Wipers Not Working

[W8S SS]

checked all the fuses and grounds. when i turn the wiper knob, the relays make a click sound. if i pull them, the sound is gone. i'm trying to find some relays so i can replace but autozone doesnt carry them and oreilly's never has the parts i need. does that clicking mean the relays are bad?

 

[RobbieD]

Relays normally click when they're working. Try checking that there's power going in to the relay, and then out of it when it's activated.

 

[W8S SS]

Ok I replaced the relays without any luck. But if I push down on the relays or wiggle the distribution box around the wipers will work which leads me to believe its a ground problem. The trouble is everytime I try to work on it, it gets too dark out and I can't find where the grounds are for the box. Someone help please?

 

[RobbieD]

It might be a ground, but it actually sounds more like a simple old poor electrical contact problem. Like in the relay's not making enough contact with the mating terminals in the box. You might want to try ungrounding the battery, and only then unbolt the distribution box so that you can get to the backside. There may be corrosion, bent-too-open-terminals plugged into the back of the box that relay plugs into, or heat damage. Look at the power bus terminal for similar problems, too. Most often it's corrosion that causes these problems.

 

[W8S SS]

Thanks RobbieD, i'll check that out and get back to you. It has to be a ground or contact issue. We'll see.