Wipers don't work. I've got a new painless engine wiring harness, no issues with it to this point, a new wiper motor (single speed) and old wiper switch. I've taken the wiper switch apart cleaned it and put it back together, it's in good shape.
I have power to the motor with switch on as it is supposed to be.
The problem is, I have power to the wiper dash switch when I believe it should not. As I understand it the wiper switch provides ground to the motor thus completing the circuit for the motor to run.
Any ideas??????

 

Sounds like your missing the ground on the other side of the switch. You will see 12v at the switch because power runs through the windings with the switch open.

 

OK. My switch is grounded by mounting to the dash. If I mount it to the dash, plug up the connector (which has 12V) to the switch and then turn the switch, seems like I'd short it out/perhaps blow a fuse?? Electrical is not my specialty but this one sure looks simple. Guess my mind is even more simple

 

Take a light bulb, it has a metal filament. If you place an ohm meter across it will read almost a dead short. If its connected to ground on 1 side and you ohm to ground on the other it will show continuity. If it has 12v on one side and you measure voltage on the other until you complete the circuit. If your wipers are looking for a ground it's the same principle. Jumper the switch to ground and see if your wipers work.

 

Another thing Eric, with the switch 'dangling' I tried to ground it by contacting it with the metal dash at with points it started sparking. I stopped. The switch has only one connecting prong.
What does this tell you?

 

It will spark as it's completing the circuit. When it sparks does the wiper motor operate?

 

Didn't hold it long enough. I'm going to try it when I get off work today. Hopefully it works. I'll let you know. Thanks for your help.

 

Thanks again Eric. I have working windshield wipers now. After testing the wiring circuit and finding it all to be good, including the old switch, I removed the motor and bench tested it. The rotating shaft wouldn't turn, I remove the motor end plate and was able to turn by hand the armature easily but the output shaft still would turn. I locked down the shaft in my vise and used hand force to spin it. Once I broke it free I bench tested it again and it worked fine. I've installed it all now and it works fine.

 

That would have been my next thought as from what you described all your wiring seemed ok. Sometimes the internet makes it difficult to try and troubleshoot things without seeing what your seeing, glad it worked out.