What you are describing is a bad starter. Probably has a shorted armature. If
there was a poor ground the positive cable would not get hot from excessive
current flow but the choke cable probably would. Incorrect timing would not
cause a voltage drop. Min cranking voltage for a 12v system is 10.6 . If
you could see the way some rebuilers put starters together it would not
suprise you that it is bad already.
Changing to neg. earth will not bother your wipers as they use a series wound
motor like the starter. I don`t know what type motor drives the fan. If it
is a PM (permanent magnet) motor you will need to reverse the leads. BUT !
anything electronic, like your radio, and your tachometer if it is not
mechanical, will be instant toast. The tachs sometimes survive, the radios
never do.
Don Greimel
Havre de Grace MD
Assoc. Prof. Auto Tech. (retired)
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