2013 wipers only work after turning them on high

[ffd173]

Hi all. I have searched and I can't find a solution to my problem.

I have a 2013 limited. I have the rain sensing intermittent wipers. They were working fine until last week. They just stopped. I couldn't get them to work unless I turned them to high first, and then I could turn them down to a slower speed. they would work for a bit and then stop again. And again, I could only get them to work AFTER I turned them on high.

Sometimes after I turn them on high, they still won't work. I have to turn them on high and tap the wiper arm as if to cause a single wipe, and then they will work normally for a bit after turning down or off.

It's driving me nuts. I have already replaced the MFS arm. I bought a new one figuring that it was the culprit. It wasn't. Same problem with the new arm.

I also switched the fuse under the hood with another and still not fixed.

Please, someone tell me what else it could be!! I know it's got to be something loose or the like.

Anyone??

Thanks for looking and trying to help!!!!

 

[blwnsmoke]

Replace the switch (the whole wiper/blinker arm). They are about $35 online, easy to replace.

 

[ffd173]

Replace the switch (the whole wiper/blinker arm). They are about $35 online, easy to replace.

Thanks for the reply, but if you read my post carefully, you would see that I have already tried that.

Also, it is not a wiper/blinker arm. It is a wiper arm only. The blinker is on the other arm. This arm does only the front and rear wipers and washers.

 

[peterk9]

Not sure if this is relevant here but I had the phantom intermittent windshield wipe on my 2011 Limited with the rain sensing wipers and the dealer replaced the processor, BT4Z17D547B.

Peter

 

[sheltonfilms]

Hi all. I have searched and I can't find a solution to my problem.

I have a 2013 limited. I have the rain sensing intermittent wipers. They were working fine until last week. They just stopped. I couldn't get them to work unless I turned them to high first, and then I could turn them down to a slower speed. they would work for a bit and then stop again. And again, I could only get them to work AFTER I turned them on high.

Sometimes after I turn them on high, they still won't work. I have to turn them on high and tap the wiper arm as if to cause a single wipe, and then they will work normally for a bit after turning down or off.

It's driving me nuts. I have already replaced the MFS arm. I bought a new one figuring that it was the culprit. It wasn't. Same problem with the new arm.

I also switched the fuse under the hood with another and still not fixed.

Please, someone tell me what else it could be!! I know it's got to be something loose or the like.

Anyone??

Thanks for looking and trying to help!!!!

I take it that you are out of warranty?

Let me give you some information on this system. When Rain sensing is turned on in the information display, the wipers are turned on by the MFC (multifunction camera) mounted to the top of the windshield. You can see a small cut out from the outside of the car. This camera provides the information for auto high beams, lane assist, and rain sensing wipers.

This camera works by measuring the refraction of light. If water droplets get on the windshield in this area, depending on the setting on the stalk, the camera will send the message on to the body control module to activate the wiper.

I would turn the wiper on (don't go to high , just somewhere in between) and squirt water on the center top of the windshield and see what happens.

Also, does lane assist work? What about auto high beams?

You can turn the rain sensing function off in the information display under vehicle settings and see if the wipers function like a normal wiper system.

 

[peterk9]

......Also, does lane assist work? What about auto high beams?

Does the 2013 have these features?

Peter

 

[JETZ]

On my '12 Limited', had to replace the wiper arm. It was intermittently wiping on its own, had to pull the fuse before the replace.

This should be the same part number.

Thanks for the reply, but if you read my post carefully, you would see that I have already tried that.

Also, it is not a wiper/blinker arm. It is a wiper arm only. The blinker is on the other arm. This arm does only the front and rear wipers and washers.

 

[sheltonfilms]

Does the 2013 have these features?

Peter

2013 was the first model year the auto high beams and lane keeping assist was implemented (according to Ford's brochures). Only available on Limiteds with 302A package.

All the components were there, guess they still were working on the programming.

 

[peterk9]

2013 was the first model year the auto high beams and lane keeping assist was implemented (according to Ford's brochures). Only available on Limiteds with 302A package.

All the components were there, guess they still were working on the programming.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think they came in until the 2014 model year. Didn't have time to look for the brochure last night.

Peter

 

[ffd173]

The 2013 (mine) does have the lane keep assist. It also has the auto high beams and adaptive cruise control.

 

[ffd173]

I take it that you are out of warranty?

Let me give you some information on this system. When Rain sensing is turned on in the information display, the wipers are turned on by the MFC (multifunction camera) mounted to the top of the windshield. You can see a small cut out from the outside of the car. This camera provides the information for auto high beams, lane assist, and rain sensing wipers.

This camera works by measuring the refraction of light. If water droplets get on the windshield in this area, depending on the setting on the stalk, the camera will send the message on to the body control module to activate the wiper.

I would turn the wiper on (don't go to high , just somewhere in between) and squirt water on the center top of the windshield and see what happens.

Also, does lane assist work? What about auto high beams?

You can turn the rain sensing function off in the information display under vehicle settings and see if the wipers function like a normal wiper system.

OK. I tried the wipers with the rain sensing off, no difference.

The lane assist and the auto high beams work.

I could understand a little if the wipers didn't work at all, but they will work if I turn them to high and then pull down on the wiper arm like I was wiping a mist. Then they work normally for a bit. Then they stop responding and I have to turn them on high again. I just don't get it.

I am still under warranty and I guess I'm gonna have to go to the dealer. I just didn't want to do that. I like to fix things myself. I learn that way. The dealers are never honest with you and they take 3 hours to do a 20 min fix to justify the labor charges. I know I'm under warranty, but it's still what they do. And then they don't explain exactly what they did to fix it.

Thanks for all of the replies!!

(not related to the quote above)
Oh, one last time, it's NOT the wiper arm!! I already stated twice that I replaced it. Please stop suggesting that as a possible fix.

 

[peterk9]

....... The dealers are never honest with you and they take 3 hours to do a 20 min fix to justify the labor charges. I know I'm under warranty, but it's still what they do. And then they don't explain exactly what they did to fix it.

Thanks for all of the replies!!

Never had those issues with my dealer. I don't think a blanket statement like that is quite fair to those honest ones out there, and there are many from my experiences. My service advisor always takes the time to go over the invoice with me and explains what was done. At one time the mechanic actually took the time to take me into the service bay to explain what was being done. A few times they have done a few small things without charge. They always wash the vehicle when it goes in for service. It was raining on my last appointment so I told them not to bother washing it so they vacuumed the inside instead.

I'm guessing that there is a module for the windshield wipers apart from the rain sensing feature. If that is correct, then I would think that may be the issue or the windshield motor itself could be bad.

Peter

 

[sheltonfilms]

OK. I tried the wipers with the rain sensing off, no difference.

The lane assist and the auto high beams work.

I could understand a little if the wipers didn't work at all, but they will work if I turn them to high and then pull down on the wiper arm like I was wiping a mist. Then they work normally for a bit. Then they stop responding and I have to turn them on high again. I just don't get it.

I am still under warranty and I guess I'm gonna have to go to the dealer. I just didn't want to do that. I like to fix things myself. I learn that way. The dealers are never honest with you and they take 3 hours to do a 20 min fix to justify the labor charges. I know I'm under warranty, but it's still what they do. And then they don't explain exactly what they did to fix it.

Thanks for all of the replies!!

(not related to the quote above)
Oh, one last time, it's NOT the wiper arm!! I already stated twice that I replaced it. Please stop suggesting that as a possible fix.

Ok I'm looking at the wiring diagrams for a 2011 right now (highest year I have available.)

So the way this works now that I've looked at the diagrams again:

The body control unit controls a relay that powers the wiper.

The wiper motor gets input from either the rain sensor camera or the SCCM (steering column control module) is essentially the stalk.

Along with this input from either unit, there is a direct connection from the SCCM to the wiper motor when the wipers are in HIGH. this overrides any signal from the LIN bus (wires between SCCM, rain module, and wiper motor).

if the 2013 is the same (wiper motor is the same for 2011-2015 btw). Then you have a issue with the LIN bus or the motor.

Im thinking there is an issue past the splice connecting all three on the wiper motor side.

 

[ffd173]

Ok I'm looking at the wiring diagrams for a 2011 right now (highest year I have available.)

So the way this works now that I've looked at the diagrams again:

The body control unit controls a relay that powers the wiper.

The wiper motor gets input from either the rain sensor camera or the SCCM (steering column control module) is essentially the stalk.

Along with this input from either unit, there is a direct connection from the SCCM to the wiper motor when the wipers are in HIGH. this overrides any signal from the LIN bus (wires between SCCM, rain module, and wiper motor).

if the 2013 is the same (wiper motor is the same for 2011-2015 btw). Then you have a issue with the LIN bus or the motor.

Im thinking there is an issue past the splice connecting all three on the wiper motor side.

Would you mind sharing a copy of that diagram with me?

 

[sheltonfilms]

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=874994

Page 3 yellow wire is what im talking about.

 

[sheltonfilms]

Its gonna be different on a 2013 because they switched to a camera based rain sensor instead of just a rain sensor.

http://ir.gentex.com/manual-releases/2012/Gentex-Shipping-New-Multi-Function-Camera-With-Dri

This is why 2013 was the first year for lane assist and auto high beams.

Wiring may be different but similar. I would expect the camera to communicate to communicate via CAN instead of LIN bus.

I really need a new 2013+ wiring diagram.



EDIT: Forget everything I said and let me start new.

I assumed the camera on the 2013 provided the rain information. I maybe incorrect on saying that.

I found a new diagram for a 2013 that still shows a "rain sensor".

diagram is the same as the 2011 I showed earlier so I still say that LIN wire or the wiper motor is bad. Or the rain sensor could have shorted out causing the LIN line to "go down" thus not allowing the switch settings to work either. When I get home let me pull some info from ALLDATA and see if we can unplug the rain sensor and see if that fixes it.

Use the new diagram below btw:
http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=1009117

 

[sheltonfilms]

Ok pulled up my service manual for a 2012 (should be identical to the 2013 system).

Windshield Wiper Operation:

The wiper relay is activated whenever the ignition is in the ON position. The wiper relay provides voltage to the windshield wiper motor.

The wiper system is activated by the wiper/washer switch. The SCCM (Steering column control module) commands the windshield wiper motor to activate the appropriate wash, low, high and intermittent modes through a private LIN (Local Interconnect Network).

When the wiper/washer switch is in the HIGH position, the windshield motor also receives a ground signal which is hardwired directly from the SCCM (bypassing the logic within the module). This fail safe-circuit makes sure that the windshield wipers will function in HIGH speed in the event of a LIN communication error.

Rain Sensitive Wipers:

This feature replaces the intermittent wiper feature. There are no interval wipe functions available when the rain sensitive feature is active. The wiper system only wipes when the rain sensing feature detects moisture on the windshield. The rain sensitive feature is active when the wiper/washer switch is in any of the 5 auto/intermittent sensitivity settings.

The rain sensor sends data through the LIN to the windshield wiper motor. When the rain sensitive wiper feature is enabled, based on the data received from the rain sensor and the auto/intermittent setting on the switch, the system automatically activates and adjusts the wiper speed and frequency when moisture is detected on the windshield.

When the rain sensitive wipers are disabled from the message center, or the windshield wiper motor detects a fault with the rain sensor input, the windshield wiper motor changes to a default intermittent mode. The timing of the wipers correspond to a standard intermittent setting based on the auto/intermittent sensitivity setting on the wiper/washer switch.

Now for troubleshooting:

1. Step one was for troubleshooting wiper switch itself (obviously not needed here) plus it requires a scan tool.

2. Isolate the rain sensor:
a. Ignition off
b. Disconnect rain sensor
c. Igntion ON
d. Operate the windshield wiper in low speed

Do the wipers operate in low speed?
YES- Replace rain sensor
NO - GOTO Step 3

3. Check the wiper park operation

a. place wiper switch in the HIGH position
b. When the wiper blades are in the middle of the sweep pattern, place the wiper switch in the OFF position

Do the windshield wipers complete the sweep and then park correctly?
Yes GOTO 5
NO GOtO 4

4. Check the windshield wiper motor logic ground circuit for an open
a. ignition OFF
b. disconnect wiper motor
c. Measure between pin 3 (black wire with green stripe and ground) for resistance on the harness side

Is the resistance less than 3 ohms?
Yes- Install new wiper motor
NO- Repair the circuit

5. Check the LIN BUS circuit for an open
1. Ignition OFF
2. Disconnect SCCM (btw this is actually the clockspring module that the wiper arm attaches to)
3. Disconnect wiper motor
Measure the resistance between pin 4 (yellow/gray) on the wiper motor harness and pin 20 (yellow/gray) on the SCCM connector

Is the resistance less than 3 ohms
Yes-GOTO 6
NO- Repair circuit

6. Check the LIN for a short circuit to ground
Measure the resistance from pin 20 (yellow/gray) of SCCM to ground

Is the resistance greater than 10,000?
YES-GOTO 7
NO - Repair the circuit

7. Check the line circuit for a short to voltage (battery voltage)
1. Ignition ON
2. Measure the voltage at pin 20

IS the voltage greater than 11 volts?
YES - Repair Circuit
NO - Step 8

8. Deal with wipers only on high......lol

 

[ffd173]

Thank you all very much for all of this information!! I am gonna play around with it a little today and I'll post what I find. If nothing, then I guess it's off to the dealer.

 

[sheltonfilms]

Thank you all very much for all of this information!! I am gonna play around with it a little today and I'll post what I find. If nothing, then I guess it's off to the dealer.

Figure out anything?

 

[jspencer@att.net]

So glad I found this thread!!!

The wipers on my 2013 Explorer Limited started doing this exact same thing just last week. I tried one of the above suggestions - turned the autowiper feature off - and they work fine at all speeds (though not automatically, obviously). All other features (auto high beam, lane assist, etc.) appear to be working fine.

So, do I presume the rain sensor is the culprit? Is it worth the cost of repair?