Wipers have a mind of their own

[Axel]

My Sons 2015 2500 ctd, Bighorn has some issues with the wipers. They will come on by themselves sometimes in fast mode and stop again after a few minutes. When the truck is parked over night, no key anywhere close the next morning some days you can tell the wipers must have come on at night, since the snow is gone.... Any Ideas as to what the cause could be would be greatly appreciated. No warranty left....

 

[sag2]

If the Bus goes down the wipers come on by default. But they shouldn't come on with the ignition on. You need to have it scanned for body codes.

 

[p-Bar]

Was looking at a lemon truck that had the same issue.

 

[Axel]

Sure hope it is not a lemon...It is running fine otherwise...
Will a OBD 2 code reader be able to read any faults or are we talking dealer only scanner?

 

[p-Bar]

OBD2 will be no hope. I would check with the dealer and see if they had any such as yours. It's a tough one with all the computers.

 

[EDankievitch]

My truck would do strange things with the wipers it ended up being the Multi function switch. But I never had them run when the truck was not running. I wonder if you've got something arcing in the wiper motor it self on the self park circuit. There is a contact ring and brushes that have power to them all the time so the wiper will self park. if some thing makes contact on this ring the motor will run. It wouldn't take much metal dust mixed in the grease to make it happen.

 

[Axel]

Thanks for the advice. In my wife's 2010 MB bluets it was the multifunction switch, but the symptoms where different.
Makes sense so with the contact ring......May change the switch over the holidays.....

 

[sag2]

Back to the beginning, the wipers are only powered when the wiper relay is commanded on by the BCM.

 

[PTsideshow]

Have to agree about the stupid multi function switch, Had the problem in a 98 ram pu along with the brake lights not working! Got a 2016 and they started the day after I drove it off the lot new truck had to take it back in and they replaced the multi function switch. dumbest idea they ever started using for the consumer. Most places they cost an arm and leg!

 

[EDankievitch]

Rock auto has the switch for a fair price

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Back to the beginning, the wipers are only powered when the wiper relay is commanded on by the BCM.

It would be nice if the internal circuits of the "magic boxes" were available so a detailed analysis of the signal paths could be made. Today's electrical integration makes it more difficult, if not impossible to economically repair a simple circuit. Repairs are now basically a forced "shotgun" event by replacing one "not inexpensive" magic box that controls dozens of functions; in this case possibly the BCM...Logistically more efficient for the engineer, manufacturer and repair shop though.
Intermittent issues are difficult to duplicate unless you monitor and log every event, active and inactive...not an economically viable process as that would add expense, complexity and the possibility of false errors due to a monitor circuit malfunction. OK...TMI...
Anyway, to know which options are involved in the questionable circuit, such as does the vehicle have the rain sensing wipers, etc., then follow the electrical and logic circuits to isolate the most likely culprit identified by the symptoms.

 

[zmos]

My Sons 2015 2500 ctd, Bighorn has some issues with the wipers. They will come on by themselves sometimes in fast mode and stop again after a few minutes. When the truck is parked over night, no key anywhere close the next morning some days you can tell the wipers must have come on at night, since the snow is gone.... Any Ideas as to what the cause could be would be greatly appreciated. No warranty left....

Axel, just curious. Does your truck have automatic wipes?

 

[Axel]

Not sure if my son has the rain sensing wipers. Came across an article in Diesel Power magazine.
It says that there is a wiring harness for TPIM on the driver side fender in the engine compartment. They say to clean the contacts and use dielectric grease. This according to them can cause a series of electrical gremlins like wipers going off, headlights and all sort of things....
will check it out when I get a chance...

 

[Axel]

Sorry TIPM !

 

[sag2]

This truck does not have a TIPM.

 

[Axel]

Sorry you are right the article is talking about an 07....
Was hoping for an easy fix...

 

[Quinn]

Hi all,

I am the one having the issues with the wipers. To recap: 2015 Ram 2500 Cummins, does not have rain sensing wipers. First started with the wipers turning on by themselves for 10-20 seconds at a time, 2-3 times a week. This also happened while the truck was off and key out. Then the ABS light started to come on once in a while, and go away after a while as well. Now the check engine light has come on as well, but who knows, maybe next time I start it, it will be gone too. I checked the fuses (only way to stop the wipers from going), and the ABS and wiper fuses have power across the terminals when the truck is off. not sure if this is normal or not, but every other fuse i checked did not have power across the terminals when the truck was off.

Things I have thought of:

1) Short in the wires somewhere, potentially gotten worse, hence the once in a while wiper issue is now permanent. Also, maybe this is happening with a wire from the ABS...? causing that issue? but why would the ABS light be off more often than its on?

2) BCM is something I've been hearing about. However its not in any manuals i can find, or online, so i have no idea where it is either... could this be it?

3) Multi function switch (signal light/wiper stick) could be done as well. Reason i dont think its this, is that power shouldn't be running to the multi function switch when the truck is off, right? So its not as though the multi function switch is closed all the time... although that would be an easy fix.

I am going to pull all the tires off, check all the wheel speed sensors and wires for resistance, and see if i can find an ABS module (apparently mounted to the rear axle?) and check that as well. Just to do my due diligence, and maybe thats why the ABS has been coming on. It has been a crazy winter up here with lots of temp changes and tons of snow. Although i have been parking it in a heated shop over night and letting everything melt too...

Any help or ideas are appreciated!