Don't know for sure. Could be in the wiper/washer switch on the steering column

Wave your arm back and forth...

It's worth checking for a bad ground connection. With the wipers turned on, measure the voltage between the wiper motor case and a convenient ground on the frame or engine. It should be nearly zero. If there is a significant voltage, the ground connection is bad. This can be fixed relatively easy by running a wire from the wiper motor case to the frame it is mounted on.

This happened to me on my '91 Blazer. Doing a simple resistance check or looking at the voltage with the motor off turned up nothing since the ground connection was there, but not good enough to run the motor. The voltage check showed about 4V between the wiper motor case and the car frame (if I remember correctly). This simple fix saved quite a bit of money.

SSMIGIN, you got me confused (what's new. I'm always confused. Lol....). You said, that if you turn on the switch, there shouldn't be a voltage reading. If there is a voltage reading that means the thingy is good since the swich is on. Am I right or wrong?

Posted By gmaint on 09-09-2010 08:39 AM
Torino,

  if I am reading it right this is a ground to ground check. By placing a lead on the motor case and the other lead to a known good ground, he would be checking the motor ground wire. If voltage shows during this check the motor ground wire is bad.

You got it.

My bad. I misread about the motor case. I was thinking about the wire. I told you this brain of mine is always confused. Lol.....

Posted By ADAMPERRY on 09-06-2010 09:56 PM

'82 El camino Conquista.  Wipers quit working. Washer quit working.  Just wondering what to do and what order to do it in.  Wiper fuse appears fine.  Washer makes a short grunt on the first attempt after starting the car, then nothing.  Wipers just sit there mocking me.

Adam,
Since we're dealing with a 28 year old vehicle, you have to realize THAT THINGS JUST WEAR OUT ON THEM.  Here is a troubleshooting sequence you can follow, but be prepared to replace a few components in your windshield washer and wiper system (worn out or inoperative).

Start by going to the AutoZone.com web site mentioned in the first post listed (pinned) under AUTOMOTIVE and register with them and list your '82 Chevrolet El Camino with the web site.  This will give you access to info on the procedures to access the wiper motor/ wiper arm drive system and also wiring diagrams for your vehicle.

First lets consider the washer pump itself.  These are essentially an electrical diaphragm type pump and the rubber portion of the diaphragm can rupture over time.  There is also the high probability that 'sludge' the jelly like liquid that forms in the bottom of the washer reservoir over time is clogging the pump/washer lines too.

WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM:

1.  Disconnect the output line from the washer pump and hit the washer switch to see if fluid comes out. 
(if it works, this means the problem is in the lines to the washer jets near the windshield.... these often get plugged up too)

2.  If ANY FLUID (even a small amount) come out of the pump when you hit the washer switch, it means the pump is getting voltage,  If it doesn't, check for 12 VDC on the pump input side to ground (and across the two terminals on the pump motor) WHEN THE WASHER PUMP IS ACTIVATED.  If voltage is present, THE PROBLEM IS IN THE PUMP OR WASHER INPUT FLUID LINE.

3.  Remove the washer reservoir and clean it out and also blow air thru the lines to the pump to be sure they are clear.  Refill with a small amount of clean water and try the pump again (output line disconnected at pump).  If it still doesn't work, disconnect the wire leads to the pump/wiper assy and check for continuity across the pump motor..... if ohmmeter reads INFINITY, REPLACE WASHER MOTOR/PUMP ASSY.


WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR:

1.  First, you will need to get access to the wiper motor itself.  This often necessitates the removal of the cowl screen/air inlet area for the heater.  To do this, you will have to remove the wiper arms from the drive gear assy by prying them off.  Then remove the screws that retain the cowl itself.... this should expose the wiper arm drive system connected to the wiper motor drive gear.  On older vehicles this wiper arm drive system can often get jammed and bind the system up. 

2.  Remove the wiper drive system arm at the output drive shaft of the wiper motor (usually retained by a nut on the output drive shaft).  Now try activating the motor to see if it will turn the output drive shaft.  It it works, we know the motor itself is working and the problem is in the wiper arm drive mechanism binding-up.

3.  If the motor doesn't run with the wiper arm system disconnected, then we need to TS the motor electrical input.
 
NOTE:
I haven't had a chance to look at your electrical wiring system diagrams so I don't know whether your wiper is system is voltage controlled or ground seeking to activate it.  I will wait for your input on the above before going into more detail later.  In many older wiper systems, the connector plug for the wiper motor could also be a 'problem area' due to exposure to the elements causing corrosion inside the connector assy.... disconnect this connector and check inside for 'corrosion' on the contacts themselves (this can limit both the voltage and current capacity actually getting to the wiper motor).  Older vehicles can often be more difficult to troubleshoot because of just 'old age' (like humans) and multiple components just getting WORN OUT/OLD.