Embarrassing & completely stupid problem after alarm install

[hsunchen]

First off, you should know I'm not an 12-volt electrical noob. I've installed about 6 alarms, I have a multi-meter, I understand relays, and I used to work in the industry (mobile audio and security) for over 6 years, so I have a very good idea of how things should and shouldn't be done.

But I discovered this morning on the way to work that the wipers on my '92 Accord no longer work properly on intermittent - they just wipe constantly. Even better, the wipers WON'T TURN OFF AT ALL, no matter what setting the switch is at, unless I turn off the ignition.

Just last night I had buttoned up a basic DEI alarm install with power door lock control, starter disable, door trigger, tailgate trigger (I cheated and tapped both of the separate factory wires together into the alarm's door trigger wire without a diode), hood pin, parking light flash, and dome light supervision with an external relay. All I had left to do was adjust and tweak the shock sensor.

WTF???!!!

This seems like too coincidental to be a coincidence that my wiper switch just went crazy. I haven't had a chance to disconnect the brain or unground anything I just installed yet, but still - I didn't tap any wires that are tied into the wiper switch (as far as I know) - just the standard door trigger, lock/unlock circuit, power, ground, starter, ignition, etc.

Anyone have any good theories? Or just want to make fun of me? Come on bigacuralvr, I know you got something to say . . .

[STIBungy]

You tapped the wrong wire somewhere. Doublecheck your wiring color codes and which plugs the wires go to when you get home tonight.

[hsunchen]

You tapped the wrong wire somewhere. Doublecheck your wiring color codes and which plugs the wires go to when you get home tonight.

How do you explain that everything alarm related works exactly as it should, there are no fuses popped, and that all the wires I tapped are the correct wire color codes as specified by Techsoft (DEI's pretty damn reliable alarm installation vehicle-specific data)?

[STIBungy]

Could be one of your unintended additional features. Or it could be coincidence that the wiper switch went bad at the same time. Disconnect your alarm brain and you'll find out.

[HONDA GHANDI]

You somehow supplied voltage to teh park switch on the wiper arm. Now when the wipers go to park them selves teh switch can no longer interrupt the power to the motor. It is most likely somthing you did with the integrated control unit.

[Kwando]

you have something hooked up wrong. It could be the auto starter disable.

[hsunchen]

You somehow supplied voltage to teh park switch on the wiper arm. Now when the wipers go to park them selves teh switch can no longer interrupt the power to the motor. It is most likely somthing you did with the integrated control unit.

Logically, this makes sense. I just can't see how I did it. I'll unplug the alarm brain first to see if the problem goes away. If it does, then I'll plug it back in and then start unplugging alarm circuits one at a time until the wiper problem goes away.

[hsunchen]

I'll unplug the alarm brain first to see if the problem goes away. If it does, then I'll plug it back in and then start unplugging alarm circuits one at a time until the wiper problem goes away.

Just went out into the parking lot and disconnected the alarm brain. Wipers still wacky. Disconnected my jumper that puts the tailgate trigger wire in tandem with the door trigger wire. Wipers still wacky. Unplugged the door lock relay pack from the brain (I can't get to where I grounded the relay pack right now); wipers still wonky. Unplugged/interrupted every factory wiring harness connector under the dash I can get to (there's three; I only tapped wires on two of them) to see if those circuits even supply power to/affect the wiper circuit; wipers still have power, still no turno-offo.

I left everything disconnect for now, just in case there's some capacitor somewhere that's still holding charge and causing the problem. But I seriously doubt it, since it would be impossible to run the wipers 4 or 5 times on even a bank of 10 1-farad car stereo capacitors.

Anyone got a spare 4th gen Accord wiper switch? It doesn't have the same connector as a Civic/Integra - I've got a few of those.

[hsunchen]

Well, I finally figured it out (not that I've been working on it constantly). I had disconnected a factory harness under the hood for better access when routing my hood pin wire and forgot to reconnect it. That was all it was. I'm an idiot of course. :rolleyes:

Weird that unplugging that harness didn't take away function of any electrical accessory that I know of, other than the "off/park" feature of the wipers.

[Nate]

you're dumb

[hsunchen]

you're dumb

At least I finally figured it out.

Giving up and taking it to a shop to get charged $100 or more to reconnect a harness = even dumber.

Or is that "dumberest"?

[Nate]

most dumberest to infinity