Hosed
New Member
- Joined
- August 18, 2006
- Messages
- 2
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- City, State
- USA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98 XLT
I am posting as this may save you some time if your windshield washer pump stops working. Also this may save you some search time in the forums. My 1998 Explorer XLT (4.0L SOHC) windshield washer pump stoped working. Initially I thought it was the multi-switch on the turn signal as you had to push the button in fairly hard to get it working. I didn't really want to replace the switch without checking the fuses and relays.
Symptoms: Push the washer switch the wipers would come on and wipe for 4 swipes and stop. No washer fluid would pump. No noise from pump. Checked for 12 volts at the pump. 0 volts. Checked fuses. Good. Went to check the relay(s). As I understand it there are 2 for the washer one for the front and one for the back window.
Problem-- Owners manual does NOT list the washer relay locations. Checked the forums & found a thread on relays (can't find it now) that said the relays were located in a box on the passenger side of the truck below the air filter box. (look below the top radiator hose) Bingo. Found the box with 4 relays. There are 2 small relays on the left side of the box, then a larger relay and another smaller one, 2 sockets on my box are unused. the 3 small relays have the same Ford part number. Not knowing which was which and not wanting to swap them around and introduce a new problem, I pulled out the 2 small relays on the left side of the box and marked them. My guess was that they were for the front and back washers. Upon checking them on the bench with an ohm-meter, the one for the front washers (top relay left side) had an open contact between pins 3 & 4. I replaced this with a new relay and the problem was solved. I still have to push the washer switch fairly hard to get the washer to come on but until the multi switch totally fails I will leave it alone.
The Ford numbers on the relay are 7317 A1 below that the Part Number appears to be F57B 14B192AA. I found a replacement at my local Advance auto parts store (#R3146) for $ 10.49. That may be high for a Chinese relay but I would figure it was probably less than what the dealer charges and they were closer to my house. I hope this helps someone in the same boat before they tear into a multi switch that may still be good. :
Symptoms: Push the washer switch the wipers would come on and wipe for 4 swipes and stop. No washer fluid would pump. No noise from pump. Checked for 12 volts at the pump. 0 volts. Checked fuses. Good. Went to check the relay(s). As I understand it there are 2 for the washer one for the front and one for the back window.
Problem-- Owners manual does NOT list the washer relay locations. Checked the forums & found a thread on relays (can't find it now) that said the relays were located in a box on the passenger side of the truck below the air filter box. (look below the top radiator hose) Bingo. Found the box with 4 relays. There are 2 small relays on the left side of the box, then a larger relay and another smaller one, 2 sockets on my box are unused. the 3 small relays have the same Ford part number. Not knowing which was which and not wanting to swap them around and introduce a new problem, I pulled out the 2 small relays on the left side of the box and marked them. My guess was that they were for the front and back washers. Upon checking them on the bench with an ohm-meter, the one for the front washers (top relay left side) had an open contact between pins 3 & 4. I replaced this with a new relay and the problem was solved. I still have to push the washer switch fairly hard to get the washer to come on but until the multi switch totally fails I will leave it alone.
The Ford numbers on the relay are 7317 A1 below that the Part Number appears to be F57B 14B192AA. I found a replacement at my local Advance auto parts store (#R3146) for $ 10.49. That may be high for a Chinese relay but I would figure it was probably less than what the dealer charges and they were closer to my house. I hope this helps someone in the same boat before they tear into a multi switch that may still be good. :