Sorry for the yelling, but that's what i've been doing for the past 15 minutes. Have the ghost wipers on my 99, totally fed up with it after 2 years. I had tried the dielectric grease repair that has been posted here, but didn't work. So I spend 110 bucks on a multi function switch. First time in the steering column, followed the instructions, figured once I got the stupid column cover back on I was golden. Nope. F'ing wipers are on all the time!! Only way to get them to stop is to turn off the truck and restart. I'm guessing now I will have to take apart again, try some electric contact spray on the connections, and see if that does anygood. I dielectiric greased the new mf switch, but no change. Man I hate it when some simple fix doesn't work!!! What other culprits could be making my wipers remain possessed, unless I got a bad switch from Napa?

 

Maybe since you have the old one out, test it prior to doing anything else.





The switch signals the GEM depending on the MFS setting, that operates the run, delay run and park positions.





It very well could be a new switch that is bad, but testing the old one that is out of the truck will tell you if you should have purchased a new one to start with.

 

Thanks sscully for the info. Unfortunately, I do not know how to do the testing that I would need to do. I am wondering though, since the GEM controls the intermittents, wiper/washer, and low / high functions, that maybe it's my GEM that's bad. No change with different mfs, in fact it seems worse with the new switch. Turn signals, high beam and flash to pass functions all work. What do you think?

I tried everything in the turn signal stalk, basically replaced the switch guts with the old switch guts, but no better. That's what makes me think it could be the GEM instead...

 

Doing a MFS R&R did not solve it, and guessing that it is the GEM next, is not the way to fix your truck.

If you cannot do the testing on the MFS, you might want to take it to someone to have the truck's symptoms diagnosed.

You will be money ahead vs trying to do R&R on parts.

 

I exchanged my multifunction switch today, same result, crazy wipers. Stopped by the shop that does my electrical, and they can't get to it until the 24th!!
I guess I'm sol until then. I'm not going to go digging into the gem module. Or maybe I will...

 

It'll be a helluvalot easier to start off with the MFS. Get a $15 DMM, set it for continuity (diode test) or resistance (Ohms), put the probes on the old MFS terminals, and spin the **** while watching the display. Read this chart:



I suspect it'll test good, but at the very least, you'll prepare yourself to test the wiring & maybe even the GEM.

 

Thanks for the help. I'm just tired of this thing. I just want to get this fixed. Besides the gem, could it be a wiper motor? just trying to narrow this down or if there are any other possibilities.

 

Could also be the motor itself or the run/park relay in the BJB.

There is not much to tear into on the GEM, it is the input from the MFS to select on / off and if on what speed in solid state. IF you don't have a meter, why would you have an o-scope or logic probe..

 

if you need to drive the truck without wipers pull the fuses/relays

I'd look at park relay first

 

I've pulled the wiper fuse. I'm stuck with these issues until the 24th at least. I admit, I don't know the electronics at all. I appreciate everyones help. I guess I am looking for a fix that I can do myself. If it's the GEM, then I feel that I could do that.
I will try swapping relays and see if that solves anything.

 

Read these captions:

 

i swapped relays at 201 and 202 in the power junction box, no changes, so it's not the park relay. I'm looking at my Chilton's manual, section 12-40 for the windshield wiper and washer system. So at this point, I have a new mfs that has not changed symptoms, and I have changed the relay, with no changes either.

 

Next thing I'm gonna look at is the wiper motor and make sure it's grounded.

 

My wipers did that one time... Has not done it since..

Then, about a month later, my power windows don't work and when you hit the switch, the dome light and 3rd brake light would come on! Leave the door open and they would begin to flash like the flashers do. The relay was actually 'clicking'... The power locks would also not work very well either...

I pulled the relay and swapped it out with the exact one below it, same thing... Took it to the dealer because I figured it was the GEM by doing a little searching on the web..

Turns out, I had a short in the wiring between the brake lights, windows and door locks and it was all up in the headliner and where ever it was under the dash... They tested my GEM and said it was fine.

The work order states that they 're wired' those accessories.. When I picked up the truck I found that the windows work great and the door locks 'zip' up and down.. Ever since I've owned this truck, the pass side window was pretty 'lazy' in it's operation and the door locks would kind of 'wind' up before they activated...

I'll bet I've had this 'short' problem since day one!

Well, around $600 later, it was fixed, so I'm happy about that... One thing I hate is electrical troubleshooting and I'm just not equipped to deal with it, other then obvious wire splicing and such...

Good luck with your issue! I hope you are able to figure it out and fix it!

Mitch

 

some time the wiper motor gear cover gets water into it and will cause this problem...i have seen it at my shop before and usally a new wiper motor will solve the problem