Windshield Wiper Issue.. need help troubleshooting

[warlock40]

It's about that time again.. I'm doing some springish cleaning on things that crept up over the winter.. this one just recently.

We had a crap load of bad weather up here in ontario recently. One of them caused snow to melt and then refreeze then add snow!...

I believe I know how my whole wiper issue occurred.. I may have inadvertently left my wipers on in the low speed setting.
Lately I've been plagued with the wipers parking in the up position (but thats not the problem). After I got done chipping off the ice from the windshield I couldn't get the blades to come on in low or intermittent... however hi speed would work fine.. and as soon as I turned to low or intermittent the blades would stop.. (unless it was near the bottom and then they'd go to the parked position..and stop)

I've checked the fuses all is ok.. and as I said earlier.. it could have been caused by me leaving the blades on..(low or intermittent.) and when I turned the car on to warm up the blades were obviously frozen so I suspect it caused the problem... any suggestions.. I don't think its the motor.. because why would the hi speed still work...

Any suggestions or ideas to track down? would be appreciated..

Thanks

[LMP]

Originally Posted by warlock40

.. I don't think its the motor.. because why would the hi speed still work...

THe joys of winter.... I wish you understand french a little and laugh at this http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/video.php?vid=411
SOrry that happened.... if same motor than my '93, www.avigex.ca/xport/wipercircuit.jpg motor has totally separate windings for high and low... the low speed winding (also used for intermittent) may be shot., ..or the electronic circuit or relay contacts that drive this winding. PRoblem is you cannot test externally because the motor is after the built in electronic control circuit.

THis is the diagram for 97 and on...
http://www.autolib.diakom.ru/CAR/Pon...RAMS/19963.pdf but this diagram does not show the motor itself, but the general setup is same as the other.

[warlock40]

I was afraid of that.. I havent looked at the assembly.. going to do that now.. but I checked out that schematic.. I'll test the power at the motor for the low speed and see if it has juice.

I imagine 97-05ish were the basic same build that this would be the same for my 99. I'm not sure how the park feature fits in to all of this because it will still park the blades if its in the right area.. like top of the wiper position so to speak.

[LMP]

Use the magnifier glass tool to look for details at switches on the '97 diagram. (in case you make tests based on that). Some connections do not show at normal setting.

[llerrad]

I have the same issue, 03, Montana, wipers won't park then the park in the full up position. I push them down and they stay only thing is when I start the van again the wipers start and park in the full up position, what is the fix a new motor?

[llerrad]

Took the cover off the top of the wiper motor took the black plastic cover off the wiper motor transmission that drives the arms sprayed all over with D4W sprayed in, up, on and over less than 10 seconds and worked just fine. Whole thing took 5 min.

[warlock40]

Well did a little trouble shooting. I took of the main connector to the motor console. It has 5 leads.

a = ground
b = 12v feed
c = Hi speed
d = on (not sure what it means
e = low/intermittent

I was using one of those lighted continuity tester and a volt meter.

The car ignition was in the run position for all of these readings (obviously)

When it was on intermittent

I got a light (on the continuity tester) on the b feed only.
However the volt meter registered voltage on b, d, and e

on the low position I got a continuity light on b and e
the voltmeter ready voltage on b, d and e

on high the continuity meter light on b and c
voltage on b c d e

So unless there is something more to test beyond the actual connection I'm figuring its screwed!... but I don't get why I only get limited continuity but all have voltage.. is there a switch in the actual motor housing too?

[LMP]

Originally Posted by warlock40

.. is there a switch in the actual motor housing too?

..there is a complete electronic circuit between the plug and the motor itself. Very hard to read anything significant with a continuity tester.

[warlock40]

Does this ciruit have any switching properties?
because I'm thinking the actual motor may be working because the low speed is working to park the blades.

But it may not be possible to actually replace that one component so I'm likely looking at a whole new assembly.

I'm thinking that I'll find a used one at a wrecker and then pull the damaged one out this week. and out of pure curiosity I'll do an autopsy to find out where the problem actually was... that is unless there is another option

[LMP]

Yes the electronic circuit is actually an electronic array of switches...so it is possible the switching action is the cause of the problem, not the actual motor. But procuring the circuit new on e-bay might not be cheaper than getting a whole unit from the wrecker and then you'll have all options.

[warlock40]

Interesting... I've got a few things that I've learned that I need to check out.

I was told that the voltage should drop from 11.5-12v to 10.5 as the intermittent timing increases in time. I didn't notice that when I did my tests.

I looked into this Pulse control board that is onboard with the wiper motor.. I was suprised to find them readily available. I was debating about taking out the motor and looking at this board to see if there is obvious damage.

I'm waiting on pricing from a couple wreckers locally to replace the whole assembly. I'm betting on about $60-75.. which is opposed to $110 + $30 for the core. I'm still researching the board but so far ebay has them around $30 shipped.

Now normally I wouldn't sweat it but I've put over 240k on this baby.. and don't let her hear this but I'm not sure how much is left so I'm clamping down on the budget... yet I'm also hoping to learn a little something in the process...I suppose it depends largely on the cost the wreckers want.

[catesja]

I had the same problem on a Venture, 2000 model, and I replaced the motor assembly with a junkyard one and it works fine. Then after that was done, I wanted to figure out what exactly was wrong. I took the controls apart and found a capacitor inside blown apart. literally cracked in the middle and seperated in half. That must have been the problem, it could have happened in the cold weather here as well with the wipers left on and then it trying to run in intermittent even though it was frozen to the windshield. Now if only I could figure out what the capacitor values are I could replace it and have a spare on hand, or for sale!

[warlock40]

I forgot to update this..

I ended up replacing the pulse controller board and it solved the problem.
It also solved the problem with parking of the blades I've experienced on and off for all the years I owned this. Don't know why that solved it but it did.

I got the board and essembly used from a yard. I removed the board myself and replaced it.

Repair cost me about $40 if I remember correctly (excluding time... oh that sweet time...)

['97ventureowner]

Thank you for the update! Hopefully this can help someone else who has this issue and does a search for answers in this forum.
It is a good idea for any member to post an update if they end up solving their problem and the steps they took.