Wiper System & Washer System (Service Information): Description: Front

An electrically operated intermittent front wiper and washer system is standard factory-installed safety equipment on this vehicle. The wiper and washer system includes the following major components, which are described in more detail elsewhere in this service information:

• Front Washer Nozzle  - Two fluidic front washer nozzles with integral check valves are secured by latch features to dedicated openings in the hood panel near the base of the windshield.
• Front Washer Plumbing  - The plumbing for the front washer system consists of rubber hoses, hard plastic tubing and molded rubber or plastic fittings. The plumbing is routed to the dash panel from the washer reservoir along the outboard side of the left front fender load beam. From the dash panel the washer plumbing is routed along the left hood hinge to the hood, then across the underside of the hood panel to the washer nozzles.
• Front Wiper Arms And Blades  - The two front wiper arms are secured with nuts to the threaded ends of the two wiper pivot shafts, which extend through the cowl plenum cover/grille panel located near the base of the windshield. The two front wiper blades are each secured to their wiper arm with an integral latch, and are parked on the glass near the bottom of the windshield when the front wiper system is not in operation. The left and right wiper arms and wiper blades are unique and are not interchangeable.
• Front Wiper Module  - The wiper pivot shafts are the only visible components of the front wiper module. The remainder of the module is concealed within the cowl plenum beneath the cowl plenum cover/grille panel. The wiper module includes the wiper module bracket, three rubber-isolated wiper module mounts, the wiper motor, the wiper motor crank arm, the wiper drive link, the wiper connector link and the two wiper pivots.
• Washer Fluid Level Switch  - The washer fluid level switch is located in a dedicated hole on the lower, outboard side of the washer reservoir, ahead of the left front fender wheel house splash shield.
• Washer Pump/Motor  - The reversible electric washer pump/motor unit is located in a dedicated hole in a sump area on the lower, outboard side of the washer reservoir, ahead of the left front fender wheel house splash shield. This single reversible washer pump/motor provides washer fluid to either the front or the rear washer system plumbing, depending upon the direction of the pump motor rotation.
• Washer Reservoir  - The washer reservoir is secured to the left outboard end of the Front End Module (FEM) where it is concealed between the left inner fender shield and the left outer fender panel, ahead of the left front fender wheel house splash shield. The filler neck and cap are the only visible components of the reservoir and, can be easily accessed from the left front corner of the engine compartment.

Certain functions and features of the front wiper and washer systems rely upon resources shared with other electronic modules in the vehicle over a Local Interface Network (LIN) data bus as well as over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. Other electronic modules in the vehicle that may affect front wiper and washer system operation are:

• Body Control Module  - The Body Control Module (BCM) is located within the instrument panel on the driver side of the vehicle. Refer to MODULE, BODY CONTROL (BCM), DESCRIPTION .
• Light Rain Sensor Module  - A Light Rain Sensor Module (LRSM) is used on vehicles equipped with the optional automatic wiper feature. The LRSM is located on a bracket bonded to the inside surface of the windshield glass, near the inside rear view mirror mount.
• Right Multifunction Switch  - The right (wiper) multifunction switch is integral to the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) along with the clockspring and the left (lighting) multifunction switch on the top of the steering column just below the steering wheel. The multifunction switches are connected to a microcontroller within the SCCM. Only the switch control stalks extending from the sides of the steering column are visible, while the remainder of the switches are concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. The right multifunction switch provides all of the driver controls for the front and rear wiper and washer systems. Refer to MODULE, STEERING COLUMN CONTROL (SCCM), DESCRIPTION .

The BCM and the SCCM each contain a microcontroller and programming that allow them to communicate with each other and other electronic modules in the vehicle using the CAN data bus. In addition the BCM and the LRSM communicate with each other using LIN data bus circuits. Refer to COMMUNICATION, DESCRIPTION .

Hardwired circuitry connects the front wiper and washer system components to the electrical system of the vehicle. These hardwired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by many different methods. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system and to the front wiper and washer system components through the use of a combination of soldered splices, splice block connectors, and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes appropriate SYSTEM WIRING DIAGRAMS, details of wire harness routing and retention, connector pin-out information and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds. For proper wire repair, and connector repair procedures. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE or REMOVAL or INSTALLATION .