The wiper switch on my 88 vert failed. It wouldn't turn the wipers off. A new one is >$500. Is there a fix for the switch? Mazda shows a different switch for a vert than the coupe. Are they really different?

 

Yes, they're different. A coupe doesn't have a switch for the top. Instead, it may be blank or have a rear wiper switch. A few people rebuild 2nd gen switches. You might try one of our mods, Pele. I think he may still work on them.

 

Your wiper problem is different than most. The more common problems are wipers stopping in the wrong place or stopping immediately. And these usually are due to bad switch or relay contacts in the cluster switch. But, the wiper motor not stopping likely has a different cause.

There is a switch inside the wiper motor that defines the 'home' position for the wipers. This switch provides a path to ground that allows the motor to continue to run when the switch or intermittent relay are saying 'stop'. The motor runs until the 'home' switch opens. Sounds like in your case, that switch doesn't open & the motor continues to run.

If you are electrically and mechanically inclined, you can check for this pretty easily. The three relevant wires at the motor connector are blue, blue/yellow and black. With the connector removed, check continuity on the motor side. If the switch is ok, you will have continuity between the terminals that connect to the blue and blue/yellow terminals and no continuity between blue/yellow and black. If the switch is broken (as I suspect), you will see continuity between blue/yellow and black.

 

Thanks for the wiper suggestions. My vert has 98,000 miles and has excellent power. Badging is removed and I get asked all the time..."what car is that?". It's black with grey leather interior.