Operating Modes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 RAM 2500 HD. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Following are paragraphs that briefly describe the operation of each of the wiper and washer system operating modes.

Automatic Wipe Mode - If the vehicle is equipped with the optional automatic wiper system and it is enabled, when the control knob on the control stalk of the multifunction switch is moved to one of the five sensitivity positions, the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch sensitivity status message to the SAS over the LIN data bus. The SAS then relays an electronic wiper switch sensitivity request message to the BCM over the CAN data bus. The BCM, which is also a LIN data bus master node, relays the wiper switch sensitivity message to the Light Rain Sensor Module (LRSM), which is a LIN slave node over the LIN data bus.
The LRSM monitors an area within the wipe pattern of the windshield glass for the accumulation of moisture. Based upon internal programming and the selected sensitivity level, when sufficient moisture has accumulated the LRSM sends the appropriate electronic wipe command messages back to the BCM over the LIN data bus. Then the BCM operates the wiper system accordingly.

As the sensitivity level is set higher, the LRSM is more sensitive to moisture accumulation and will send wipe commands more frequently. The third (middle) sensitivity position of the control knob is designed to provide optimal wiper performance for most typical driving requirements. The BCM logic is also programmed to provide an immediate wipe cycle each time the control knob on the control stalk of the multifunction switch is moved from the Off position to one of the five sensitivity positions, and another immediate wipe cycle each time the control knob is moved from a lower sensitivity position to a higher sensitivity position. Also, if a vehicle is equipped with automatic wipers but the feature has been disabled using the customer programmable features function, when any sensitivity position is selected with the multifunction switch control knob the system will respond in the same manner as in the intermittent wipe mode.

The automatic wiper system has features designed to protect the mechanical components of the wiper system, and will not allow automatic wiper operation under the following conditions:
- Low Ambient Temperature - When the ambient temperature is below 0°C (32°F), the automatic wipers will not operate during a new ignition cycle until the wiper switch has been moved to a different position than that which was selected at the moment the current ignition cycle began, or until a vehicle speed input is detected.
- Transmission In Neutral - When the transmission gear selector is placed in the Neutral (N ) position while the status of the ignition switch is On, the automatic wipers will not operate during the current ignition cycle until the wiper switch has been moved to a different position than that which was selected at the moment the Neutral position was selected, until the vehicle speed is greater than 8 kilometers-per-hour (5 miles-per-hour) or until the transmission gear selector is moved out of the Neutral position, whichever occurs first.
Continuous Wipe Mode - When the Low position of the control knob on the control stalk of the multifunction switch is selected the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch low status message to the SAS over the LIN data bus. The SAS then relays an electronic wiper switch low request message to the BCM over the CAN data bus. The BCM then directs battery current through the wiper on and off relay and the wiper high and low relay within the Power Distribution Center (PDC) to the low speed brush of the wiper motor, causing the wipers to cycle at low speed.
When the High position of the control knob is selected, the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch high status message to the SAS. The SAS then relays an electronic wiper switch high request message to the BCM over the CAN data bus. The BCM then directs battery current through the wiper on and off relay and the wiper high and low relay within the PDC to the high speed brush of the wiper motor, causing the wipers to cycle at high speed.

When the OFF position of the multifunction switch control knob is selected, the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch off status message to the SAS, the SAS relays an electronic wiper switch off request message to the BCM. Then one of two events will occur. The event that occurs depends upon the position of the wiper blades on the windshield at the moment that the control knob OFF position is selected.

If the wiper blades are in the down position on the windshield when the OFF position is selected, the park switch that is integral to the wiper motor is closed to ground, which provides a hard wired park switch sense input to the BCM. The BCM de-energizes the wiper on and off relay and the wiper motor ceases to operate. If the wiper blades are not in the down position on the windshield at the moment the OFF position is selected, the park switch is an open circuit and the BCM continues running the wiper motor at low speed until the wiper blades are in the down position on the windshield and the park switch input to the BCM is again closed to ground. Then the BCM de-energizes the wiper on and off relay and the wiper motor ceases to operate.
Headlamps On With Wipers Mode - The circuitry of the BCM provides an automatic Headlamps On With Wipers mode for vehicles equipped with the optional automatic headlamps. This is a customer programmable feature that can be enabled or disabled through the Personal Settings menu of the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). If this feature is enabled, when the headlamp switch is in the AUTO position, the headlamps will turn ON automatically whenever the windshield wipers are turned ON; and, if the headlamps were turned ON automatically when the wipers were turned ON, they will also turn OFF automatically when the wipers are turned OFF.
If this feature is enabled in vehicles equipped with the optional automatic wiper feature, when the automatic wiper mode is selected the headlamps will turn ON automatically only after the wipers complete three automatic wipe cycles within about 30 seconds, and they will turn OFF automatically after 3 minutes elapse without any automatic wipe cycles unless ambient light conditions dictate otherwise.
Intermittent Wipe Mode - The following applies to vehicles not equipped with the optional automatic wiper system, or to vehicles equipped with the automatic wiper system that have had automatic wipers disabled using the customer programmable features function.
When the control knob on the control stalk of the multifunction switch is moved to one of the five Delay (Intermittent) interval positions the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch delay interval status message to the SAS. The SAS then relays an electronic wiper switch delay interval request message to the BCM. The electronic intermittent wipe logic circuit of the BCM responds by calculating the correct length of time between wiper sweeps based upon the selected delay interval input.

The BCM monitors the changing state of the wiper motor park switch through a hard wired park switch sense input. This input allows the BCM to determine the proper intervals at which to energize and de-energize the wiper on and off relay in the PDC to operate the wiper motor intermittently for one low speed cycle at a time.

The BCM logic is also programmed to provide vehicle speed sensitivity to the selected intermittent wipe delay intervals. In order to provide this feature, the BCM monitors electronic vehicle speed messages from the Antilock Brake System (ABS) module and doubles the selected delay interval whenever the vehicle speed is about 16 km/h (10 mph) or less.
Mist Wipe Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is rotated downward to the momentary Mist (or Pulse) position, the SCM sends an electronic wiper mist mode status message to the SAS, the SAS relays an electronic wiper mist mode request message to the BCM, then the BCM energizes the wiper on and off relay to operate the wiper motor at low speed for as long as the switch is held closed, then de-energizes the motor through the on and off relay when the state of the switch changes to open and the wiper blades are parked near the base of the windshield. The BCM can operate the wiper motor in this mode for one low speed cycle at a time, or for an indefinite number of sequential low speed cycles, depending upon how long the switch is held closed.
Wash Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is pressed toward the steering column to the momentary Wash position for more than about one-half second with the wiper system operating, the SCM sends an electronic washer switch status message to the SAS, the SAS relays an electronic washer switch request message to the BCM. Then the BCM directs battery current to the washer pump/motor. This will cause the washer pump/motor to be energized for as long as the switch is held closed (up to approximately 10 seconds) and to be de-energized when the control knob is released.
When the control knob is depressed to the momentary Wash position while the wiper system is operating in one of the Delay (Intermittent) interval positions, the washer pump/motor operation is the same. However, the BCM logic also overrides the selected delay interval and operates the wiper motor in a continuous low speed mode for as long as the control knob is held in the momentary Wash position, then reverts to the selected delay interval several wipe cycles after the control knob is released. If the Wash switch is held closed for more than approximately 10 seconds, the BCM will suspend washer pump/motor operation until the control stalk is released for about 2 seconds and then cycled back to the Wash position.
Wipe-After-Wash Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is pressed toward the steering column to the momentary Wash position for more than about one-half second while the wiper system is not operating, the SCM sends an electronic washer switch status message to the SAS. Then the SAS relays an electronic washer switch request message to the BCM, and the BCM directs battery current to the washer pump/motor and energizes the wiper motor in a continuous low speed mode for as long as the switch is held closed (up to approximately 10 seconds). When the control knob is released, the BCM de-energizes the washer pump/motor immediately, but allows the wiper motor to operate for two or three additional wipe cycles before it de-energizes the wiper motor through the wiper on and off relay and parks the wiper blades near the base of the windshield.
If the control knob is held inward for more than about 10 seconds, the BCM will suspend washer pump/motor operation until the stalk is released for about 2 seconds and then cycled back to the Wash position; however, the wipers will continue to operate for as long as the switch is held closed. The BCM monitors the changing state of the wiper motor park switch through a hard wired wiper park switch sense circuit input. This input allows the BCM to count the number of wipe cycles that occur after the control knob is released, and to determine the proper interval at which to de-energize the wiper motor to complete the Wipe-After-Wash mode cycle.