Part 4 of 4

Fig. 13 Washer Reservoir:

WASHER RESERVOIR
The molded plastic washer fluid reservoir is located in the left front corner of the engine compartment. An integral mounting tab on the bottom of the reservoir is engaged in a slots in a stamped steel mounting bracket welded onto the back of the lower left radiator closure panel, while two screws secure an integral flange on the top of the reservoir to the top of the left radiator closure panel. A bright yellow plastic filler cap with a rubber seal and an International Control and Display Symbol icon for "Windshield Washer" and the text "Washer Fluid Only" molded into it snaps over the open end of the filler neck. A molded hinge that is integral to the cap secures the cap to a molded hook formation located just behind the reservoir filler neck when it is removed for inspecting or adjusting the fluid level in the reservoir. There are separate, dedicated holes in the reservoir provided for the mounting of the washer/pump motor unit and the washer fluid level switch.

The washer reservoir cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced. The washer reservoir, the grommet seals for the washer pump/motor unit and the washer fluid level switch, and the filler cap are each available for service replacement.

The washer fluid reservoir provides a secure, on-vehicle storage location for a large reserve of washer fluid for operation of the washer system. The washer reservoir filler neck provides a clearly marked and readily accessible point from which to add washer fluid to the reservoir. The washer/pump motor unit is located in a sump area near the bottom of the reservoir to be certain that washer fluid will be available to the pump as the fluid level in the reservoir becomes depleted. The washer fluid level switch is mounted just above the sump area of the reservoir so that there will be adequate warning to the vehicle operator that the washer fluid level is low, before the washer system will no longer operate.

WIPER ARM
The wiper arms are the rigid members located between the wiper pivots that protrude from the cowl plenum cover/grille panel near the base of the windshield and the wiper blades on the windshield glass. The wiper arm has a die cast metal pivot end. On the underside of this pivot end is a socket formation with internal serrations and a small, movable, stamped steel latch plate that is secured loosely under a small strap that is staked to the pivot end. The wide end of a tapered, stamped steel channel hinges on and is secured with a hinge pin to the pivot end of the wiper arm. One end of a long, rigid, stamped steel strap, with a small hole near its pivot end, is riveted and crimped within the narrow end of the stamped steel channel. The tip of the wiper blade end of this strap is bent back under itself to form a small hook. Concealed within the stamped steel channel, one end of a long spring is hooked through a hole in a small stamped steel strap on the hinge pin within the die cast pivot end, while the other end of the spring is hooked through the small hole in the steel strap. The entire wiper arm has a satin black finish applied to all of its visible surfaces.

A wiper arm cannot be adjusted or repaired. If damaged or faulty, the entire wiper arm unit must be replaced.

The wiper arms are designed to mechanically transmit the motion from the wiper pivots to the wiper blades. The wiper arm must be properly indexed to the wiper pivot in order to maintain the proper wiper blade travel on the glass. The socket formation with internal serrations in the wiper arm pivot end interlocks with the serrations on the outer circumference of the wiper pivot driver, allowing positive engagement and finite adjustment of this connection. The latch plate on the underside of the wiper arm pivot end locks the wiper arm to the wiper pivot when in its installed position and, when in its unlocked position, also serves as a blocker to hold the spring-loaded wiper arm off of the glass to facilitate removal and installation. The spring-loaded wiper arm hinge controls the down-force applied through the tip of the wiper arm to the wiper blade on the glass. The hook formation on the tip of the wiper arm provides a cradle for securing and latching the wiper blade pivot block to the wiper arm.

WIPER BLADE
Each wiper blade is secured by an integral latching pivot block to the hook formation on the tip of the wiper arms, and rests on the glass near the base of the windshield when the wipers are not in operation. The wiper blade consists of the following components:
- Superstructure - The superstructure includes several stamped steel bridges and links with claw formations that grip the wiper blade element. Also included in this unit is the latching, molded plastic pivot block that secures the superstructure to the wiper arm. All of the metal components of the wiper blade have a satin black flash applied.
- Element - The wiper element or squeegee is the resilient rubber member of the wiper blade that contacts the glass.
- Flexor - The flexor is a rigid metal component running along the length of each side of the wiper element where it is gripped by the claws of the superstructure.

All Ram van/wagon models have two 47.5 centimeter (19 inch) wiper blades with non-replaceable rubber elements (squeegees). These wiper blades also include an anti-lift feature. The wiper blades cannot be adjusted or repaired. If faulty, worn, or damaged the entire wiper blade unit must be replaced.

The wiper blade is moved back and forth across the glass by the wiper arms when the wipers are being operated. The wiper blade superstructure is the flexible frame that grips the wiper blade element and evenly distributes the force of the spring-loaded wiper arm along the length of the element. The combination of the wiper arm force and the flexibility of the superstructure makes the element conform to and maintain proper contact with the glass, even as the blade is moved over the varied curvature found across the glass surface. The wiper element flexor provides the claws of the blade superstructure with a rigid, yet flexible component on the element which can be gripped. The rubber element is designed to be stiff enough to maintain an even cleaning edge as it is drawn across the glass, but resilient enough to conform to the glass surface and flip from one cleaning edge to the other each time the wiper blade changes directions.

Fig. 18 Wiper Linkage:

WIPER LINKAGE
The wiper linkage and pivots are concealed within the cowl plenum area beneath the cowl plenum cover/grille panel. The ends of the wiper pivot shafts that protrude through dedicated openings in the cowl plenum cover/grille panel to drive the wiper arms and blades are the only visible components of the wiper module. The wiper module consists of the following major components:
- Linkage - The two wiper linkage members are each constructed of stamped steel. The connecting link has a plastic socket-type bushing in one end, and a plastic sleeve-type bushing in the other end. The socket bushing is snap-fit over the ball stud on the passenger side pivot crank arm, while the sleeve bushing is fit over the longer ball stud on the driver side pivot crank arm. The drive link has a plastic socket-type bushing on each end. One end of this drive link is snap-fit over the exposed end of the longer ball stud on the driver side pivot crank arm and captures the sleeve bushing end of the connecting link beneath it, while the other end is snap-fit over the ball stud on the wiper motor crank arm.
- Pivots - Both wiper pivot mounting flanges are secured with two screws each to the cowl top panel. The crank arms that extend from the bottom of the pivot shafts each have a ball stud on their end. The ball stud on the driver side pivot crank arm is longer than the ball stud on the passenger side. The upper end of each pivot shaft where the wiper arms will be fastened each has an externally serrated drum secured to it.

The wiper linkage cannot be adjusted or repaired. If any component of the linkage is faulty or damaged, the entire wiper linkage unit must be replaced.

The wiper linkage operation is controlled by the output of the wiper motor through the wiper motor crank arm. The wiper motor crank arm, the two wiper linkage members, and the two wiper pivots mechanically convert the rotary output of the wiper motor to the back and forth wiping motion of the wiper arms and blades on the glass.

Fig. 20 Wiper Motor:

WIPER MOTOR
The wiper motor is secured with three screws through three rubber grommet-type insulators to a reinforcement with weld nuts on the engine side of the cowl plenum panel. The wiper motor output shaft passes through a hole in the reinforcement into the cowl plenum area, where a nut secures the wiper motor crank arm to the motor output shaft. The two-speed permanent magnet wiper motor features an integral transmission, an internal park switch, and an internal Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) circuit breaker.

The wiper motor cannot be adjusted or repaired. If any component of the motor is faulty or damaged, the entire wiper motor unit must be replaced.

The wiper motor operation is controlled by the vehicle operator through battery current inputs received by the wiper motor from the multi-function switch on the steering column. The wiper motor speed is controlled by current flow to either the low speed or the high speed set of brushes. The park switch is a single pole, single throw, momentary switch within the wiper motor that is mechanically actuated by the wiper motor transmission components. The park switch alternately closes the wiper park switch sense circuit to ground or to battery current, depending upon the position of the wipers on the glass. This feature allows the motor to complete its current wipe cycle after the wiper system has been turned OFF, and to park the wiper blades in the lowest portion of the wipe pattern. The automatic resetting circuit breaker protects the motor from overloads.

Fig. 22 Wiper Relay:

WIPER RELAY
A wiper relay is used only on models equipped with the optional Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS). The wiper relay (or intermittent wipe relay) is located in a dedicated take out and connector of the instrument panel wire harness that is taped to the harness on the instrument panel cross body structural support above the glove box opening. The wiper relay is a conventional International Standards Organization (ISO) micro relay. Relays conforming to the ISO specifications have common physical dimensions, current capacities, terminal patterns, and terminal functions. The relay is contained within a small, rectangular, molded plastic housing. The relay is connected to all of the required inputs and outputs through the instrument panel wire harness connector by five male spade-type terminals that extend from the bottom of the relay base. The ISO designation for each terminal is molded into the base adjacent to the terminal. The ISO terminal designations are as follows:
- 30 (Common Feed) - This terminal is connected to the movable contact point of the relay.
- 85 (Coil Ground) - This terminal is connected to the ground feed side of the relay control coil.
- 86 (Coil Battery) - This terminal is connected to the battery feed side of the relay control coil.
- 87 (Normally Open) - This terminal is connected to the normally open fixed contact point of the relay.
- 87A (Normally Closed) - This terminal is connected to the normally closed fixed contact point of the relay.

The wiper relay cannot be adjusted or repaired. If the relay is damaged or faulty, it must be replaced.

The wiper relay (or intermittent wipe relay) is an electromechanical switch that uses a low current input from the Central Timer Module (CTM) to control a high current output to the low speed brush of the wiper motor. The movable common feed contact point is held against the fixed normally closed contact point by spring pressure. When the relay coil is energized, an electromagnetic field is produced by the coil windings. This electromagnetic field draws the movable relay contact point away from the fixed normally closed contact point, and holds it against the fixed normally open contact point. When the relay coil is de-energized, spring pressure returns the movable contact point back against the fixed normally closed contact point. A resistor or diode is connected in parallel with the relay coil in the relay, and helps to dissipate voltage spikes and electromagnetic interference that can be generated as the electromagnetic field of the relay coil collapses.

The wiper relay terminals are connected to the vehicle electrical system through a connector in the instrument panel wire harness. The inputs and outputs of the wiper relay include:
- The common feed terminal (30) is connected to the wiper motor low speed brush through the wiper control circuitry of the multi-function switch on the steering column. when the wiper relay is de-energized, the common feed terminal is connected to the wiper park switch output through the wiper park switch sense circuit. The wiper park switch output may be battery current (wipers are not parked), or ground (wipers are parked). When the wiper relay is energized, the common feed terminal of the wiper is connected to battery current from a fuse in the fuse block through a fused ignition switch output (run-ace) circuit.
- The coil ground terminal (85) is connected to the relay control output of the CTM through the wiper motor relay control circuit. The CTM controls the ground path for this circuit internally to energize or de-energize the wiper relay based upon its programming and inputs from the wiper and washer control circuitry of the multi-function switch and from the wiper motor park switch.
- The coil battery terminal (86) is connected to battery current from a fuse in the fuse block through a fused ignition switch output (run-acc) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the ON or Accessory positions.
- The normally open terminal (87) is connected to battery current from a fuse in the fuse block (JB) through a fused ignition switch output (run-acc) circuit whenever the wiper relay control coil is energized by the CTM. This circuit provides fused ignition switch output (run-acc) current to the wiper motor low speed brush only when the wiper relay control coil is energized.
- The normally closed terminal (87A) is connected to the output of the wiper motor park switch through the wiper motor park switch sense circuit. This circuit provides battery current (wipers are not parked) or ground (wipers are parked) to the wiper motor low speed brush whenever the wiper relay control coil is de-energized and the OFF position of the wiper control of the multi-function switch is selected.

The wiper relay can be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.