Wiper Switch Grounding Issue

[morethanstock66]

So, I have an OE style two speed wiper switch with the washer button. I know that the switch grounds through the original metal dash. However, I have a Classic Dash panel that is not metal. I was curious if anyone else with the same set up has used an OE style wiper switch. If so, how did they ground it? Or, is there a switch out there with a grounding post, because that would be easier

[ray_mcavoy]

I'm not aware of any OE style wiper switches that have a ground terminal. At least not until the later model switches, but by then they had mostly all changed to a slide side-to-side type switch instead of a rotary knob.

Fabricating a grounding plate that can be sandwiched in between the switch and the back side of the dash panel should be a fairly easy fix. Just drill an appropriate sized hole in a small piece of thin sheet metal and attach a ground wire to it.

[morethanstock66]

Sorry for the delay, While great in theory, it does not work in practice. I drilled and soldered a wire to a washer and tried to screw the OE style switch to the aftermarket dash bezel-no dice. Unfortunately the threads on the switch are just long enough to screw in normally, not so with the washer.

[forestb]

I would find the thinnest peace of sheet mettle I can find and make my own washer and if that does not work you can cut off the insulation on the ground wire for the same length as the circumference on the switch and wrap the wire around it. If the second sounds unsafe don't do it. It is just a thought.

[morethanstock66]

Originally Posted by forestb

I would find the thinnest peace of sheet mettle I can find and make my own washer and if that does not work you can cut off the insulation on the ground wire for the same length as the circumference on the switch and wrap the wire around it. If the second sounds unsafe don't do it. It is just a thought.

Good idea, I may give the sheet metal idea a go. It is always the little things like this that make me want to pull my hair out. It seems so simple until you try and fix it

[chevy_mike]

I would get a thin sheet of brass (get at a hobby store) and make a "washer" from that. You can get paper thin sheets and brass is very conductive and easy to solder on.

[morethanstock66]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I would get a thin sheet of brass (get at a hobby store) and make a "washer" from that. You can get paper thin sheets and brass is very conductive and easy to solder on.

I will try this out, I never thought of hobby stores, thanks for the info!