Rear Wiper Not Working (yes I searched, but n00b to car repairs and need help :-( )

[Edvard_Grieg]

'01 Sport is different than the 4 door... Let me check in the morning...

-Joe

Going by the book, I think I've checked everything related to wipers and washers as far as fuses go, and I can't see anything that would even hint at a problem.

Additionally, the wiper FLUID did work just fine with the push of the button, so it sounds like we've ruled out the switch (unless the push function could be separate than the 'twise'?)

Where would I get a 'test' light?

 

[Mbrooks420]

You can pick up a test light at any auto store, or radio shack.

 

[gijoecam]

On an '01 Sport, the setup is a little different... BJB Fuse #34 (15A) feeds the relays. The up and down relays are controlled by the GEM. There are four wires at the connector on the motor. Check for alternating power between the BK/LB wire and the WH/OG wire in the connector. Those two should alternately provide power and ground to the motor to control the direction. The BK wire is only used as a ground to indicate to the GEM that the wiper is in the park, low, and high positions. It does not serve as a ground for the motor itself.

-Joe

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

Thank you guys! I'll take a look later tonight.

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

Could it be the GEM Module, or would I have different symptoms? What/where would I check?

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

test light failed Don't see anything wrong with any of the fuses. Any reason it wouldn't be the switch?

 

[askingxforxit]

My wiper "went out" on my 01. Upon further investigation I found the the wiper blade was getting stuck between the read window and window seam of the metal. I bent the wiper arm and now it moves....but it doesnt touch much of the window. SO now I just need to tweek it a bit so it wipes clean all over. hope this helps and sorry if someone already posted a response like this. :exp:

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

My wiper "went out" on my 01. Upon further investigation I found the the wiper blade was getting stuck between the read window and window seam of the metal. I bent the wiper arm and now it moves....but it doesnt touch much of the window. SO now I just need to tweek it a bit so it wipes clean all over. hope this helps and sorry if someone already posted a response like this. :exp:

Thanks, I actually had already run into this, but I could always hear the motor running (or at least trying), at this point it isn't doing anything :-/

 

[askingxforxit]

Thanks, I actually had already run into this, but I could always hear the motor running (or at least trying), at this point it isn't doing anything :-/

I'd say replace the motor and switch, junkyard found would probably be cheapest. let me know how it turns out

 

[gijoecam]

test light failed Don't see anything wrong with any of the fuses. Any reason it wouldn't be the switch?

Because you said that the washer fluid squirts when you push the button. The wash signal to the GEM makes the GEM trigger the rear washer pump relay and the rear wiper up relay. If the washer pump runs, then we know the GEM is getting the proper signal from the switch and should be sending the signals to trigger the rear wiper. It's got something to do with the relays and/or the motor.

You need to do a second test. Again, with the switch on high (key on of course... did you have the key on for the first test?? I made that mistake once...), test each of the two wires individually with the alligator clip connected to a solid ground point. That'll tell us if we have a bad relay or ground path and which one.

I'd say replace the motor and switch, junkyard found would probably be cheapest. let me know how it turns out

If he's not getting power to the motor, replacing the motor or the switch won't do a lick of good. There's no excuse for not doing a proper diagnostic on it. It's not terribly difficult or a terribly complicated system.

-Joe

 

[gijoecam]

Just thinking... Please tell me you weren't standing there with the rear window open testing the connector, were you? If so, I would expect to get nothing... it thinks the rear window is open (because it is) and won't cycle the wiper motor.

With the plug disconnected, you have two choices: Sit inside the back and close the window (but getting back out is tough since you need to go through a side door) or use a screwdriver to flip the window latch to the latched position. Just remember to pop the latch before attempting to close the window. The system needs to see that the gate and glass are both closed before it'll try and cycle the wiper.

I made that mistake once... spent 10 minutes trying to figure out why all of a sudden I had no power at the motor... Duuh!! You've got the window open!! Window open = no wiper.

-Joe

 

[TheJackal]

(but getting back out is tough since you need to go through a side door)

I think the issue was he was getting power, but only 10V.

If you flip the rear seat down it makes getting in & out with the rear gate closed a lot easier.

 

[gijoecam]

I think the issue was he was getting power, but only 10V.

If you flip the rear seat down it makes getting in & out with the rear gate closed a lot easier.

It'll run on 10V, no problem... The question to ask is how was he testing it, and what wire was he testing? It's not like you can walk up to it, unplug the connector, probe it with a DMM, and determine it's a power supply issue and diagnose it as being a switch. The switch does not directly control the motor... The switch sends an input to the GEM, the GEM controls a pair of relays simultaneously, using feedback from the motor position plate, and all three legs of the system are interconnected with a power supply. There is no direct path from the battery or switch to the motor, and no direct ground path from the motor back to the battery.

As I mentioned before, it's not a terribly complicated system to troubleshoot, I just can't do it myself remotely. If someone wants to, I'm happy to talk them through it over the phone, but I need to be looking at a schematic and they need either a DMM or test light in their hand, and the motor connections exposed, the tailgate and window closed and latched, ignition on, and switch set to high.

PM me, and I'll be happy to give out my cell number if it'll help...

-Joe

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

Just thinking... Please tell me you weren't standing there with the rear window open testing the connector, were you? If so, I would expect to get nothing... it thinks the rear window is open (because it is) and won't cycle the wiper motor.

With the plug disconnected, you have two choices: Sit inside the back and close the window (but getting back out is tough since you need to go through a side door) or use a screwdriver to flip the window latch to the latched position. Just remember to pop the latch before attempting to close the window. The system needs to see that the gate and glass are both closed before it'll try and cycle the wiper.

I made that mistake once... spent 10 minutes trying to figure out why all of a sudden I had no power at the motor... Duuh!! You've got the window open!! Window open = no wiper.

-Joe

Ok, I think this may have explained everything, I feel like an idiot :frustrate I was just going to post that things got weirder this morning when I actually heard sounds back there again, but I bet that was exactly it with rear window.

I'll head back over to Advance Auto Parts this evening and try out their motor again (this time with the window closed )

Thank you again for the help Joe and I'll post back if that does the trick!

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

It was the motor! Tried it all again with the hatch down and that did the trick! Thank you so much everyone!


Now the only remaining question has to do with the wiper arm as it still appears to be pretty screwed up :-/ It either gets caught in the gap, or it is 'so' tight against the car that it doesn't go back down far enough on the resting ridge.

Are there any recommendations for new wiper arms? Do I just get a replacement one from AAP, or is there another one?

Thanks!

 

[gijoecam]

Bend the arm... it's possible that the ramp got tweaked, or the arm got bent a bit. I suspect that at one time the wiper was missing part of the window, so someone bent the arm to compensate for it. The problem that creates is that the relationship between the end of the arm and the ramp gets thrown out of whack. (i.e. the arm now sits too close to the glass at the end of the travel) What you're experiencing is exactly what you get when that happens.

Bend the arm back away from the glass between the ramp finger and the end of the arm. If it starts missing the glass in the center, modify the arm per the rear wiper mod gallery in the album linked in my signature. (shorten the fingers at the base of the arm by about 1/8")

-Joe

 

[jimmy22]

Four wires to rear wiper motor

To Joe: You mentioned the four wires in the plug at the rear wiper motor, but only described the black, the white/orange & the black w/blue, but didn't say any thing about the purple/yellow. What is it's function? Thanks.

 

[gijoecam]

It grounds the GEM to signal the GEM that the wiper is in the park, lower, or upper position.

 

[jimmy22]

Found my problem!

tested motork tested switchk tested both relays by swapping them with frontsk fusek the problem was the wire from the fuse in the under-hood box was pinched between halves of the elec. box upon assembly and eventually wore in two. Put the two back together and it works! I think the dealer would have made a fortune off of this had I given up. Thanks, Joe for your insight on the wire routing.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Great job. Electrical problems can be the worst.