Finally got around to picking up my new Genuine Volvo Wiper Motor seal today. While replacing the motor found that the contacts inside the 20 year old connector were really discolored and corroded. Also before removing the motor found that there was about 120 ohms to chassis from the motor case (had installed a small gnd wire a few years back and that was removed). The ground clip under the old motor was really bad. Installed a Pick Ur Parts Motor and the new doughnut seal. Spliced in the connector from the donor motor, it had much better contacts.. Made a heavy duty 18 gauge ground and connected from the motor frame to the fire wall chassis. Now have less than 1 ohm from the block of the engine to the motor case.

All works like it should now. Not sure if it was the new connector, motor, or Gnd (or all three). But after two months of strange stopping points and no intermittent wipers the only thing that matters is that it works.

It will now not rain in Houston for at least two weeks now that the repair is done. Murphy's Law of car repair (the wiper repair corollary.)

PT