[kjphilippona]

Ok this looks like the culprit, turn the key to acc and it clicks. Started the car and the radio and wipers did not work , gave this a little tap and everything started working. Turned the car off and they quit working again another tap and all working. I will do some hunting and find a replacement.

[SteveJ]

28911-89913 is a Seat Belt Warning Timer. I don't think that is the precise culprit, though you could have been moving a ground or other connection elsewhere.

[kjphilippona]

Ok ill keep looking

[kjphilippona]

I have been trying to track down the electrical problem with my wipers and have had to correct a charging problem. I do not drive the car much so the battery goes dead often, I would charge it up and start the car to move it so that I could clean it up to drive the next day, the car started up ok, but if I let it run or drive it for a short while, the next time I try to start it , the battery is dead. I first thought it was an old battery and replaced it. I decided to drive the car to work a few days, early morning with headlights and wipers to remove dew. After two days I noticed the engine dragging when you start it up. I stopped at Advanced Auto and had them hook their tester up to check out my alternator, it failed 11.4 unloaded and 11.2 loaded. I purchased a new alternator and installed it today, when I returned the core I had them hook the tester up to make sure all was working. This guy did not run the test like the first time it was run, he said the meter was reading only battery voltage and did not change when I started up the car. I checked and was getting voltage out of the alternator and thru the fusible link. One thing I cannot remove the pos terminal from the battery while running without hitting the fender. I can unplug the pos lead that comes from the harness and the engine dies and will not start up until you reconnect the lead. I could use a little help as to where I can look for my problem

[SteveJ]

Some Electrical Basics and Troubleshooting | Fiddling With Z Cars