Part 1 of 3
REAR WIPERS/WASHERSAn electrically operated fixed interval intermittent rear wiper and washer system is standard factory-installed equipment on this model. The rear wiper and washer system includes the following major components, which are described in further detail elsewhere in this service information:
- Rear Washer Nozzle - The rear washer nozzle is secured by a snap fit onto the top of the liftgate outer panel above the liftgate glass. The rear washer nozzle includes an integral check valve. The rear washer system plumbing is concealed within and routed through the interior of the vehicle.
- Rear Washer Pump/Motor - The rear washer pump/motor unit is located in a dedicated hole on the lower outboard side of the washer reservoir, ahead of the left front wheel housing. The rear washer pump mounting hole is located higher on the reservoir than the front washer pump mounting hole.
- Rear Wiper Arm - The single rear wiper arm is secured by a nut directly to the rear wiper module output shaft, which extends through the liftgate outer panel near the base of the liftgate glass.
- Rear Wiper Arm Park Ramp - The molded rubber rear wiper arm park ramp is secured with a screw to the liftgate outer panel, just below the right side of the liftgate glass. When the rear wiper system is not in operation, the rear wiper arm is parked on this ramp so that it will not interfere with or be damaged by liftgate flip-up glass operation.
- Rear Wiper Blade - The single rear wiper blade is secured to the rear wiper arm, and is moved off of the liftgate glass when the rear wiper system is not in operation.
- Rear Wiper Module - The rear wiper module output shaft is the only visible component of the rear wiper module. The remainder of the module is concealed within the liftgate beneath the liftgate glass opening. The rear wiper module includes the module bracket, the rear wiper motor, and the rear wiper module electronic control circuitry.
- Right Multi-Function Switch - The right (wiper) multi-function switch is secured to the right side of the multi-function switch mounting housing near the top of the steering column. Only the control stalk for the right multi-function switch is visible, the remainder of the switch is concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. The right multi-function switch contains all of the switches and control circuitry for both the front and rear wiper and washer systems.
- Washer Reservoir - The rear washer system shares a single reservoir with the front washer system, but has its own dedicated washer pump/motor and plumbing. The washer reservoir is concealed between the left inner fender shield and the left outer fender panel, behind the inner fender liner and ahead of the left front wheel. The washer reservoir filler neck is the only visible portion of the reservoir, and it is accessed from the left front corner of the engine compartment.
Features of the rear wiper and washer system include the following:
- Continuous Wipe Mode - When the right multi-function switch control sleeve is moved to the ON position, the rear wiper will be operated at a fixed speed, continual wipe cycle until the switch sleeve is moved to the Delay or OFF positions, until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, or until the liftgate flip-up glass is ajar.
- Intermittent Wipe Mode - When the right multi-function switch control sleeve is moved to the Delay position, the rear wiper will be operated in a fixed interval, intermittent wipe cycle until the switch sleeve is moved to the ON or OFF positions, until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, until the liftgate flip-up glass is ajar, or until the right multi-function switch control stalk is pushed forward to activate the rear washer system. The intermittent wipe mode delay time has a fixed delay interval of about 5 - 8 seconds between sweeps.
- Washer Mode - When the right multi-function switch control stalk is pushed forward to activate the rear washer system, washer fluid will be dispensed from the washer reservoir onto the liftgate glass through the rear washer nozzle and the rear wiper will operate in a fixed cycle (not intermittent) for as long as the rear washer pump/motor unit remains energized. When the control stalk is released from the momentary Wash position, the wipe-after-wash feature will continue to operate the rear wiper at a fixed cycle for about three additional wiper sweeps before returning to the previously selected mode.
Hard wired circuitry connects the rear 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 rear 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, proper wire and connector repair procedures, further details on wire harness routing and retention, as well as pin-out and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.
The rear wiper and washer system is intended to provide the vehicle operator with a convenient, safe, and reliable means of maintaining visibility through the liftgate glass. The various components of this system are designed to convert electrical energy produced by the vehicle electrical system into the mechanical action of the wiper blade to wipe the outside surface of the glass, as well as into the hydraulic action of the washer system to apply washer fluid stored in an on-board reservoir to the area of the glass to be wiped. When combined, these components provide the means to effectively maintain clear visibility for the vehicle operator by removing excess accumulations of rain, snow, bugs, mud, or other minor debris from the outside liftgate glass surface that might be encountered while driving the vehicle under numerous types of inclement operating conditions. The vehicle operator initiates all rear wiper and washer system functions with the right multi- function switch located on the right side of the steering column, just below the steering wheel. Moving the switch control sleeve to a detent position selects the rear wiper system operating mode. Moving the switch control stalk forward to a momentary position activates the rear washer pump/motor, which dispenses washer fluid onto the liftgate glass through the rear washer nozzle and operates the rear wiper system in the fixed cycle mode for as long as the washer switch is closed plus about three wiper sweeps.
When the ignition switch is in the Accessory or ON positions, battery current from a fuse in the Junction Block (JB) is provided to the right multi-function switch through a fused ignition switch output (run/acc) circuit. A separate fuse in the JB provides battery current to the electronic control circuitry of the rear wiper module through a fused B(+) circuit. When the right multi-function switch control sleeve ON position is selected, the ON position circuitry within the switch directs a battery current rear wiper motor control signal input to the rear wiper module electronic circuitry, which causes the rear wiper motor to run at a fixed continuous wipe cycle. When the right multi-function switch control sleeve Delay position is selected, the Delay position circuitry within the switch directs a battery current rear washer switch output signal input to the rear wiper module electronic circuitry, which causes the rear wiper motor to run at a fixed intermittent wipe cycle. When the right multi-function switch control stalk is moved to the rear Wash position, the Wash position circuitry within the switch directs battery current to the rear washer pump/motor unit, and to both the rear wiper motor control and rear washer switch output signal inputs of the rear wiper module electronic circuitry, which causes the wiper motor to run at a fixed cycle for as long as the Wash mode is selected plus about three additional fixed wipe cycles.
The rear wiper module electronic circuitry controls the switching of battery current to the rear wiper motor brush, which controls wiper motor operation. The intermittent wipe and wipe-after-wash features of the rear wiper and washer system are both provided by the rear wiper module electronic circuitry. The rear wiper module electronic circuitry also monitors the liftgate flip-up glass ajar switch and will park the rear wiper blade off of the glass any time it senses that the liftgate flip-up glass is ajar, the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, or the right multi-function switch control sleeve is moved to the OFF position. This feature ensures that the rear wiper blade will not interfere with or be damaged by the operation of the liftgate flip-up glass. However, if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position or the liftgate flip-up glass is opened while the rear wiper is operating, the right multi-function switch control sleeve must be cycled to the OFF position and back to the ON or Delay position after the ignition switch is turned back ON or the liftgate flip-up glass is closed before the rear wiper will operate again.
Refer to the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features and operation of the rear wiper and washer system.