The Ghost Motor

[Bullhead]

Well I just discovered my radio can be turned on with the key off as well. I may have a faulty ignition switch, the wiper controller on the steering column will change the wipers from fast to slow but the intermediate does not work. The check engine warning screen at the top of the windshield is also staying on. The fuel pump seems to be off, man I'm stumped, I am not a wiring guru, just an engine and suspension guru by choice. I will try to learn though. Thanks as always for the info it is much appreciated.

[Navarone]

The Ghost Motor

Yup, I think there's a problem between the stalk and the relay, somehow there's constant 12v getting to the switch line. I'm guessing something is broken in or under the steering column. Test for voltage everywhere, there shouldn't even be voltage at the fuse up top when the key is off.

[Bullhead]

Well got a few relay's in and the wiper motor is still trying to run all the time with the engine and key off. Did a troubleshoot and it looks fine according to manual. I guess I'm going to have to buy a new relay but I don't see 3 relays being bad.

[Bullhead]

Haha great! I suspect it's burnt coils on the relay making that wonderful odor. That could be the cause or the effect of the problem. When you pop the new one in, if the motor still runs take it back out again so you don't fry it also. You'll have to track down a different problem.

Roger that, thanks again for the help ,:o

[Navarone]

Haha great! I suspect it's burnt coils on the relay making that wonderful odor. That could be the cause or the effect of the problem. When you pop the new one in, if the motor still runs take it back out again so you don't fry it also. You'll have to track down a different problem.

[Bullhead]

I popped it open, everything looks good, all the solder joints are still silver but it smells like it's fried. Kinda like an electrical fire. And it's very strong I can smell it from the end of my desk.

[Bullhead]

Awesome! Do you plan to take the relay apart or just buy a new one?

I think you can just take off the driver side wiper arm, carefully pop off that plastic grill and access the motor and cam there.

Don't know about the window handle :/

I was just gonna grab a couple from the local pull a part if they were still in the cars, but I am not biased to opening this one up I just don't know how to fix them.

[Navarone]

Awesome! Do you plan to take the relay apart or just buy a new one?

I think you can just take off the driver side wiper arm, carefully pop off that plastic grill and access the motor and cam there.

Don't know about the window handle :/

[Bullhead]

Well the pass side quit again, it got real slow then just died lol. I put the driver switch in because I know it's good but nada. I guess I need a motor, I wish they were manual. Do they make a handle to fit those windows with the allen key head that will stay in?

[Bullhead]

Right you were sir. I just trouble shot the relay per the TS handbook procedures (dang that sounded slick) and found out some interesting things. First off there IS a constant hot there in the box itself, idk why but there is. It seems the wiper switch inside the car is just a "sending" unit and the motor gets it's main power from the relay via the battery direct (smart no burnt circuits in the steering wheel column). I then went ahead with the TS procedure and everything checked out so my relay is bad. I think some nimrod may have disconnected the wiper motor arm. Now it looks like to me to get into the firewall I have to take a plethora of stuff lose, I would prefer not to do that. Can I access it through the black vent above it? I eagerly await your tutelage.

[Navarone]

The Ghost Motor

Hopefully it's just the control circuit relay thingy, because that behavior is kinda strange. But it is solid state so it could be doing all kinds of stupid stuff. Still, it shouldn't have power if the keys are off. That worries me.

[Bullhead]

Ok I am in the middle of TS the wipe conundrum. It seems the motor is always on and the switch inside will only put the motor on low or high the 2 intermediate marks do nothing to its speed. I am going to TS the relay now.

[Bullhead]

If I flick the wiper control the motor does run faster with each corresponding flick. I will look at the relay in depth today sometime.

[Navarone]

If you pulled the big black control unit and that stopped the motor then that's the one. It has control and relays all inside. You can replace it or open it up to clean and unstick the contacts, redo cold solder joint... BUT!! The wiper control unit only gets power through fuse 5 with the key on. If the key is off and they keep running it leads me to believe there's a short or wrong splice somewhere that has constant 12v from the battery or the main relay is stuck on, in conjunction with a bad switch or short triggering the control.

If you change the wiper speed on the steering column does it change the motor sound? If you pull any other fuses does it turn off the motor?

Make sure you're pulling the correct fuse. If it's actually fuse 4 that you're pulling then something could have been kicked loose under the steering column and fixed incorrectly. Fuse 4 is turn signals, hazards and OBC. Hazards and OBC have constant 12v. Do your hazards, turn signals etc all work exactly as they should?

If other accessories are working while the key is in the off position then the key switch could be bad or the main relay could be stuck on.

My buddies suburban has a wiring problem in the steering column so when you hit the horn it turns on the left turn signal!!

[Bullhead]

Which relay will need replaced? Is it the big black one you take out to troubleshoot? Because my wiper motor is staying on all the time even with the car off and the wipers don't move so I suspect the arms are off.