front wiper issue

Phungki

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 5, 2016
Messages
106
Location
Michigan
hello TJers,
ill try and make this as short and informative as i can. When I first bought this Jeep,5 months ago, the wipers moved slow regardless of the speed setting and never went to the full down position when switched off. It didnt really bother me as much as it did my wife. They still worked, sorta, so i let it go. Well eventually they stopped working all together. So I run out and buy a new one. By new I mean a re-manufactured one. I hook it up and nothing happens. no movement and not even the slightest noise. The fuse isnt blown as the windshield washer fluid pump is still working. I figured, well thats what i get for buying a reman. so i take it back and order a new one. costs me $30 more and 3 days but i was hoping it would fix the problem. I didnt hook it into the linkage but instead just plugged it in. now it blows the fuse. I unhook it and replace the fuse. I leave it unhooked and the fuse stays good. washer pump works. I plug it in and bam it blows again. I hook my multimeter up to the wire leading to the wiper motor and it reads 11.5. so that sounds right to me. I bench tested the wiper motor and it works fine.

I just hit a wall. I have checked everything that i know how to check and can think to check, and it all checks out. What am i missing? Why didnt the original motor blow the fuse? Why would the new one blow a fuse? I check it and its working. I didnt have it hooked up to the linkage so i eliminated that variable. Which moves quite freely anyway.

any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. wiper motors have always been too simple for me to take to my mechanic but im missing some good snow here in Michigan and getting anxious.

help pls

Thank you
 
It would help if you added your year and model to your signature line. These schematics are from the 2000 service manual. I would start with the constant 12V feed that caused your original not to park. Check for 12V when it should be there, and short to ground in the ohm setting when there shouldn't be voltage. The difference in symptoms between the replacement units is odd. I would be using the meter on them also to see if they are indeed defective or can provide clues to your puzzle.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
WIPER SYSTEM
FRONT

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to
8W-53 - Wipers in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY
STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.

(1) Check the fuse in the fuseblock module. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair the shorted circuit or
component as required and replace the faulty fuse.
(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Unplug the windshield wiper switch wire harness connector. Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(3) If the vehicle is equipped with the optional intermittent wiper system and the problem being diagnosed involves only the pulse wipe, wipe-afterwash, or intermittent wipe modes, go to Step 4. If not, go to Step 5.
(4) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Check for continuity between the ground circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty switch. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(5) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the windshield wiper and washer switch and check the switch continuity. See Wiper Switch and Washer Switch in the Diagnosis and Testing section of this group for the procedures. If OK, go to Step 6. If not OK, replace the faulty switch.
(6) Unplug the windshield wiper motor wire harness connector. Check for continuity between the round circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, go to Step 7. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(7) Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 8. If not OK, repair
the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(8) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. With the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector still unplugged, check the cavities for each of the following circuits in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector for continuity to ground. In each case, there should be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 9. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.
(9) Check for continuity between the cavities in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and the cavities in the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector for each of the following circuits. In each case, there should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty wiper motor. If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.

Wiper intermittent.JPG
Wiper standard.JPG
 
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Reactions: Phungki
It would help if you added your year and model to your signature line. These schematics are from the 2000 service manual. I would start with the constant 12V feed that caused your original not to park. Check for 12V when it should be there, and short to ground in the ohm setting when there shouldn't be voltage. The difference in symptoms between the replacement units is odd. I would be using the meter on them also to see if they are indeed defective or can provide clues to your puzzle.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
WIPER SYSTEM
FRONT

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to
8W-53 - Wipers in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY
STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.

(1) Check the fuse in the fuseblock module. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair the shorted circuit or
component as required and replace the faulty fuse.
(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Unplug the windshield wiper switch wire harness connector. Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(3) If the vehicle is equipped with the optional intermittent wiper system and the problem being diagnosed involves only the pulse wipe, wipe-afterwash, or intermittent wipe modes, go to Step 4. If not, go to Step 5.
(4) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Check for continuity between the ground circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty switch. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(5) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the windshield wiper and washer switch and check the switch continuity. See Wiper Switch and Washer Switch in the Diagnosis and Testing section of this group for the procedures. If OK, go to Step 6. If not OK, replace the faulty switch.
(6) Unplug the windshield wiper motor wire harness connector. Check for continuity between the round circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, go to Step 7. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(7) Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 8. If not OK, repair
the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(8) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. With the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector still unplugged, check the cavities for each of the following circuits in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector for continuity to ground. In each case, there should be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 9. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.
(9) Check for continuity between the cavities in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and the cavities in the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector for each of the following circuits. In each case, there should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty wiper motor. If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.

View attachment 8448 View attachment 8449[/Q
It would help if you added your year and model to your signature line. These schematics are from the 2000 service manual. I would start with the constant 12V feed that caused your original not to park. Check for 12V when it should be there, and short to ground in the ohm setting when there shouldn't be voltage. The difference in symptoms between the replacement units is odd. I would be using the meter on them also to see if they are indeed defective or can provide clues to your puzzle.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
WIPER SYSTEM
FRONT

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to
8W-53 - Wipers in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY
STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.

(1) Check the fuse in the fuseblock module. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair the shorted circuit or
component as required and replace the faulty fuse.
(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Unplug the windshield wiper switch wire harness connector. Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(3) If the vehicle is equipped with the optional intermittent wiper system and the problem being diagnosed involves only the pulse wipe, wipe-afterwash, or intermittent wipe modes, go to Step 4. If not, go to Step 5.
(4) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Check for continuity between the ground circuit cavity of the wiper switch wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty switch. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(5) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the windshield wiper and washer switch and check the switch continuity. See Wiper Switch and Washer Switch in the Diagnosis and Testing section of this group for the procedures. If OK, go to Step 6. If not OK, replace the faulty switch.
(6) Unplug the windshield wiper motor wire harness connector. Check for continuity between the round circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, go to Step 7. If not OK, repair the open circuit to ground as required.
(7) Connect the battery negative cable. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit cavity in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector. If OK, go to Step 8. If not OK, repair
the open circuit to the fuseblock module as required.
(8) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. With the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector still unplugged, check the cavities for each of the following circuits in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector for continuity to ground. In each case, there should be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 9. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.
(9) Check for continuity between the cavities in the body half of the wiper motor wire harness connector and the cavities in the windshield wiper and washer switch wire harness connector for each of the following circuits. In each case, there should be continuity. If OK, replace the faulty wiper motor. If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.
* Wiper park switch sense
* Wiper switch low speed output
* Wiper switch high speed output.

View attachment 8448 View attachment 8449
you are right. year and model would be helpful. luckily for me you attached the schematics for a 2000. thats what i have. a 2000 sport.
thank you for the reply. i will see what i can make of this.
 
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Reactions: Chris
I would study those wiring diagrams (thanks @RaymondT for the helpful post) as your answer likely lies within.

I had to do something similar with my old Cherokee XJ that had a blower motor that would NOT turn on for the life of me. I replaced every single part I could and finally broke out the wiring diagrams. I spent over a day tracing the issue (with a test light) to a faulty connection and the fuse block under the dash.

Seriously... that's one of those things that you just assume never happens, but it happened to me!
 
Well here is an update on my wiper issue. I purchased a used motor off of eBay and all is well now. Works beautifully. Not sure what was up with the 2 "new" motors I purchased from the local autozone. I appreciate the replies and suggestions. I'm very happy it wasn't an issue with the wiring. That's not my strong suit

Thanks again
 
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Reactions: Kevin E
Not sure what was up with the 2 "new" motors I purchased from the local autozone.

It's Autozone, that's what was up with them.

Seriously... Don't ever trust Autozone for quality replacement parts. The stuff they sell there is very, very cheap Chinese crap and a good majority of it (i.e. sensors) is well known for having issues.

It's alright if you need something in a pinch, but whenever possible I would try to buy OE Mopar parts.