Troubleshooting front windshield wipers.

[Fletch]

Hey guys (and gals?),

Newest issue with my 3k is the front and rear windshield wipers stopped working, the windshield fluid pump is also inop.

I have tested the following:

Fuse, good but replaced with another 15amp in case my glasses were a little fogged and could not see the open fuse.

Wiper motor, connected direct lead to battery and tested as instructed on page 51-26 of the manual.

Tested the continuity of the wiper and washer switch of the column as per page 51-27 of the service manual.



no further troubleshooting is known, the next page goes on to the rear.

Using the service manual from 3sx, a Fluke multimeter 77III and my eyes.

Thank you in advanced.
Fletch

[stealthee]

Test to see if you are getting power to the harness that plugs into the wiper motor.

If the wiper motor tests out good, and the continuity test of the switch comes out good then there might be a break in the wiring somewhere.

[Fletch]

I put my multimeter to the fuse with the key in accessory and there was -1.2 volts there, so that seemed off to me. I will start her up to see for a change.

Good part if it is a spliced/grounded wire is it is a cheap fix, the bad is a long hunt for the damned thing....

[Hans@GZP]

The ground for the wiper motor is attached to the bottom right mounting bolt for the wiper motor. Make sure it's a good ground or your wipers in the front won't work. I've done that before when putting my engine bay back together after having it painted. I totally didn't tighten that bolt :)

[Fletch]

Ok, here is a small update. Tested the #9 fuse and the top bounces between no power and 1.1vdc. The #8 has 11.68 vdc (obviously?) when in acc mode. I made a 10amp fused jumper to see if that was the only issue, it was not. Going out now to see if the bolt Hans@GZP suggested is snug and clean.

Another note is that I see the alarm system that the previous owner installed, that wiring, yeah I still hate shit hack job installers...

[Fletch]

Bah, made a long test lead to test connectivity between the wiring at each end, only tested pin 5 and it was good.

4 nights ago I swapped out an alternator on my Jeep ZJ in a grocery store parking lot and it was 8 degree before that wind-chill crap. Wearing Nitrite gloves and mechanics gloves I still managed to get a touch of frostbite on each pinky knuckle.
My hands are a little beat up at this time to continue to troubleshoot in this weather here near Chicago....
Going to make a long lead to the lo pin on the motor and make the other end a fuse so that I can plug it into the #8 fuseable link in the car. When it snows, I will need to just plug it in. I will not have wiper fluid, but this is a band aid until I can use my hands properly again :(

Thank you all for the input, I will revisit this in a few days (God willing)

[Fletch]

Small update. Have not been able to get upder the dash except to jerry rig a line from the battery to the wiper motor with a toggle switch below the radio. I would like to fix this once I have time, maybe tomorrow I will erk a few hours away from the family.

The other thing not mentioned above is that the rear wiper switch does not work as well. I am thinking something with the harness is up. I will look tomorrow.

Thank you all again for your input.

Also: anyone know where to get a new plate that the mirrors and dimmer switch are on the left of the steering wheel? Mine was too brittle and the last time I placed it back in it cracked to a few pieces...

[stealthee]

The front and rear wiper are on the same circuit. If the fuse is good as you said, then you need to look into the relay.

[Fletch]

Good to know. When I wake up tomorrow I will look into it more. Finding that relay and testing fuse and +12v at the panel.

[YoshiBishi]

I had the same problem, you might want to check this as well.. The driver side wiper was caught under the passenger side wiper. This caused the front and rear wipers to stop working.

I didn't notice it and started to freak out too. I simply lifted the wiper blade, and set it above the other wiper blade so they don't get caught on each other.

[Fletch]

Yoshi,
Thank you for the input. Unfortunately this was not my problem.

Stealthee,
In volume 2 service manual, page 316 shows the circuit. What you are saying is to trace the C route out ehh? If not can you clarify?

[stealthee]

Circuit diagrams have never been my thing. I just know the front and rear wiper are on the same circuit. If the fuse blows, then neither will work. If the fuse is good and neither are working then you have an issue with the entire circuit. It might be something as simple as the relay.

[Fletch]

Gotcha, thank you.
Waiting for the baby to wake up so I can go to the garage and make noise. It is directly below her room and I like to make noise and have a radio going so, waiting patiently.

[FluffyCow]

I think it could be the ETACS system as well..I think it controls the timed intermittant wiper function as well as the washer function. My intermittant function stays the same rate no matter what I put it at, and washers don't work. My rear doesn't work either, but that's cuz it's not there ;)

Start simple, find and check the relay.

[stealthee]

ETACS only controls the delay, not the power. If your washer isn't working you need to look at the pump itself.

[Fletch]

Ok, just spent 2 hours inverted under the dash.
Removed all the old Clifford alarm crap, checked to make sure that the car started and all connections that were handled were crimped and taped well.

Wipers, front and back, and the front washer pump still inop.
Tested the rear prong only with the following diagram:
http://supercar-engineering.com/rubberducky/3S/Mods/All/WipSw/Schematic.gif

6 and 8 are giving no voltage, with no key, in Acc and started and running.
Checked the junction box above the left foot area #9, found 12.3 volts in the left column when 1 pin in the left bank and the other grounding to car.
Looking for my Fluke atm, I think the daughter walked it as a dog when I was away a week ago, wife swears she has never seen it. I have used this thing for 14 years, either she is unobservant or.... Hell I dont know.
A little stuck without my MM so that I can test the wire from the FB to teh #6 wire in the rear connector to test that wire.

Am I missing anything in this rambling, missed an important step?

I got sidetracked by that alarm wires everywhere. Traced one at a time when removing. Car runs fine.

[Fletch]

I think that the only way to properly trace this damned wire out is removing the dash... BUT I will check the relay before tracing the wire to find the open.

Ugg, done for the night.