My 1990 Wiper Repair

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

My wipers have all but stopped working.  On high they will manage to slowly get across, but that's all.  They have been showing signs of failure for quite a while now.  I have a new stalk switch from about a year ago because my old one self destructed.  I expect it's time to replace the wiper motor.  I have looked over the posts here and it looks like WAI GLOBAL WPM447 motor has been used here, and also bushings out of the DORMAN 49447 Kit have been replaced in the assemble, so that's my plan unless someone speaks up that I should do something else.

 

I am referencing these posts:

https://comancheclub.com/topic/18239-mjxj-wiper-bushing-install/?hl=wiper

https://comancheclub.com/topic/70869-upgrade-your-windshield-wipers-for-good-2001-xj-wiper-motor-swap/page/4/#comments

https://comancheclub.com/topic/57353-comprehensive-wiper-modification-upgrade-maintenance/

 

I'll try not to duplicate the good info already posted, I'll just note anything different I happen to learn here

[Pete M]

chances are better than the power wiring to the motor needs to be cleaned/refreshed before the motor needs to be replaced.   

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

9 hours ago, Pete M said:

chances are better than the power wiring to the motor needs to be cleaned/refreshed before the motor needs to be replaced.   

Well, the replacement motor got here earlier today.  If I can get to this wiring without removing the wiper assembly and it works I might return it.  But if I have to take it all apart, I'll probably just put in the new motor and be good for another 36 years.  We'll see 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Well I kinds got off on the wrong thread, but I'll try to pull in back into this one.  I asked in thread Upgrade your windshield wipers for GOOD! 2001 XJ wiper motor swap asking for wiring connections for installing the WPM447.  @Gojira94 replied with that info!  I'll copy it here since it was my intent to document this from start to finish in this thread, so that info was:

 

Looking at the back of the new connector on the new motor, where the wires from the motor go into the connector, if these are the colors:

 ___________

|  X  2   3   |

|_4__5__6__|

 

Then:

New motor/function/old connector color:

X (no pin/ no wire)

2 White - Park - goes to Gray wire of old connector

3 Red - Switched 12V - goes to Blue wire of old connector

4 Yellow - High - goes to Red Wire of old connector

5 Green - Low - goes to White wire of old connector

6 Black - Ground - goes to Black wire of old connector

 

I had also captured some pics so I'll link them here again to get things back where they were supposed to be,,,,

 

Now I'll continue here 

 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

So now I have a brand new motor installed and new bushings, and sadly for me, I am 100% sure I got it hooked up correctly because it FAILS in the exact same way.  I only get wiper motion when the switch is on high   ( So what @Pete M said back on the 16th should have been where I went).  I think I can say it's not the motor (odds that a new one fails in the exact same way is pretty small).  So now what?  I did look at wires at the motor, they look completely fine.

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Here's a bit more detail in case it tells something:

 

Switch Position    Action

OFF                         No Wiper Movement - Doesn't PARK, it just stops when you switch OFF

DELAY                    Either continuous Wiper Movement in LOW speed - OR - No Wiper Movement

                               (If Wiper Movement when switched to DELAY then Wiper Movement continuous at same rate regardless of Time Position)

LOW                       No Wiper Movement

HIGH                      Wiper runs faster than what it runs on DELAY if it runs on DELAY

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

I read on another post that you can bypass the intermittent control module by just plugging the two connectors together, so I did.  I now have LOW and HIGH speeds at their respective control positions and WIPER PARK works.  I assume this means the intermittent control module is bad.  Seems like that post I read about bypassing it also talked about repairing it, or not, don't remember for sure.  Otherwise I'll check here in the for sale area for one.

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Opened up the module to take a look.  You get in by drilling out four rivets that holed it together.  The coil switch contacts are very ugly, and there's ugly elsewhere, but I don't see any opens or stressed components with visual inspection.  (Some of what looks ugly is really because the component side had a formed block of foam covering everything and small bits of that foam remained stuck to components when I remove it.)  I couldn't really get zoomed in clear focus to get a good view of the contacts to post, but they did look like they needed cleaned pretty badly.  I got my ac blower speed control contacts working on my car before by soaking the assembly in vinegar so I'm going to try cleaning up this assembly the same way and see what happens.  I may re-flow the solder joints as well, some are less shiny that others, although I can't see any are visually not connected.

 

 

[The86manche]

Visually it looks a-pkay, but the biggest capacitor on the board looks potentially compromised. Hard to tell from top down view, but the top looks potentially swelled. I would test them.

If they pass it could be one of mamu diodes on the board or the voltage chip. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Gotcha, thanks!  I will let the vinegar clean probably for 24 hours, don't really know it needs that long but that's how long I soaked my blower control, then let it dry real good and then see what happens.

[ghetdjc320]

The “Park” feature is a function of the motor itself. I’d check your grounds. You may have some continuity but you may not be able to pass enough current to keep that circuit alive and finish the sweep. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Got the PCB cleaned up and put it back in for a test, all wiper operations are good!  The vinegar was very foggy so it did pull off some crud.  The large cap that @The86manche noted before actually looks fine (no deformity) once viewed with better focus looking at that cap.  I think the most likely future failure may be the solenoid spring.  I may take a look at the HW store to see if they have any springs that look the same, but swapping it would be risky cause the same "looking" spring may not have the same tension and I am not sure I could get the old one off and back on still in tack if needed.  I'll soak it with a drop or 2 of oil before final reassembly and hope for the best!

 

The old formed foam was dried up and crumbling so I threw it out and did not attempt to replace it.  Not sure it was useful anyway.