Windshield washer not working

Good afternoon,

The washer is controlled by the relay. Make sure 85 has power with the key on as well. That is the control side. The orange wire from the relay to the motor is the ground for the relay to operate the pump.

The wiper motor will ground the relay once it gets a signal from the yellow wire from the multi-function switch to the motor.

Roy

Both 30 and 85 are hot all the time. Since then pump runs from the relay and if the orange wire is intact I should be able to actuate the relay and run the pump by grounding the orange wire directly. which does nothing. meter also shows no connectivity between 86 and orange wire at the pulse board plug . Next step would seem to be opening the fuse box to trace the orange wire for breaks?

Does the orange wire have power with the connector off?

If it does, then the wire is good. If it does not either the relay is bad or the wire is open.

Roy

Relay is good , sorted through the wires in the bundle under fuse box. sure enough orange was in the bottom and worn through, fixed wire, fixed problem. thank you for your help Roy.

Good find.

You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy

V8 four wheel drive automatic Windshield washer do not operate. I have checked the fuses which are in the box under the hood. I have changed the relay with no luck. Are there other fuses to check? Any help appreciated.

Tim

Hello,

It sounds like you have a washer pump that has gone out here is a guide and video that will show you what you are in for when changing the washer pump motor out.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-windshield-washer-pump

and

https://youtu.be/ezjJz_N5cFQ

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers

No. The relay does not click and the motor does not run.

Okay, since fuses and relays are good than the washer motor is most likely at faulty. supply twelve volt direct battery power to the washer motor, if it does not run then it is bad.

Here is a wiring diagrams so you can see where you lose power

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

If the switch did not have power than not only would the washer be inoperative but the wipers and signals as well. Wiring diagram is below..

Please let us know what happens.

I would think if the switch in the turn signal lever has power, that the relay should click regardless if the motor is bad or not. The washer motor relay does not click at all even though it is good.

The washer fluid container is buried between the battery and the head lights and will require extensive dis-assembly to get to the motor and wiring, so an electrical diagram of the washer motor circuit would be nice before hand.

Thanks for the diagram. Agreed. When I push the wash tab on the turn signal arm forward to start the cycle, the wipers cycle several times and then shut off as they should, however the washer fluid pump does not run. Again, today I checked the washer motor pump relay and found that the fuse is good and that the relay does not energize as it should even when a known good relay is substituted. Since the relay does not energize, the motor cannot run and the wipers can.

I assume that this is a computer controlled function and no wire actually goes to the relay from the switch. That being said, I ran the battery dead a couple of months ago and am wondering if this could have something to do with it. Could this function be messed up in the computer?

Thanks again.

This could be a wiring issue still yet. The orange wire that runs from the wiper motor module (under the windshield cowl) goes to the fuse than to the relay. If this wire is disconnected/damaged than there will be no power getting from the wiper module (computer) to the fuse. If the fuse does not have a connection to the wire than there is obviously no way to send the signal on to the relay, therefore the relay does not energize. Check this orange wire out, again it is under the cowl. If it i good then the wiper motor module may be faulty, but with everything else working as it should, I find it hard to believe that the switch or the module would really be at fault here.

I will check the yellow wire. In looking at the diagram it appears (it is small and hard to read) that the yellow wire from the module to the relay is a ground. The other side of the coil is hot and protected by the fuse. Is this correct?

Yes, I know the forum does not like these large wire schematics but I blew it up best I could to fit here.

There is no yellow wire to the relay. The orange wire is to the relay and is the one that needs inspected. The yellow wire goes to the wiper fuse while the orange wire goes to the washer fuse than to the washer relay.

Okay, then I should be able to jump the positive twelve volts directly into the output of the relay (via the relay socket) and energize the pump to verify if it works or not..

I found the broken wire and repaired it. The washer pump now works as it should.

Thanks for your help.

When I turn my wipers on and run them either intermitently or low/high and then turn them off, sometimes theywon't stop wiping for several swipes. Then when they do finally stop, they will stop in a partial swipe angle or full vertical angle, blocking the field of vision. I have to turn them on and off several times to get them to the correct off position. Also, the washer function dowes not work. I have fluid in the resevoir, but nothing comes out. There is no sound of a pump motor runniong when I push the button. Could this be a switch problem, or an electronic chip problem for either case? Thanks

I had a 94 chevy silverado and mine did the same thing to fix it if you look at your brake booster to the left and up just a little bit there is a black box that controls your windsheild wipers you need to take it of and bring it to a parts house and get a new one.

I drive a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado LS Ext cab (3 door) with 114,000 miles. It has the 5.3 vortex engine.

My windshield wiper fluid stopped spraying 2 days ago. I turned all noise down and listened as I activated the spray and do not hear the pump working. Is there another troubleshooting method I should use?

I am not a mechanic however am mechanically inclined. How much of a chore is it to change the windshield washer pump? Is there a specific fuse that I should check first?

usually the washer pump is by the resevoir. sometimes they do go bad, see if it is connected to the resevoir, if it is take the washer resevoir out and bench test the motor. if bad replace it. its not hard to replace, be careful not to damage the plastic housing.