Wipers, intermittent problem
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From: >wwOwww<
Wipers, intermittent problem
Thanks in advance for any help!
I have a 98 4.2 130k.
My Son's truck is having an intermittent problem with the wipers, dome light and glove compartment light.
He says these 3 things always do not work at the same time. If one works they all work. If one don't they all don't. I thought they were separate issues, but I do believe now, I may be wrong.
When I first started looking, I used the VOHM , and checked the wiper circuit at the motor, and it was getting fire. At that time the dome light didn't seem to be working. So I put a wiper motor on it and everything seemed good.
Now he tells me, It has the same problem. I've been searching but haven't found any thread with the same issues, so I thought maybe I would just ask, to save myself more time. I seem to have more things broken right now than I can keep up with.
So I have introduced him to rain x at the moment.
I am wondering if it may be a fuse issue, or do I need to do the Multifunction switch cleaning, or is the problem somewhere else entirely?
I have a 98 4.2 130k.
My Son's truck is having an intermittent problem with the wipers, dome light and glove compartment light.
He says these 3 things always do not work at the same time. If one works they all work. If one don't they all don't. I thought they were separate issues, but I do believe now, I may be wrong.
When I first started looking, I used the VOHM , and checked the wiper circuit at the motor, and it was getting fire. At that time the dome light didn't seem to be working. So I put a wiper motor on it and everything seemed good.
Now he tells me, It has the same problem. I've been searching but haven't found any thread with the same issues, so I thought maybe I would just ask, to save myself more time. I seem to have more things broken right now than I can keep up with.
So I have introduced him to rain x at the moment.
I am wondering if it may be a fuse issue, or do I need to do the Multifunction switch cleaning, or is the problem somewhere else entirely?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
It could be 3 different issues, or it could be the GEM.
Some trucks had an issue with the lower left corner leaking, causing the GEM on the back of the passenger compartment fuse panel to corrode at the connector ( connectors are from the fuse panel to the GEM, they are bolted together ).
The list sounds like it could be this, so
1. Have you had a lot of rain as of late ?
2. Check the floor boards on the driver's side up to the point where the carpet stops on the firewall, and see if there are any signs of damage.
3. If you can, place a small space heater in there with the doors open, and dry it out, might start to work again.
This is just taking a brief look at the GEM problem side, it very well could be 2 or 3 problems ( as you noted dirty MFS ), but the easy place to start.
Some trucks had an issue with the lower left corner leaking, causing the GEM on the back of the passenger compartment fuse panel to corrode at the connector ( connectors are from the fuse panel to the GEM, they are bolted together ).
The list sounds like it could be this, so
1. Have you had a lot of rain as of late ?
2. Check the floor boards on the driver's side up to the point where the carpet stops on the firewall, and see if there are any signs of damage.
3. If you can, place a small space heater in there with the doors open, and dry it out, might start to work again.
This is just taking a brief look at the GEM problem side, it very well could be 2 or 3 problems ( as you noted dirty MFS ), but the easy place to start.
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From: >wwOwww<
Thanks Sscully
We've not had much rain lately, just on afternoon last week.
The truck is actually not at my house daily, as my Son is in College and works Summers. So I only get the chance to work on it once or twice a Month. But we haven't had much rain at all this year. But I will check out the back of the fuse panel and the moisture damage to see if it has been leaking.
So , do you think the MFS could also be affecting the dome and glove compartment lights?
Thanks again
We've not had much rain lately, just on afternoon last week.
The truck is actually not at my house daily, as my Son is in College and works Summers. So I only get the chance to work on it once or twice a Month. But we haven't had much rain at all this year. But I will check out the back of the fuse panel and the moisture damage to see if it has been leaking.
So , do you think the MFS could also be affecting the dome and glove compartment lights?
Thanks again
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
If you have not had much rain as of late, I would not think it is the GEM problem.
The wipers could be the MFS, maybe clean the MFS and see what happens ?
https://www.f150online.com/forums/el...on-switch.html
This is more so when the wipers have a mind of their own, but just some more info on the MFS
https://www.f150online.com/forums/el...?postid=978211
The problem with the Interior lamps
The Dome lamp, is this it won't turn on with the door or with the instrument cluster dimmer switch turned all the way up, or both ?
The glove compartment lamp, this could be with the switch on the door.
At the time the problem happens with the dome & glove box lamp, does the same problem happen with the engine compartment & map lamps ?
These are all on the Interior lamp relay, which is driven by the battery saver relay ( and triggered by the GEM for the count down on shutting them off )
The wipers could be the MFS, maybe clean the MFS and see what happens ?
https://www.f150online.com/forums/el...on-switch.html
This is more so when the wipers have a mind of their own, but just some more info on the MFS
https://www.f150online.com/forums/el...?postid=978211
The problem with the Interior lamps
The Dome lamp, is this it won't turn on with the door or with the instrument cluster dimmer switch turned all the way up, or both ?
The glove compartment lamp, this could be with the switch on the door.
At the time the problem happens with the dome & glove box lamp, does the same problem happen with the engine compartment & map lamps ?
These are all on the Interior lamp relay, which is driven by the battery saver relay ( and triggered by the GEM for the count down on shutting them off )
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From: >wwOwww<
The engine compartment lamp isn't there anymore, but the wire is.
I'm hardly ever in the truck. But my Son told me, "When the windshield wipers, don't work, the interior lights don't work. Every time"
I'm going to see the truck tomorrow, and was just trying to find out in advance what to check.
Again,
Thanks!
I'm hardly ever in the truck. But my Son told me, "When the windshield wipers, don't work, the interior lights don't work. Every time"
I'm going to see the truck tomorrow, and was just trying to find out in advance what to check.
Again,
Thanks!
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Check when the lamp problem happens, it is all lamps ( hope it is the version with Map lamps ).
Those are the 2 relays that control the lamps, could be a problem with either relay. Autozone has replacements for them, if you just want to swap both.
The wipers are also controlled by the GEM ( delay ) which is why I was thinking GEM out of the gate. The battery saver relay is controlled by the GEM.
Might be worth the 40.00 to swap the relays, and see if the problem goes away, intermittent relays can be a pain to track down, that is why I suggested swapping both of them at the same time.
Those are the 2 relays that control the lamps, could be a problem with either relay. Autozone has replacements for them, if you just want to swap both.
The wipers are also controlled by the GEM ( delay ) which is why I was thinking GEM out of the gate. The battery saver relay is controlled by the GEM.
Might be worth the 40.00 to swap the relays, and see if the problem goes away, intermittent relays can be a pain to track down, that is why I suggested swapping both of them at the same time.
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From: >wwOwww<
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From: >wwOwww<
I had too many different projects today. I didn't have time to get to the multifunction switch. Maybe one evening next week or weekend, but I'm pretty sure that is where I'm going to find my problem.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
No problem, thank you for letting us know where the project stands.
Don't know if you got by an Autozone or Napa for the relays or not. That is another one for the lamp issue, to see if it is the GEM or the relay.
Swap both the interior lamp relay and the battery saver relay at the same time with new relays, and the problem should go away, if it is the relays, not the GEM.
Don't know if you got by an Autozone or Napa for the relays or not. That is another one for the lamp issue, to see if it is the GEM or the relay.
Swap both the interior lamp relay and the battery saver relay at the same time with new relays, and the problem should go away, if it is the relays, not the GEM.