My pulse wipers don't work and neither does the washer pump. I've hot wired the washer, so I know the pump motor is not bad. At first I thought it was a bad switch, so I bought a new one from GM. Checked all the connections to see that power was flowing as directed. Then I replaced the circuit board. Still no PULSE.
Trouble shooting help needed. There are 3 wires going into the side next to the brake booster. Using a test light, I have power on the bottom Grey wire on the bottom when the ignition is in run, power to the orange wire in the middle when the switch is in pulse, power to the top grey wire when it's in slow and fast mode. The plug on top of the circuit board has 3 wires going to it. a pink, black, and brown. When I push the washer button on the switch, I get power through the brown wire. I think the black is ground and I think the pink wire goes over to the washer pump. I never see power going through that wire.
I may have gotten a bad circuit board from GM. To me the power goes through the switch, and to the circuit board. It seems like the board is working properly. If someone with a working pulse wiper would check for voltages at these connections it would tell me if the board was bad, or I had a deeper wiring problem.
Thanks to all,
Mike



[Modified by Curtis629, 4:59 AM 3/1/2002]

 

ttt, Anybody got any other ideas?

 

ttt

 

Curtis,
I hate to say this, but I think you've got another bad circuit board. As you surmised, the pink wire should have battery voltage on it when the washer button is pressed. This goes through the board as does the battery voltage to energize the park relay to pulse the wipers. Your voltages sound right except for the pink wire which does go to the washer motor.

 

I took the old one back to the dealership and exchanged it for another new one, I'm going to try it tonight.

 

Ok, I put the 2nd new one on and still the same problem. Is there a circuit in the wiper motor itself that could be bad, I've tried everything else but the motor assembly.
About the pink wire, coming out of the top, I put a 12V hot charge to it and still no washer pump. Maybe the other circuts have to do something to make it work too? Anyway, the biggest problem is the pulse. I have to think that is causing the rest of the problem. Anybody?

 

Is there anything else anyone can think of that would not allow the pulse to work. One other thing to mention. during the cycle if I move the switch from hi or low to pulse the wipers will stop in there cycle where ever they are on the windshield. When I put the wipers to off they continue the cycle and park themselves. Could it be a circuit breaker gone bad in the motor itself? On the bright side I did fix a sticking hood while I was messing around.

 

Mike, how about the mechanical adjustments?

Mine would drag and collide sometimes, which would cause the motor to stop in the wrong place, and the next cycle would just be weird. I ended up removing the screen mesh covers and adjusting the wiper arm linkages until everything seemed to work smoothly and not drag. I also found half my problem was the wiper arms themselves were worn out to the point each one had play in the direction of travel...so I "pinned" them into place with a drill and a couple of small screws.

 

Thanks Bill,
I'll try that tomorrow, I may take out the wiper motor and try running it without the arms attached to make sure nothing is binding. Since your's works could you try that with the test light if you get a chance and confirm my wiring contacts. the three wires on top (pink, black, brown) I never have any power going to that pink wire? I think it should have power when you push the washer, but I don't know if it's power coming from the wiper through the brown wire, or power going to it from somewhere else. The 3 wires on the side, grey, orange, grey. Only have power when (bottom grey) ignition in run, (middle orange) when switch in pulse, (topgrey, middle orange) when wipers in high. Very confusing. Also, the shop manual I have for an 85 doesn't really reference the wires as they are in the car? I gotta get one for an 86 I guess.

By the way, how goes the marriage plans? Nice to hear from you.

 

According to the electrical manual I have here, the pink is the power to the washer pump motor. It is controlled by a relay on the washer motor circuit board, that is controlled by a solid state timer on the same circuit board.

The grey wire that has power on it, is connected to the ignition accessory power through the wiper switch, but when ever you change the switch position, it breaks contact with power momentarily...therefore sending a pulse to the washer circuit board.

With the washer switched pushed, you should have power on all three wires simultaneously.

I will check mine tomorrow with a volt meter if it will help.

 

Man,
I'm sorry I sent you on a wild goose chase for another circuit board. Just to make sure we are on the smae page, when referring to "circuit board" we're talking about the the wiper motor cover, right? As for a possibility in the motor itself, I thought the park relay was part of the motor and not on the cover "circuit board", but I could be wrong. I eliminated the park relay, because it works in LO and you also had a problem with the washer. The pink wire is a straight shot to the washer motor going through connector C190. Could you have two problems or did they start at the same time? Being overseas, I have a supply of spare parts and a wiper motor with cover is part of it. I wish I was there, I'd lend it to you to eliminate your motor. I wish I could've been more help. Please let me know what it is in the end and I'll add it to my list.

 

Bill,
If you could check the voltages that would be great. I'll compare with what you get.
Thanks,

Ray,
Yep, I'm talking about the cover and the circuit board inside it. Don't worry about the goose chase, I would've tried the swap anyway. The washer and the pulse have never worked on the car since I got it in Sept of 02. I figured they were related but I could be wrong. So if the park relay is located in the motor and not the cover? That could be part of the problem. If you find out that's true let me know. If it's not a wiring issue, it must be in the motor itself. I've swapped everything up to this point. This car has really given me an education. And, I say that with respect and aggrivation, :)

As a last resort, If anyone with a working system would be willing, I'll send the board (cover) to you and let you try it on your system. If it works I know that's not the problem, if it doesn't I know to return it and try again. I'd pay shipping both sides of course.

 

I was wondering, when I have the wipers on low or high and move the switch to pluse they stop working but don't return to the park position. Could this be a problem in the wiper motor instead of the other circuits? Does anyone know if the contacts to open and close that control the wiper going to park are in the motor or the circuit board connected to it. I've already tried 2 new ones from GM and still no pulse?

 

Check the ground on the rear of the engineon the left cylinder head you can check it from the black wire terminal B of the one connector of the circuit board. The washer pump and circuit board use the same groung so if they are both out that would be the first place to look especialy seeing how you applied power to the pink wire going to the pump and it did not work. The wiring diagram says it's and the back of the left head were the ground strap is, but who knows it could be in the side of the block but also make sure the groung strap is also good, but it sounds like it could be a ground problem.

David Fulcher

 

I'll look at the ground but I don't think that's the problem because. The first time I changed it out I was in a hurry so I only screwed on 2 of the 3 cover bolts. the one in the rear far side next to the distributor is the ground connection for the board. Anyway, nothing worked at all. I installed the last screw that grounded the circuit and all that ever worked came back on. Still no pulse but the rest operated as intended. I'm leaning towards a motor at this point.

 

I have a used spare motor. (less the cover/circuit board) I bought it specifically for the cover and circuitboard as mine
was cracked. Email me (rdenker@hotmail.com) and you can have it for shipping costs.

FP

 

Thanks Fiddleplayer, I'll send you the email.

 

Sorry Mike...it got cold and rainy the next day so I didn't even go outside except to go buy food, then I forgot to check at all.

I'll check mine tomorrow after work if I remember. Feel free to email me for a reminder.

Maybe I can scan the diagram in for the circuit...might help.

 

Ok, here is the diagram. I could not really make sense measuring anything because it's all done in pulses from the switch movement...and I can't move the switch while watching the wires under the hood...well, not easily.

Look at the diagrams and you will understand why:

 

Thanks for the diagram, it really looks like the park relay is located outside the circuit board. Since the wipers don't park when going from low/high to pulse it leads me to believe I may have a problem in the motor. Another forum member is sending me a spare motor. I'm going to try it this weekend if it gets here by then. I'll post my results.
Thanks again