GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Saturn 🢒 2008 🢒 Astra 🢒 Body Systems 🢒 Wipers and Washers 🢒 Windshield Wiper System Malfunction

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 Motor Park Switch Signal

4

4

--

--

Windshield Wiper Motor High Speed Control

2

2

2

--

Windshield Wiper Motor Low Speed Control

3

3

3

--

Windshield Wiper Motor Ground

--

1

1

--

1. Wipers inoperative in all speeds

2. High speed wiper malfunction

3. Delay and/or low speed wiper malfunction

4. Wipers do not park

Circuit/System Description

The wiper washer switch is mounted onto the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM). The (SCCM) recieves inputs from the windshield wiper switch to determine high speed, low speed, intermittent, and mist operation. The Underhood Electrical Center (UEC) controls the wiper motor based on LS CAN messages it recieves from the Steering Wheel Module..

The UEC controls the windshield wiper motor through two relays which determine the desired wiper speed, high, low or park.

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. Ignition ON, wiper switch in the OFF position, verify the scan tool Windshield Washer Switch parameter is Inactive.
    2. ⇒If not the specified value, refer to Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction.
  2. Wiper switch in the OFF position, verify the scan tool Windshield Wiper Switch parameter is Off.
    3. ⇒If not the specified value, refer to Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction.
  3. Wiper switch in the OFF position, verify the scan tool Wiper High Speed Switch parameter is Inactive.
    4. ⇒If not the specified value, refer to Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction.
  4. Wiper switch in the LO position, verify the scan tool Windshield Wiper Switch parameter is Low.
    5. ⇒If not the specified value, refer to Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction.
  5. Wiper switch in the HIGH position, verify the scan tool Wiper High Speed Switch parameter is Active
    6. ⇒If not the specified value, refer to Multifunction Switch Circuit Malfunction.
  6. Wiper switch in the INT position, verify the scan tool Windshield Wiper Switch parameter is Intermittent.
    7. ⇒If not the specified value, test or replace the Multifunction Switch.
  7. Wiper switch in the INT position, observe the scan tool Wiper Delay Setting parameter while cycling the delay adjustment switch from long delay to short delay. The parameter should cycle between D1 and D5 as each delay position is selected.
    8. ⇒If not the specified value, test or replace the Multifunction Switch.
  8. Wiper switch in the LO position, verify the windshield wipers are cycling at the low speed.
    9. ⇒If the wipers are not operating at the low speed, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.
  9. Wiper switch in the HIGH position, verify the windshield wipers are cycling at the high speed.
    10. ⇒If the wipers are not operating at the low speed, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.
  10. 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.
    11. ⇒If the delay does not change as specified, refer to Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction.

Circuit/System Testing

Windshield Wiper Motor Circuit Malfunction

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect WPR relay.
  2. Test for less than 20 ohms of resistance between the ground circuit terminal 85 and ground.
    3. ⇒If greater than the specified range, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  3. Test for less than 20 ohms of resistance between the ground circuit terminal 87A and ground.
    4. ⇒If greater than the specified range, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  4. Ignition ON, verify a test lamp illuminates between the B+ circuit terminal 87 and ground.
    5. ⇒If the test lamp does not illuminate, test or replace the underhood fuse block.
  5. Install a test lamp between the control circuit terminal 86 and the ground circuit terminal 85.
  6. Using the multifunction switch, command the low speed wipers ON and OFF. The test lamp should turn ON and OFF as commanded.
    7. ⇒If the test lamp is always ON, test the control circuit for a short to voltage. If the circuit tests normal, replace the (SCCM).
    ⇒If the test lamp is always OFF, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the (SCCM).
  7. Ignition OFF, disconnect the WPR HI relay.
  8. Test for less than 2 ohms of resistance between the control circuit terminal 30 at the WPR relay and the control circuit terminal 30 at the WPR HI relay.
    9. ⇒If greater than the specified range, replace the underhood fuse block.
  9. Connect the WPR relay.
  10. Test for less than 20 ohms of resistance between the control circuit terminal 30 and ground.
    11. ⇒If greater than the specified range, test or replace the WPR relay.
  11. Ignition ON, verify a test lamp illuminates between the B+ circuit terminal 85 and ground.
    12. ⇒If the test lamp does not illuminate, test or replace the underhood fuse block.
  12. Install a test lamp between the control circuit terminal 30 and the ground circuit terminal 87.
  13. Using the multifunction switch, command the low speed wipers ON. The test lamp should turn illuminate.
    14. ⇒If the test lamp does not illuminate, replace the WPR relay.
  14. Install a test lamp between the B+ circuit terminal and the control circuit terminal 86.
  15. Using the multifunction switch, command the high speed wipers ON and OFF. The test lamp should turn ON and OFF as commanded.
    16. ⇒If the test lamp is always ON, test the control circuit for a short to ground. If the circuit tests normal, replace the replace the underhood fuse block.
    ⇒If the test lamp is always OFF, test the control circuit for a short to voltage or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the replace the underhood fuse block.
  16. Ignition OFF, connect the WPR HI replay. Disconnect the harness connector at the windshield wiper motor.
  17. Test for less than 20 ohms of resistance between the ground circuit terminal 4 and ground.
    18. ⇒If greater than the specified range, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  18. Connect a test lamp between the control circuit terminal 2 and ground.
  19. Using the multifunction switch, command the low speed wipers ON and OFF. The test lamp should turn ON and OFF as commanded.
    20. ⇒If the test lamp is always ON, test the control circuit for a short to voltage. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the WPR HI relay.
    ⇒If the test lamp is always OFF, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the WPR HI relay.
  20. Connect a test lamp between the control circuit terminal 1 and ground.
  21. Using the multifunction switch, command the high speed wipers ON and OFF. The test lamp should turn ON and OFF as commanded.
    22. ⇒If the test lamp is always ON, test the control circuit for a short to voltage. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the WPR HI relay.
    ⇒If the test lamp is always OFF, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the WPR HI relay.
  22. Verify a test lamp illuminates between the signal circuit terminal 3 and ground.
    23. ⇒If the test lamp does not illuminate, replace thereplace the underhood fuse block.
  23. If all circuits test normal, test or replace the windshield wiper motor.

Component Testing

⇒If any switch position is not within the specified range, 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 control terminal 2 and 12 volts. Install a jumper wire between the ground terminal 4 and ground.
  3. Verify the wiper motor is operating in the low speed mode.
    4. ⇒If the wiper motor is not in the low speed mode, replace the windshield wiper motor.
  4. Install a 25A fused jumper wire between the control terminal 1 and 12 volts. Install a jumper wire between the ground terminal 4 and ground.
  5. Verify the wiper motor is operating in the high speed mode.
    6. ⇒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

    •  Windshield Wiper System Module Replacement
    •  Steering Column Control Module Replacement
    •  Control Module References for UEC replacement, setup, and programming