Operating Modes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Dodge Journey and 2015 Dodge Journey. 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 front wiper and washer system operating modes.

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 provides the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and wiper high-low relays within the PDC to direct battery current 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. The BCM then provides the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and wiper high-low relays within the PDC to direct battery current 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 then provides the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and wiper high-low relays within the PDC to de-energize the wiper motor 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 provides the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and wiper high-low relays within the PDC to continue 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.
Intermittent Wipe Mode - When the control knob on the control stalk of the multifunction switch is moved to one of the five Delay 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. Then the BCM electronic intermittent wipe logic circuit 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 provide the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and high-low relays within the PDC to energize and de-energize the wiper motor low speed brush 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 Controller Antilock Brake (CAB) (also known as the Antilock Brake Module/ABM, the Antilock Brake System/ABS module or the Electronic Stability Control/ESC module) and doubles the selected delay interval whenever the vehicle speed is about 16 kilometers-per-hour (10 miles-per-hour) or less.
Mist Wipe Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is rotated downward to the momentary Mist 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 provides the appropriate outputs to the wiper on-off and wiper high-low relays within the PDC to energize the low speed brush of the wiper motor for as long as the switch is held closed, then de-energize the motor when the state of the Mist switch changes to open, parking the wiper blades near the base of the windshield. The BCM can operate the front wiper motor in this mode for only one low speed cycle at a time, or for an indefinite number of sequential low speed cycles, depending upon how long the Mist switch is held closed.
Wash Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is depressed toward the steering column to the momentary front 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 and ground to the washer pump/motor. This will cause the washer pump/motor to be energized in the front wash direction 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 front Wash position while the front wiper system is operating in one of the Delay interval positions, the washer pump/motor operation is the same. However, the BCM logic also overrides the selected delay interval or sensitivity level and operates the front wiper motor in a continuous low speed mode for as long as the control knob is held in the front 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 about 10 seconds, the BCM will suspend washer pump/motor operation until the control knob is released for about 2 seconds, then is cycled back to the Wash position.
Wipe-After-Wash Mode - When the control knob of the multifunction switch is depressed toward the steering column to the momentary front 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 and ground 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 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 knob is released for about 2 seconds and then is 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.