2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission electrical issue

[fourwheel1]

My 98 started running the wipers when the lights are turned on, the horn pushed, or the left turn signal is activated. The left signal also blinks very fast as if a bulb was out but only when lights are off, if lights are on it blinks very slow if at all. I pulled a trailer other day and nothing changed so i figure its not in the trailer plug. Any advice would be helpful...

 

[Road Dog]

The wire harness in the steering column is damaged -- probably a sharp edge has rubbed through the insulation on some wires.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

ALSO - search my previous post regarding a bad ground to the left front lamp socket - I had an offset voltage between btty ground and socket ground. Wipers came on whenever I signalled left. Took me a LONG time to find that one. BUT I didn't have to replace $$ components and didn't have to tear into central harnesses: Just remove the front and rear lamp assemblies on the suspect side and undo the bulbs - then reassemble in steps until the problem reappears- you have just found your problem. I dropped a 14 ga ground between all my lamps and the frame to prevent recurrences.

 

[fourwheel1]

Thanks dog house I will try that and hopefully will take care of problem. Anything is better than going into steering column.

 

[fourwheel1]

got it working was a short in the wiper ground- thanks for all your help.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Glad to help- glad its fixed _ I noticed you're the 2nd post today with this sort of problem. Ya gotta love wiring!!

 

[CStewart]

I've got the same problem with my truck, where exactly was your short in the wiper ground fourwheel 1? Thanks!



Chris

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I wouldn't be looking for a 'short' in the ground (not to be picky but to save you time) a short will go to - ground! Instead look for an open or poor ground which would allow a voltmeter to read a voltage on one side of a true ground connection (i. e. - you're above ground when you shouldn't be). Here's my Dodge rule: if your wipers trigger when one unrelated function is active look for a fault in the ground of the LOAD of that circuit. If multiple circuits do this then look for a fault in the wiper load ground itself. BTW I believe all these wiper gremlins aren't the fault of Dodge engineers—they're the fault of the bean counters who bought from TRW (as a military engineer my Dad HATED them guys) Delphi, or some other SUPPLIER who couldn't build a decent logic gating circuit that knew noise from trigger signal!! (Someday I'll tell you about the guitar pedals me Dad designed—you couldn't kill 'em—always over-design. its the American way!!