Wiper System & Washer System (Service Information): Description

An electrically operated intermittent wiper and washer system is standard factory installed safety equipment on this vehicle. The wiper and washer system includes the following major components, which are described in more detail elsewhere in this service information:

• Washer Fluid Level Switch  - The washer fluid level switch is located in a dedicated hole on the lower, outboard side of the washer reservoir, ahead of the right front wheel house splash shield.
• Washer Nozzle  - Two fluidic washer nozzles with integral check valves and heating elements are secured by latch features to dedicated openings in the hood panel inner reinforcement near the rear hem of the hood panel below the base of the windshield.
• Washer Plumbing  - The plumbing for the washer system consists of rubber hoses, hard plastic tubes and molded rubber or plastic fittings. The plumbing is routed to the dash panel from the washer reservoir along the outboard side of the right front load beam. The washer hose is routed along the right hood hinge to the hood, then across the underside of the hood panel to the washer nozzles.
• Washer Pump/Motor  - The electric washer pump/motor unit is located in a dedicated hole in a sump area on the lower, outboard side of the washer reservoir, ahead of the right front wheel house splash shield.
• Washer Reservoir  - The washer reservoir is concealed between the right inner fender shield and the right outer fender panel, ahead of the right front wheel house splash shield. The filler neck and cap are the only visible components of the reservoir and, can be easily accessed from the right front corner of the engine compartment.
• Wiper Arms And Blades  - The two wiper arms are secured with nuts to the threaded ends of the two wiper pivot shafts, which extend through the cowl plenum cover/grille panel located near the base of the windshield. The two wiper blades are each secured to their wiper arm with an integral latch, and are parked on the glass near the bottom of the windshield when the wiper system is not in operation. The left and right wiper arms and wiper blades are unique and are not interchangeable.
• Wiper Linkage Module  - The wiper pivot shafts are the only visible components of the wiper linkage module. The remainder of the module is concealed beneath the cowl plenum cover/grille panel. The wiper linkage module includes the wiper module bracket, three rubber-isolated wiper module mounts, the wiper motor, the wiper motor crank arm, the two wiper drive links and the two wiper pivots.
• Wiper Relays  - The wiper High/Low relay and the wiper ON/OFF relay are both International Standards Organization (ISO) micro relays located within the front Power Distribution Center (PDC). The front PDC is located on the right front wheel house ahead of the right strut tower within the engine compartment.

Certain functions and features of the wiper and washer systems rely upon resources shared with other electronic modules in the vehicle over a Local Interface Network (LIN) data bus as well as over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. Other electronic modules in the vehicle that may affect wiper and washer system operation are:

• Body Control Module  - The Body Control Module (BCM) is located beneath the instrument panel on the passenger side of the vehicle. Refer to MODULE, BODY CONTROL (BCM), DESCRIPTION .
• Light Rain Sensor Module  - A Light Rain Sensor Module (LRSM) is used on vehicles equipped with the optional automatic wiper feature. The LRSM is located on a bracket bonded to the inside surface of the windshield glass, near the inside rear view mirror mount.
• Multifunction Switch  - The multifunction switch is integral to the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) along with the clockspring and the SCCM microcontroller on the top of the steering column just below the steering wheel. The multifunction switch is connected to the SCCM microcontroller. Only the switch control stalk extending from the left side of the steering column is visible, while the remainder of the switch is concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. The multifunction switch provides all of the driver controls for both the wiper and washer systems.
• Steering Column Control Module  - The Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) includes the microcontroller, the multifunction switch and the clockspring on the top of the steering column just below the steering wheel. The SCCM microcontroller is completely concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. Refer to MODULE, STEERING COLUMN CONTROL (SCCM), DESCRIPTION .

The BCM and the SCCM each contain a microcontroller and programming that allow them to communicate with each other and other electronic modules in the vehicle using the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. In addition the BCM and the LRSM communicate with each other using the LIN data bus. Refer to COMMUNICATION, DESCRIPTION .

Hard wired circuitry connects the wiper and washer system components to the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by many different methods. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system and to the wiper and washer system components through the use of a combination of soldered splices, splice block connectors and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, details of wire harness routing and retention, connector pin-out information and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds. For proper wire repair, Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE , and connector repair procedures, Refer to REMOVAL and INSTALLATION .