[getmygoat]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered before, I did a search and couldn't find anything.

I'm wondering about the role of the wiper switch in grounding the dash on a '69 GTO. From peering under the dash, I can see the ground straps running from the clock, across to the speedo and gauges, then down to the wiper switch...

From outward appearance then, it appears the instrument cluster receives its ground from the wiper switch? Or is the wiper switch receiving its ground from the cluster?

The reason I ask is the wiper switch doesn't appear to make metal to metal contact with the dash, as the dash side of the wiper switch is plastic. While there is a copper lead running out of the switch to the ground strap that goes to the instrument panel, it never makes contact with the dash metal.. Unless I am missing a part?

The follow up question is - if the wiper is getting its ground from the instrument panel, where is the instrument panel getting its ground from? As mentioned, all I see is the ground strap running down to the wiper.

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by getmygoat

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered before, I did a search and couldn't find anything.

I'm wondering about the role of the wiper switch in grounding the dash on a '69 GTO. From peering under the dash, I can see the ground straps running from the clock, across to the speedo and gauges, then down to the wiper switch...

From outward appearance then, it appears the instrument cluster receives its ground from the wiper switch? Or is the wiper switch receiving its ground from the cluster?

The reason I ask is the wiper switch doesn't appear to make metal to metal contact with the dash, as the dash side of the wiper switch is plastic. While there is a copper lead running out of the switch to the ground strap that goes to the instrument panel, it never makes contact with the dash metal.. Unless I am missing a part?

The follow up question is - if the wiper is getting its ground from the instrument panel, where is the instrument panel getting its ground from? As mentioned, all I see is the ground strap running down to the wiper.

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

The instrument panel should be getting a ground where it mounts at each "A" pillar at the kick panels.

[getmygoat]

Originally Posted by 2002Z4CSS

The instrument panel should be getting a ground where it mounts at each "A" pillar at the kick panels.

Thanks for your response.. but isn't the metal dash core getting grounded by the A-pillers, but not the instrument panel itself? Since the instrument panel is mounted in the plastic bezel, its electrically isoloated from the metal dash core. Therefore, I think it needs to get a ground from "across the bezel." Its either getting it from the wiper switch or somewhere else I haven't identified yet?

[Peter Serio]

GM used a variety of thin metal straps to give grounds as by 1969-70 the dash pads were made out of mainly plastic and vinyl with a metal skeleton.

[indymanjoe]

the bezels on my 72 anyways, have a strap that goes from tach to speedo then speedo to wiper switch that is grounded to dash by 3 screws securing to the foam coverd metal dash.the dash is grounded by steering colume and the lower corners under the A-pilars really by the kick panels LOL confused i am now LOL

[getmygoat]

Thanks for the pics Pete! Hard to read (getting older) but it looks like I might be missing a ground strap... All my gauges are strapped together and then there's a single strap down to the wiper switch. For example, is there a ground strap running to the headlight switch as well?

If anyone has a pic of a '69 gto dash from the backside, especially by the wiper switch, that would be helpful.

Thanks!

[Peter Serio]

Here is a close-up view of the grounds to the wiper switch. Note the various changes made during production and the dates given. For the Tempest (GTO) series cars it does not appear that there was a separate ground thin metal strap specifically for the headlamp switch.

[getmygoat]

ok, well, I was able to capture a pic of what I have... Pete, thanks again for the pics... it looks like maybe I'm missing a ground strap, or perhaps the strap I see in your pic is the copper piece that's integrated with the wiper switch. However, there's a 'hole" in that copper lead that doesn't have anything going through it - perhaps that should be connected to the missing something?

And to my original question, if that vertical ground strap runs to the outside (non-dash side) of the wiper switch, it doesn't contact the steel core of the dash.... so then its just assisting with grounding the wiper switch, but isn't helping to ground the instrument panel?

Can anyone offer any insight?

Thanks!

p.S. - note that the lower dash trim has been removed so the wiper switch is not bolted to the dash, but all the existing parts are sitting in their approximately correct locations

[android 211]

There are some excellent photos of the back of a 69 GTO dash in the tech section of the Ultimate GTO Picture site. A 69 hardtop owner removed his dash to send it to Just Dashes and took pics as he went along. Check it out.

[getmygoat]

Thanks for the pointer - from the looks of those pics, it appears I may be missing some kind of metal bracket/pot that encloses the wiper switch? Circled in red.

This would make some sense, as this metal bracket (if that what it is) may explain how the dash strap running from the gauge cluster is able to make a ground path to the metal dash core.

If that's what I'm missing, I just need to find one.

[Peter Serio]

As I see it the '69 used a single thin metal strap from one of the mounting lugs on the back of the wiper switch up to the metal tang which is at far lefthand circle; the 6'oclock position on the Speedo/Fuel Gauge housing. There is a sharp point phillips screw that secures. It looks like the 1970 GTO had some sort of a 3-D metal "cage" mounted in-behind the wiper switch for either a ground and/or reinforcement. Unsure if 69 had this cage.

[android 211]

Since this is something that doesn't show, why don't you just ground it yourself with some wire? Solder some post clamps onto some wire and connect it to appropriate places where it'll make a good ground to the car. The better the ground the better your instruments will work and dash lights will illuminate.

[getmygoat]

Originally Posted by android 211

Since this is something that doesn't show, why don't you just ground it yourself with some wire? Solder some post clamps onto some wire and connect it to appropriate places where it'll make a good ground to the car. The better the ground the better your instruments will work and dash lights will illuminate.

Yeah, I could certainly do that - but that would take the challenge out of GTO restoration! and I'm a purist, at least for my #'s matching judge..... the sickness is pretty severe!

[raidex1]

If there is a tech section on Ultimate GTO Picture site I cant find it.

[north]

Even more complicated in the 69 GP which used a plastic core dashpad.

[johnta1]

Here's a link I posted in another thread, but for page 4 on GP:

IP Grounds

[jasonbabal]

Same boat- I discovered some dash grounding issues yesterday. I thought I had all the grounds, oh the joys of a basketcase