GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Wiper/Washer System Components

The Wiper/Washer System consists of the following electrical components:

    • Accessory relay
    • Heated washer nozzles w/XA7
    • WASH NOZ 10A fuse
    • Windshield washer fluid level switch
    • Windshield washer pump motor
    • Windshield wiper motor
    • Windshield wiper motor module
    • Windshield wiper/washer switch
    • Wiper/washer switch 10A fuse
    • Wiper motor 30A fuse

Wiper/Washer System Operation

The windshield wiper motor module is part of the windshield wiper motor cover and controls wiper motor operation. The accessory voltage supply circuit to the windshield wiper motor assembly is used to operate the wiper motor in all modes. The windshield wiper motor is a 2 speed motor and is operated at low speed in all modes except HIGH. The accessory voltage supply circuit to the windshield wiper/washer switch is used to supply the windshield wiper switch signal circuits. The windshield wiper switch signal circuit voltage levels to the wiper motor module determine the wiper motor operating mode.

When the wiper/washer switch is in the LOW position voltage is supplied through a 24K ohm resistor within the switch to the windshield wiper switch signal 2 circuit, and accessory voltage is supplied to the windshield wiper switch signal 1 circuit. The reduced voltage from the wiper switch signal 2 circuit and accessory voltage from the wiper switch signal 1 circuit causes the wiper motor module to close the wiper motor accessory voltage supply circuit to the wiper motor low speed terminal.

Windshield wiper/washer system MIST operation is identical to LOW operation except that the MIST switch is a press and release type. When the wiper switch is moved to the MIST position and released, low speed wiper motor operation is started and will continue until 1 cycle is complete. If the wiper switch is moved to the MIST position and held, the windshield wiper motor will operate in the LOW mode until the switch is released.

Windshield wiper DELAY operation is a low speed wiper motor function with a variable delay interval between the wiper motor cycles. The DELAY interval is controlled through a series of resistors within the wiper/washer switch. During DELAY wiper operation, the wiper switch signal 2 circuit is at the same voltage level used for LOW operation, but the wiper switch signal 1 circuit voltage is reduced through the DELAY resistors. The windshield wiper motor module uses a capacitor feed by the wiper switch signal 1 circuit to determine the frequency of the low speed wiper motor cycles. When the wiper switch signal 1 circuit is at the accessory voltage level as in the LOW switch position, the capacitor charges fast causing continuous low speed wiper motor operation. The DELAY switch position indicating the longest interval between wiper motor cycles is the switch position with the highest resistance resulting in low voltage on the wiper switch signal 1 circuit. The low voltage charges the capacitor slowly causing a long delay interval between wiper motor cycles. As the DELAY switch is turned to positions indicating more frequent wiper cycles, the resistance through the wiper/washer switch is reduced and the wiper switch signal 1 circuit voltage increases. When the wiper switch signal 1 circuit voltage increases the capacitor charges faster and the delay interval between wiper motor cycles decreases.

When the wiper/washer switch is in the HIGH position the accessory voltage to the wiper/washer switch is closed to the wiper motor high speed circuit. The accessory voltage on the high speed circuit causes the wiper motor module to close the wiper motor accessory voltage supply circuit to the wiper motor high speed terminal. During HIGH speed wiper motor operation the wiper switch signal 1 and signal 2 circuits are at the LOW speed signal voltages, but the LOW speed signal circuit inputs to the wiper motor module are overridden by the active wiper motor high speed circuit.

The windshield wiper motor module controls the operating voltage to the wiper motor and the windshield washer pump during the wiper/washer system WASH mode. The windshield wiper/washer switch WASH switch contact closes the wiper/washer switch accessory voltage supply circuit to the wiper switch signal 1 circuit. Accessory voltage on the wiper switch signal 1 circuit indicates to the wiper motor module the WASH command is active. When the wiper motor module activates the WASH function the wiper motor accessory voltage supply circuit is closed to the wiper motor low speed terminal and the windshield washer pump control circuit. When the wiper/washer system WASH function is activated the low speed wipers and windshield washer pump will operate for a minimum of 3.5 seconds or as long as the WASH command is active followed by 2 wiper motor cycles.

Windshield wiper motor park operation is controlled by the wiper motor module using an input from the park switch within the wiper motor assembly. When the windshield wiper/washer switch is turned to the OFF position while the wiper motor is somewhere in mid-cycle, the wiper motor module will continue to operate the wiper motor until the wipers reach the park position.

Heated Washer Nozzles w/XA7

Vehicles equipped with XA7 utilize heated washer nozzles. The heated washers nozzles are current limiting and are always ON when the ignition switch is in the RUN position. When the ignition switch is in the RUN position, voltage is supplied to the coil side of the IGN 1 relay closing the relay switch side contacts. When the IGN 1 relay switch side contacts close, voltage is supplied through the WASH NOZ 10A fuse to the heated washer nozzles. This helps prevent the washer fluid from freezing at the washer nozzles in extreme cold environments.

Check Washer Fluid Message

The Check Washer Fluid message is displayed by the radio when commanded by the dash integration module using an input from the washer fluid level switch. The washer fluid level switch signal circuit is supplied ignition voltage through a resistor then monitored within the dash integration module. The washer fluid level switch is normally open so the dash integration module detects ignition voltage on the washer fluid level signal circuit whenever the washer fluid level is not low. When the washer fluid reaches the point where the driver should be informed that the washer fluid is low, the washer fluid level switch closes. When the washer fluid level switch is closed the washer fluid level switch signal circuit voltage is pulled low, and the dash integration module commands the radio with a class 2 message over the serial data circuit to display the Check Washer Fluid message. In order to prevent the Check Washer Fluid message from being displayed while sloshing is occurring in the washer fluid container, the dash integration module is programed with a 1 minute delay before changing states of the Check Washer Fluid message during an ignition cycle.