Windshield Wipers not working
 

My wipers aren't working, but first let me describe what I know so far:

Problem has progressivly gotten worse...seems to have some relation to temperature, but not sure.

The wiper either work, or don't. There's no middle ground (no "slow"). If they work, all the speeds work, if they don't, nothing happens in any position.

Flipping the switch will make the voltmeter on the dash spike, so I think the switch works.

I think the relay works. I took it out & took it apart. It looks brand new, and all the solder joints look good and work when tested by a meter.

This leads me to think it's one of the connections to/from the motor (either wiring harness or ground). If the motor was dying it should run slow at first, right? It shouldn't just stop, especially to just randomly start again.

My question then is, how do I get to the connections to the motor? I know where the motor is, but can't get to it due to a plastic cover (the one that goes along the bottom of the windsheild. I pulled up the weatherstripping along the firewall, but I still can't get the cover off on the windsheild side (it appears to be glued down to the windsheild?). Is there some trick to getting it off of there? Also I may end up breaking it trying to get it off (it's 10* out, and it's cracked as is), how expensive will a new one be?

Not sure about the 87 944 but on my 81 924 na the ground in the steering column goes bad. Yours sounds similar. I replaced my switch it was around $40.

The steering column was redesigned in 85.5, so I'm pretty sure that it's different.

I would say it's the switch since the high beams don't work either, but why then does the voltage spike when I turn the wipers on? If the switch wasn't working wouldn't it do nothing?

Bad wiring can cause gauges to fluctuate. Yes they redesigned the car with the 85.5 but it still could be your problem. Just an idea.

Alright, I've decided to go in & mess around with them this weekend & determine if I really need a new motor ($$$). As I mentioned above though, the cover for the wiper motor is glued to the windshield, or so it appears. My question then is after I pry it off should I even try and glue it back on in this weather (10* & snowing) or wait till spring to do it? - i.e. is there any real need for it or is it 90% cosmetic (and to keep things clean)?