Rear Wipers & Washers
REAR WIPERS/WASHERSAn electrically operated fixed interval rear wiper and washer system is optional factory-installed equipment on this model when it is also equipped with the optional hardtop roof.
The rear wiper and washer system includes the following major components, which are described in further detail elsewhere in this service information:
* Rear Washer Nozzle - The rear washer nozzle is secured by a plastic hex nut in a hole in the rear liftglass near the rear wiper motor output shaft. The remainder of the rear washer system plumbing, including a check valve and a cap, are concealed within and routed through the interior of the vehicle.
* Rear Washer Pump/Motor - The rear washer pump/motor unit is located in a dedicated hole on the lower inboard side of the washer reservoir, on the top of the left front fender wheel house in the engine compartment. The optional rear washer pump is located behind the standard front washer pump mounting hole.
* Rear Wiper and Washer Switch - The rear wiper and washer switch is secured to the accessory switch bezel near the bottom of the instrument panel center stack area on the instrument panel. Only the switch rocker button is visible through the lower opening of the instrument panel center bezel, the remainder of the switch is concealed behind the accessory switch bezel within the instrument panel. The rear wiper and washer switch contains switches to control both the rear wiper and washer system.
* Rear Wiper Arm - The single rear wiper arm is secured by an integral latch directly to the rear wiper motor output shaft, which extends through a hole in the liftglass near the upper right liftglass hinge.
* Rear Wiper Blade - The single rear wiper blade is secured to the rear wiper arm, and is parked near the top of the liftglass when the rear wiper system is not in operation.
* Rear Wiper Motor - The rear wiper motor output shaft is the only visible component of the rear wiper motor. The remainder of the motor is concealed behind a plastic trim cover near the upper right lift- glass hinge within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The rear wiper motor includes the motor bracket, the rear wiper motor, an internal automatic resetting circuit breaker, a diode, and the rear wiper motor park switch.
* Washer Reservoir - The rear washer system shares a single reservoir with the front washer system, but has its own dedicated washer pump/motor and plumbing. The reservoir is secured to the top of the left front fender wheel house within the engine compartment of the vehicle.
Features of the rear wiper and washer system include the following:
* Washer Mode - The rear wiper and washer switch rocker must first be moved to the Wipe detent in order to access the momentary Wash position and operate the rear washer system. When the Wash position is selected, washer fluid will be dispensed from the washer reservoir onto the liftgate glass through the rear washer nozzle and the rear wiper will operate in a fixed cycle for as long as the rear washer pump/motor remains energized. The rear wiper and washer switch rocker must be manually moved to the OFF position following rear washer operation to turn the rear wiper system OFF.
* Wiper Mode - When the rear wiper and washer switch rocker is moved to the Wipe position, the rear wiper will be operated in a fixed interval wipe mode until the switch is moved to the OFF position. When the OFF position is selected, the rear wiper motor will continue to operate until the current wipe cycle is complete, then park the wiper blade near the top of the liftglass.
Hard wired circuitry connects the rear wiper and washer system components to the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by many different methods. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system and to the rear wiper and washer system components through the use of a combination of soldered splices, splice block connectors, and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair procedures, further details on wire harness routing and retention, as well as pin-out and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.
The rear wiper and washer system is intended to provide the vehicle operator with a convenient, safe, and reliable means of maintaining visibility through the liftglass. The various components of this system are designed to convert electrical energy produced by the vehicle electrical system into the mechanical action of the wiper blade to wipe the outside surface of the glass, as well as into the hydraulic action of the washer system to apply washer fluid stored in an on-board reservoir to the area of the glass to be wiped. When combined, these components provide the means to effectively maintain clear visibility for the vehicle operator by removing excess accumulations of rain, snow, bugs, mud, or other minor debris that might be encountered while driving the vehicle under numerous types of inclement operating conditions from the outside liftglass surface. The vehicle operator initiates all rear wiper and washer system functions with the rear wiper and washer switch located in the instrument panel accessory switch bezel, just below the heater and air conditioner controls. Moving the switch rocker downward to a detent position selects the rear wiper system fixed cycle operating mode. Moving the switch rocker downward to the momentary position past the wipe mode detent activates the rear washer pump/motor, which dispenses washer fluid onto the liftglass through the rear washer nozzle and operates the rear wiper system in the fixed cycle mode for as long as the washer switch is closed.
When the ignition switch is in the ON position, battery current from a fuse in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) is provided to the rear wiper and washer system fuse in the fuse block. This fuse provides battery current through a fused ignition switch output (run) circuit to the rear wiper and washer switch, and to one fixed contact of the rear wiper motor park switch. When the rear wiper and washer switch Wipe mode is selected, the Wipe position circuitry within the switch directs battery current through the rear wiper motor control circuit to the rear wiper motor, which causes the rear wiper motor to run at a fixed cycle. When the rear wiper and washer switch Wash mode is selected, the Wash position circuitry within the switch directs battery current to the rear washer pump and to the rear washer motor control circuit of the rear wiper motor, which causes the wiper motor to run at a fixed cycle for as long as the Wash mode is selected.
When the OFF position of the rear wiper and washer switch is selected, one of two events is possible. The event that will occur depends upon the position of the wiper blade on the liftglass at the moment that the OFF position is selected. If the wiper blade is in the up position on the glass when the OFF position is selected, the park switch is closed to ground through the rear wiper motor control circuit input of the wiper motor and the wiper motor ceases to operate. If the wiper blade is not in the up position on the glass when the OFF position is selected, the park switch is closed to battery current through the fused ignition switch output (run) circuit. The park switch directs this battery current to the rear wiper motor brush causing the motor to continue running until the wiper blade is in the up position on the glass and the park switch opens the battery current feed to the rear wiper motor brush and is again closed to ground through the rear wiper motor control circuit and the wiper motor ceases to operate.
Refer to the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features and operation of the rear wiper and washer system.