wiper/washer problem

[Ex Jay]

if i search anymore my eyes are gonna bleed...

1993 4.0 piece o crap.

Rear wiper/washer works fine.

Front wiper works fine including delay.
Washer mostly doesnt.

Assumed since day one that front pump was bad.
Relocated and switched to renix era bottle.
Tested, both pumps work great.

Pushed washer tab forward on multifunction switch and pump began to spray but almost instantly began to slow. then stopped.
Now when you push washer tab nothing happens. If you keep pressing it over and over it will eventually cycle the wipers as youd expect but never engage the pump.

checked fuses
re-tested pump
hose is clear
tried bypassing intermittent module with no change


so what the heck!

Ive never seen a multifunction switch fail this way but maybe?
Horrible luck finding a washer circuit diagram.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[8Mud]

I'd put a volt meter on the hot wire and then ohm the ground. The ground for that circuit goes through so many splices it is amazing. Maybe strip back a little insulation on the washer motor ground, solder a piggy back wire on there and ground it to the firewall?

 

[Ex Jay]

Ah, that's what I needed!

Your recommendation was my next move, however it began to get dark and I was already 20 projects in to a 10 project day. Lol!

Thanks!!!

 

[Green Mesa XJ]

I've had nozzles go bad and block while the line is clean. But if your testing it all connected then it has to be in the switch or harness.

Dose any of the washer motor run through that little black box that controls the delay?

That wiper switch is a PITA to get out. Not impossible by any stretch of the imagination, I remember it being a big hassle to pull the steering wheel, loosen the column then to try to get to the point of getting the old switch out. Then again it was a long time ago I was trying to fix my XJ many miles from home.

 

[yellowoctupus]

Maybe strip back a little insulation on the washer motor ground, solder a piggy back wire on there and ground it to the firewall?

Great advise. Had a similar problem with a GM wiper motor, and was going to replace it. My local parts guy advised me to put a 2nd ground on the motor first. Well, he wasn't able to sell me a wiper motor then, but it kept me coming back until they closed down.

 

[Ex Jay]

I didnt get a chance to dive back into it yet. Stupid super bowl.

Now that I think about it Im certain the ground is solid at the pump. It's shared only by the other pump now and when i apply 12v to the + side using my power probe it squirted like a... well lets just say it worked lol.

I bypassed the delay box for scientific purposes and it changed nothing.

Im leaning toward bad multifunction switch but I'll do some more sciencing when I get time.

Thanks guys.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Have you thought about swapping connectors on the front and rear pumps and testing that?

 

[Ex Jay]

I sure did. Hitting the rear washer button would run the front pump just fine.