Washer Pump/Motor Description; Operation - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

DR
WASHER NOZZLE (Continued)
(7) Reinstall both wiper arms onto the wiper piv-
ots. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIPERS/WASHERS/
WIPER ARM - INSTALLATION).
WASHER PUMP/MOTOR
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 12 Washer Pump/Motor
1 - MOTOR
2 - SNAP POST
3 - CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE
4 - PUMP
5 - OUTLET NIPPLE
6 - INLET NIPPLE
7 - FILTER SCREEN
The washer pump/motor unit (Fig. 12) is located on
the rearward facing surface of the washer reservoir,
in the right (except diesel engine) or left (diesel
engine only) front corner of the engine compartment.
A small permanently lubricated and sealed electric
motor is coupled to the rotor-type washer pump. A
seal flange with a barbed inlet nipple on the pump
housing passes through a rubber grommet seal
installed in a dedicated mounting hole of the washer
reservoir. When the pump is installed in the reser-
voir a barbed outlet nipple on the pump housing con-
nects the unit to the washer system through a short
washer reservoir hose.
The washer pump/motor unit is retained on the
reservoir by the interference fit between the barbed
pump inlet nipple and the grommet seal, which is a
light press fit. The top of the washer pump is also
secured to the washer reservoir by the use of a snap
WIPERS/WASHERS
post on the motor housing and a snap post receptacle
molded into the reservoir that allows for mounting of
the washer pump without the use of fasteners. An
integral connector receptacle on the top of the motor
housing connects the unit to the vehicle electrical
system. The washer pump/motor unit cannot be
repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire washer
pump/motor unit must be replaced.

OPERATION

The washer pump/motor unit features a small
Direct Current (DC) electric motor. The motor is con-
nected to the vehicle electrical system through a sin-
gle take out and two-cavity connector of the right
(except diesel engine) or left (diesel engine only)
headlamp and dash wire harness. The motor is
grounded at all times through another take out of
the right (except diesel engine) or left (diesel engine
only) headlamp and dash wire harness. On models
without the diesel engine, a single eyelet terminal
connector is secured by a nut to a ground stud
located on the right front fender inner shield in the
engine compartment. On models with a diesel engine,
an eyelet terminal connector is secured by a ground
screw to the left front fender inner shield in the
engine compartment. The motor receives battery cur-
rent on a washer pump/motor control circuit.
The washer pump/motor control circuit is energized
through a high side driver within the Front Control
Module (FCM) whenever the FCM receives an elec-
tronic message requesting washer system operation
from the instrument cluster over the Programmable
Communications Interface (PCI) data bus. The
instrument cluster monitors a resistor multiplexed
hard wired input from the momentary washer switch
contacts within the multi-function switch on the
steering column to determine when it should issue
the electronic message requesting washer system
operation.
Washer fluid is gravity-fed from the washer reser-
voir to the inlet side of the washer pump. When the
pump motor is energized, the motor spins the rotor
within the washer pump. The spinning pump rotor
pressurizes the washer fluid and forces it through
the pump outlet nipple, the washer plumbing, and
the washer nozzles onto the windshield glass.
The washer pump/motor unit may be diagnosed
using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
However, conventional diagnostic methods may not
prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the instrument
cluster, the FCM, or the electronic message inputs to
or outputs from the instrument cluster and the FCM
that control the operation of the washer pump/motor
unit. The most reliable, efficient, and accurate means
to diagnose the washer pump/motor unit, the instru-
ment cluster, the FCM, or the electronic message
8R - 13