wiper motor and heater blower have stopped working

[Kamaka z]

While replacing my old washer motor which wasnt working at all with a brand new one I ran into a problem. I couldnt get the new washer motor work and while testing it to see what the problem was my wiper motor stopped working. Replaced the fuse but that didnt fix it. is there a relay i should check next or should i look somewhere else first for the issue.

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[ktm]

It could be a few things, but both the wiper motor and washer motor are controlled by the combo switch.  The washer motor using the push button on the end of the stalk and the wipers are the rotary switch.  Have you tried unplugging the connector, cleaning those contacts, and re-plugging it back together?

[Kamaka z]

I'll try that next but the switch was working fine until i started testing the plug for the washer motor and suddenly the wiper and heater motor stopped working, makes me think i shorted something while testing the washer circuit

 

 

[SteveJ]

It would help to know the year of your car. It makes a difference.

[Kamaka z]

sorry 1977 280z 5 speed

 

[Zed Head]

2 hours ago, Kamaka z said:

I'll try that next but the switch was working fine until i started testing the plug for the washer motor and suddenly the wiper and heater motor stopped working, makes me think i shorted something while testing the washer circuit

Could really use a better description of what happened.  What you were doing, what the wiper motor was doing, how you were testing, what exactly you did just before it stopped working...  You have a really unusual problem so I'd guess that absolutely nobody on here has ever experienced it.

A guess would be that you kept pressing the button on the stalk, which activates the washer motor, and a certain number of wipes of the wipers.  How many times did you press the button, what happened when it stopped, etc.  Are you saying the the wiper stopped working when you pressed the button, or stopped working completely even when you turned the wiper switch.  Unclear.

Could be that you just burned out a relay or timer.  Have you been in to the FSM yet?  There are many diagnostic procedures in there.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Zed Head

[Kamaka z]

looked at the fsm what is strange though is the fact that the blower motor and wiper motor stopped at the same time. Didnt think they were on the same circuit. I removed the wiper motor and it is fine. tested it with a power probe and runs fine when i apply power to it. When ni tested the harness connecter for the wiper it popped the circuit breaker on two of the contacts which makes me think it might be a short somewhere. I am by no means an electrical expert so i am learning as i go.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Kamaka z

[ktm]

When it comes to the electrical aspect, that is how we all learned.  I am out of my depth on 280z's as the 240z's circuits are a fair bit simpler.

[Kamaka z]

I have narrowed it down a bit. I have power at all 4 fusible links. I have power at the plug that is on the inside passenger side wheel well. somewhere between this plug and the fuse block i am losing power. only four of the circuits in the fuse block have power the rest are dead. Could it be a relay or does the harness go to the fusebox first? ive studied the wiring diagrams but dont see a place where the power could be stopped?

 

[Zed Head]

On 1/10/2016 at 6:47 PM, Kamaka z said:

 When ni tested the harness connecter for the wiper it popped the circuit breaker on two of the contacts which makes me think it might be a short somewhere. I am by no means an electrical expert so i am learning as i go.

I'm going to sound a little bit parrot-like, but we could use a better description.  You said that you tested the harness and popped the circuit break on two of the contacts.  Hard to understand.  Do you mean that you blew two fuses?  We don't call them circuit breakers even though that's what fuses do.

And proper testing procedure doesn't blow fuses.  So that's an issue.

[Kamaka z]

sorry i ment the circuit breaker on my power probe

 

[Zed Head]

Here are some sources.  You're going to need a bigger phone.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/280z/

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/wiringdiagrams/F77ZCAR-WIRING1.pdf