Electrical issue relating to wipers ('73 E3)

amg5872

amg5872

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Hi, all. I hope it's okay I post this in the E9 section. I feel like the audience is larger in the E9 section and it seems like this issue is not specific to the E3. I have a '73 E3 which is a heap but I enjoy the heck out of it. A couple of months ago I took the car to a carwash bay and washed the car myself. I didn't open up the hood or anything but I'm sure some water got under the hood while I was washing and rinsing. I got in the car and started it. And a few seconds later I turned on the wipers and the car immediately died and wouldn't re-start. And it seemed like the wipers weren't responding correctly to the wiper controls. I would try to start the car and it would crank but it wouldn't fire up. I pushed the car out of the wash bay and dried it and stuff for about 15 minutes, and then it fired right up and I had no issues with it. I didn't dare try to turn on the wipers. Now I have to get a safety inspection to renew the plates so I tried to turn on the wipers and there is no reaction from the wipers at all. Any idea if this is an easy fuse/relay issue, or any other advice for where to start? Thanks.

AG
 
so first question, do you have any blown fuses? check the wiring to the wiper motor, its under the hood where the air vents are ... so water could have hit it and created an issue. especially check the ground wire.
 
About 30 years ago the same thing happened to me in my 72 2002, car wouldn't start.Car wash owner pulled out a can of WD40 sprayed inside the dizzy and it started, he said it happens all the time.Wiper connection should be pretty easy, maybe a hair dryer.
 
Thanks for the replies. I did have a blown fuse. I found a very old original fuse that was in the trunk toolbox and had the right number on it and put it in for the blown one. Wipers still didn't work but my A/C which I was sure was long gone blew strong and cold! However after just a few minutes the fuse was already starting to melt and was hot to the touch so I removed it. Anyone know which fuse is in the wiper circuit on a 73 Bavaria? I can't find the right wiring diagram. And I have no idea how to read a wiring diagram...
 
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