Front Wiper And Washer System: Notes
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbags, airbag curtains, knee blocker, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS)/negative battery cable assembly from the negative battery post, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
If the wiper motor operates, but the wiper blades do not move on the windshield with the wiper arms properly installed, replace the ineffective front wiper motor or wiper linkage module. If the washer pump/motor operates, but no washer fluid is dispensed on the glass; or, if the wipers operate, but chatter, lift, or do not clear the glass, clean and inspect the front wiper and washer system components as required and Refer to CLEANING . Refer to INSPECTION .
The hardwired front wiper and washer system circuits and components may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes 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 .
However, conventional diagnostic methods will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the front wiper and washer system or the electronic controls and communication between other modules and devices that provide some features of the front wiper and washer system. The most reliable, efficient and accurate means to diagnose the front wiper and washer system or the electronic controls and communication related to front wiper and washer system operation requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.
| FRONT WIPER AND WASHER SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | CORRECTION |
| WIPER MOTOR DOES NOT OPERATE IN ANY SWITCH POSITION | 1. Ineffective motor ground circuit. | 1. Test and repair open wiper motor ground circuit, if required. |
| 2. Ineffective motor feed circuits. | 2. Test and repair low speed and high speed feed circuits between Body Control Module (BCM) and wiper motor, if required. | |
| 3. Ineffective right multifunction switch. | 3. Test and replace the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM), if required. | |
| 4. Ineffective BCM inputs or outputs. | 4. Use a diagnostic scan tool for additional testing of the BCM. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information. | |
| 5. Ineffective wiper motor. | 5. Test and replace open or shorted wiper motor as required. | |
| WIPER MOTOR OPERATES SLOWLY IN ALL SWITCH POSITIONS | 1. Ineffective wiper motor. | 1. Check amperage draw with linkage disconnected from wiper motor output shaft. Correct draw should be about 6 amperes. If incorrect, refer to the appropriate Possible Cause that follows: |
| 2. Amperage draw too low. | 2. Test and repair shorted low and high speed feed circuits, if required. | |
| 3. Amperage draw too high. | 3. With linkage disconnected from wiper motor output shaft, check linkage and pivots for binding. If binding is detected, repair or replace wiper linkage module, if required. If no linkage binding detected, replace the wiper motor, if required. | |
| WIPERS RUN AT HIGH SPEED WITH SWITCH LOW SPEED SELECTED OR AT LOW SPEED WITH SWITCH HIGH SPEED SELECTED | 1. Ineffective motor feed circuit wiring. | 1. Test and repair low speed and high speed feed circuits between BCM and the wiper motor, if required. |
| AUTOMATIC WIPERS ONLY ARE INOPERATIVE | 1. Automatic wipers (Rain Sensing) feature has been disabled. | 1. Be certain that the automatic wipers (Rain Sensing) feature is enabled in the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) setup menu. |
| 2. Light Rain Sensor Module (LRSM) gel pac is damaged. | 2. Replace the LRSM gel pac, if required. | |
| WASHER PUMP DOES NOT OPERATE | 1. Ineffective washer pump ground circuit. | 1. Test and repair open washer pump ground circuit if required. |
| 2. Ineffective washer pump feed circuit. | 2. Test and repair washer pump feed circuits between BCM and washer pump, if required. | |
| 3. Ineffective right multifunction switch. | 3. Test and replace the SCCM, if required. | |
| 4. Ineffective BCM inputs or outputs. | 4. Use a diagnostic scan tool to test the BCM inputs and outputs. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information. | |
| 5. Ineffective washer pump. | 5. Test and replace open or shorted washer pump, if required. | |
| FLUID LEVEL SENSOR DOES NOT INDICATE LOW FLUID | 1. Ineffective fluid level sensor return circuit. | 1. Test and repair open fluid level sensor return circuit, if required. |
| 2. Ineffective fluid level sensor sense circuit. | 2. Test and repair fluid level sensor sense circuits between BCM and washer pump, if required. | |
| 3. Ineffective fluid level sensor. | 3. Test and replace the fluid level sensor, if required. | |
| 4. Ineffective BCM inputs or outputs. | 4. Use a diagnostic scan tool to test the BCM inputs and outputs. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information. | |