GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach.
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category.

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

Windshield Wiper Switch Ignition Voltage

1

1

--

--

Windshield Wiper Low/Delay/Pulse Control

4

3

3

--

Windshield Wiper High Speed control

4

2

2

--

Windshield Wiper Motor Ground

--

1

--

--

1. Wipers inoperative in all speeds

2. High speed wiper malfunction

3. Low/Delay/Pulse wiper malfunction

4. Wipers do not park

Circuit/System Description

Battery positive voltage is supplied to the windshield wiper motor and windshield washer pump. The wiper motor and washer pump are grounded through the control circuits and the windshield wiper/washer switch. Low speed, high speed, mist, and washer pump operation is controlled by the windshield wiper/washer switch by closing the control circuit contacts to the ground circuit contacts. The windshield wiper/washer switch also contains an interval relay which is supplied ignition voltage, ground, and the park switch signal. The interval relay controls delay operation, washer wipers, and the park function by grounding the windshield wiper motor through the low speed control circuit.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Wiper/Washer Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Description and Operation

Wiper/Washer System Description and Operation

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Wiper switch in the LO position, verify the windshield wipers are cycling at the low speed.
  2. If the wipers are not operating at the low speed, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.
  3. Wiper switch in the HIGH position, verify the windshield wipers are cycling at the high speed.
  4. If the wipers are not operating at the low speed, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.
  5. Wiper switch in the INT position, cycling the delay adjustment switch from long delay to short delay. Verify the wiper delay time decreases from long delay to short delay as each delay position is selected.
  6. If the delay does not change as specified, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.

Circuit/System Testing

Turn Signal/Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the X201 harness connector at the Windshield Wiper/Washer Switch.
  2. Ignition ON, test for 12 volts between accessory voltage circuit terminal  E4 and ground.
  3. If not the specified value, test the accessory voltage circuit for a short to ground or open/high resistance.
  4. Ignition OFF, reconnect the harness connector at Windshield Wiper/Washer Switch. Disconnect the harness connector at the windshield wiper motor.
  5. Ignition ON, test for B+ at accessory voltage circuit terminal  B.
  6. If not the specified value, test the accessory voltage circuit for a short to ground or open/high resistance.
  7. Test for B+ at Low/Pulse/Delay signal circuit terminal D while washer switch is being activated.
  8. If not the specified value, test the Low/Pulse/Delay signal circuit for a short to ground or open/high resistance. if all the circuits test normal replace the Windshield Wiper/Washer switch
  9. Test for B+ at the High Speed Control circuit terminal  C with the windshield wiper switch in the high speed position.
  10. If not the specified value, test the High Speed Control circuit for a short to ground or open/high resistance. if all the circuits test normal replace the Windshield Wiper/Washer switch

Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect harness connector at windshield wiper motor.
  2. Test for less than 2 Ω between ground circuit terminal  A and ground.
  3. If not the specified value, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal replace the windshield wiper motor.
  4. Ignition ON, test for B+ at the accessory voltage circuit terminal  B.
  5. If not the specified value, test the accessory voltage circuit for a short to ground or open high resistance. If the circuit tests normal replace the windshield wiper motor.
  6. Ignition OFF, reconnect the windshield wiper motor, disconnect the washer fluid pump motor.
  7. Ignition ON, test for B+ at washer fluid pump control circuit terminal  A while the windshield washer switch is activated.
  8. If not the specified value, test the washer fluid pump control circuit for a short to ground or open high resistance. If the circuit tests normal replace the windshield wiper motor.

Component Testing

Multifunction Switch

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connectors at the windshield wiper washer multifunction switch.
  2. With the wiper switch in the OFF position, test for infinite resistance between the accessory voltage circuit terminal  E4 and the Low/Delay/Pulse control circuit terminal  E5.
  3. If not the specified value, replace the windshield wiper washer switch.
  4. With the wiper switch in the Low/Delay/Pulse position test for continuity between accessory voltage circuit terminal  E4 and the Low/Delay/Pulse control circuit terminal  E5.
  5. If not the specified value, replace the windshield wiper washer switch.
  6. With the wiper switch in the High speed position test for continuity between accessory voltage circuit terminal  E4 and the High speed control circuit terminal  E3.
  7. If not the specified value, replace the windshield wiper washer switch.

Windshield Wiper Motor

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the windshield wiper motor.
  2. Install a 25A fused jumper wire between the wiper motor accessory voltage terminal  B and B+.
  3. Install a jumper wire between the wiper motor ground terminal  A and ground.
  4. Install a 25A fused jumper wire between Low/Delay/Pulse Speed control terminal D and B+. Verify the wiper motor is operating in the low speed mode.
  5. If the wiper motor is not in the low speed mode, replace the windshield wiper motor.
  6. Remove jumper wire from Low/Delay/Pulse control terminal  D and Install the jumper wire between the High Speed control terminal  C and B+. Verify the wiper motor is now operating in the High speed mode.
  7. If the wiper motor is not in the high speed mode, replace the windshield wiper motor.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure

    •  Turn Signal Multifunction Switch Replacement
    •  Windshield Wiper Motor Replacement