Spooky!!!!!!!!!!

[PsychoSasquatch]

I've got a 1969 Cadillac 3-way loader hearse and I have an interesting problem. The radio and wipers only work if the headlights are turned on. If you shut the headlights off niether will work. The funny thing is the key doesn't have to be on. If I have the key in the off position turn the radio on nothings happens but as soon as I turn the headlights on with the key still off the radio comes on. Any ideas. I recently was working on the turn signal lever. Had to cut an old end off and I'm wondering if I shorted something in the column. Also the GEN light comes on at start up but pull the light switch out and it goes off. Sometimes reving the engine will cause it to go out as well. Just started happening after I worked on the lever. Thanks for any help.

[PsychoSasquatch]

Was just reading this in my service manual regarding the Wipers:

Moving the control switch lever to the "lo" position connects the relay control and shunt field circuit directly to ground. This provides the following cicuit: Current feed to the 25 amp windshield wiper fuse in the fuse panel comes from the accessry terminal on the ignition switch. Current flow through the 18 yellow wire to terminal number 2 of the wiper motor. It then flows through the tan wire to one contact point on the relay switch, and on through the red wire, the relay coil and through the red wire back to terminal number 1, through the light blue wire and the switch to ground. After passing through the relay points, current flows through the black and pink striped wire through the series field and divides; part flowing through the armature and circuit breaker and through the black ground wire, and other part flowing through the black with orange striped wire to ground at the control switch.

Sounds like maybe a bad ignition switch? Anybody know any way to test an ignition switch? Thanks.

[MagicRat]

I suspect you have a bad body ground. It sounds as if the only source for an electrical ground right now is through the headlights.

Clean up the existing ground strap for the battery to the engine block. Run a new ground wire from the block to the chassis and to the body (at the firewall is best).

[97integrals]

spooky!

[PsychoSasquatch]

Hey MagicRat, why would it do it with the key out of the ignition and in the off position if it were a grounding issue? Thanks for any help.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by PsychoSasquatch

Hey MagicRat, why would it do it with the key out of the ignition and in the off position if it were a grounding issue? Thanks for any help.

Hmmmmm...........after re-reading the posts, that's a good point.
The mystery is, the headlight wiring only goes through the column through the turnsignal wiring in the lever, which should be completely seperate from the ignition switch wiring..............

I wonder now if a wire has become pinched or is shorting out..........and that just involves trial-and -error curcuit testing to find.

[PsychoSasquatch]

That's why I'm thinking when I cut the end of the turn signal lever if somehow I shorted something in the turn indicator switch. On my 1996 Cadillac Seville STS the LED brake light in the trunk lid would light but not the ones in the tail lights. I would fiddle with it and get all of them to work but then the tailights would stop and only the LED in the trunk lid would work. After some internet surfing I came across an article that said the turn indicator switch could be the problem. I went out to the car and when you used the signal for a right hand turn BINGO all the brake lights would work. Then if you used the signal for a left hand turn the taillights quit working and only the LED in the trunk lid worked. Turned it back for a right hand turn and they all worked again. My wife has to make a left hand turn into our driveway at night and was using her signal therefor in the morning the brake lights would be screwy. Took it to the dealer and had the switch replaced and all is well. I would have done it myself but did not want to mess with the airbag. I never would have suspected the turn indicator switch but sure enough that was it. In looking at the old one alot of stuff runs through that switch. Being the fact that I was cutting on the turn indicator lever and then the problem developed I'm thinking maybe that is it. Not sure but maybe.

[PsychoSasquatch]

When checking for voltage as suggested in my service manual I
turned the key on and nothing at the yellow wire at the wiper motor. Pulled
out the headlight switch and got a reading of 10.08 volts. Pushed the light
switch back in and a reading of 0. Turned the headlights on again and a
reading of 10.08. Why is the light switch preventing the current from
reaching the wiper motor? I've got to look at the schematics. When opening
the switch the current flows to the yellow wire. Is the headlight switch in
line with the wiper motor? If it is then maybe there is a short in the
headlight switch that only allows the current to pass when the switch is on.
When you try to turn on the interior lights by turning the switch nothing
happens. I got under there and looked and someone cut a white wire coming
from the switch that appears to be the one for the interior lights. I say
this because as I turn the switch to engage the interior light I can
actually see the mechanism that clicks the contact point closed to give the
interior lights current and that is where this white wire originates.. Maybe
this is something the funeral home did. At any rate I don't think that has
anything to do with it. Worst case scenario when it rains drive with the
headlights on. Actually in the state of Florida the law is that if you have
to run your wipers you must turn your headlights on. The ignition switch I replaced has
made a difference. Now when cranking the car you can see all the gauge
lights (oil, gen, brakes, water temp.) all come on momentarily like they
should. Didn't do that before. Also the GEN light does not stay on anymore.
Turn the key back to ACC and everything works. So that is definitely an
improvement and something that needed to be fixed. Well back to looking at
these diagrams to try and see if that headlight switch is somehow in line
with the wipers.