Man, what a headache. Problem started with the windshield wiper running everytime the ignition was on. During the a/c rebuild I pulled the windshield wiper assembly and put it back together. Next I installed a new combination switch. Now the wiper does not run but it does blow the fuse. The engine wiring harness has been replaced a few years ago but none of the chassis wiring harnesses. My plans are to pull the windshield wiper assy back out, unplug the motor and see if it still blows the fuse. My gut feeling is that there is an issue between where the wiring comes out of the fire wall and runs over to the wiper motor. Should I be able to check the resistant from the combination switch plug in under the steering wheel and determine where the problem is. Any suggestions in troubleshooting the electrical system would be much appreciated.

Oh yea, the a/c will freeze you out now which is a good thing because the fuse that supplies power to the windshield wiper is the same circuit as the window motors.

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Jim

Possibly pinched the wiring harness to the motor somewhere? Your diagnosis is crude but should get the job done for a Y in the road on which way to go. Check out the harness, I would tend to think it's caught under one of the wiper motor mounting lugs? Can't think of anything else at the moment, oh except the harness in the steering column could have caught something, like where the column bolts up?
Gilly

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I have not re-installed the lower kick panel so I'll start there and go through to the wiper motor. I have had rodents eat some of the insulation off of some of the wiring in this car so I may have an issue with some of that going on and now that I have disturbed the wiring I've got a grounding condition. Has anyone on here ever used a jumper wire accross the fuse location and looking for the smoke when troubleshooting an issue like this? I suspect it works good but am unsure if I want to try doing it that way or not.

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Jim

It was a bad wiper motor. Swapped it out with a good used spare and this car is ready to be put back in the road. Once I disconnected the wiper motor the fuse quit blowing. Now all I have to do is put everything back together. I am always concerned about critters getting in there and eating everything up.

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Jim