[TR] By the Way

[Jeff Scarbrough]

I like Randall's line of thinking, but first:  [Warning: Engineer talk
ahead]  If the heater is running and nothing works, then it all works
when the heater is off, I'd suspect a common ground or supply wire
such that, when the heater switch is energized, it raises the
potential of the ground that's common to wipers and blinkers to 12V,
therefore preventing them from working.  When the heater is off, those
items can ground (through the heater somehow?) and operate.

Either a ground got left off, or is misconnected somewhere that's hot
when the heater is on, but grounds when it's off (through the heater
motor, probably).   Look between the heater switch and the heater.
Try feeling the heater motor to see if it tries to spin while the
wipers are working.


Jeff Scarbrough
Corrosion Acres, Ga.




On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 8:05 PM Randall <TR3driver at ca.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > Turned off the heater, then sat back to think.  Which is when
> > I noticed the blinkers working.  Tried the wipers, they worked too.
>
> So you've got a bad connection or two, somewhere.  Possibly it (or they)
> make contact when cold, but have just a bit of resistance so it gets hot
> under use and either opens up entirely, or goes high enough resistance to
> keep the wipers and/or turn signals from working.
>
> One thing to try is running the wipers in your driveway for awhile, then
> feeling along the wires and especially connections that lead to them.  If
> something is warm to the touch, you've found the problem.  The fuse block is
> a likely problem spot, but could be almost anywhere along either the power
> circuit to the wiper motor, or the ground circuit from the motor through the
> switch on the instrument panel.
>
> The ground wire to the instrument panel is another likely suspect, just
> because it is common between the wipers and the turn indicator on the panel.
> It should run out to the 'E' terminal on the control box, where it joins
> with another wire to the body nearby.
>
> -- Randall
> 56 TR3 TS13571L once and future daily driver
> 71 Stag LE1473 - awaiting engine rebuild
> 71-2-3 Stag - awaiting gearbox rebuild
>
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