Eratic Idel and GC Lights Flash

[Curdster]

First drive out of the year and first fault. Everytime I put the windscreen wipers on, the engine judders and the gear change lights flash on either Green or Red. It does not matter whether I am driving or stationary. When driving, the power dies and the car lurches forward during the wipe cycle, the runs fine until the next wiper pass. When stationary you can feel the pulse and the RPM hits 60 on the read out but no change to engine note so the read out is faulty and causing the GC lights to flash.

Any ideas. Is this electrical or could it be that the wiper connection bar or washer jets, when moved, are catching something?

[330p4]

Check the wiper motor earth may be this is poor & trying to get earth return through pod for wiper common on GRP cars
Ian

[asrovak]

What are you smokin sir!? more power when wipers engaged! Bring the case along on sunday and we will have a looksee, and a coffee
Its probably damp.
I have to admit when mine gets hot - summer - than all my GC lights are on and fekkin bright they are too, i now carry blue tac to provide a dimming soluton.
Steve

Edited by asrovak on Saturday 16th January 18:50

Edited by asrovak on Saturday 16th January 18:55

[Curdster]

Ian. Thanks. Would a loose earth cause the engine to judder, feeling like the fuel had been cut momentarily?

[nelly1]

The wiper motor may be earthed at the same point as the ignition / engine harness.

This is entirely possible as they are located in virtually the same position.

The easiest thing to do would be to take off the main bonnet, wiper arms and cowl, then follow the wiper motor earth connection through the bulkhead to (hopefully) the source of your problems.

Good luck...

[Curdster]

Update: Broken Down!!! S**t. Drive for 20 mins and then stopped for 10. Went back to the car, engine turns over but does not fire. Probable cause is that I can't hear the fuel pump prime. Checked the inertia switch and thats ok, but is this linked to the windscreen wiper issue?
Will check the relay and fuse when I can, but how do I check the earth harness? Where is it and whats does it look like, and is this infact the overriding problem. Help please.

[330p4]

Curdster sorry to hear about your breakdown. Take the bonnet off locate the earth on the wiper motor & run a thick wire from the motor to an earth point there is one near the dry sump tank on the chassis make sure you get a good connection if this solves the problem then locate where the wiper id earthed to chassis & make good.
Ian

[x 7usc]

hi ian i would also suspect a bad earth is the cause im not sure where the eathing points are but given that they will all be on the chassis or engine there cant be that many also try to find the engine to chassis strap and check that, definatly electrical, hope you get it sorted for next sunday.
even if you find the earth/ground connections tight i would check for corrosion as IIRC yours lives outside does'nt it
could also be due to lack of use
mark