Installation; Wiper High/Low Relay Description; Operation - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

8R - 20 WIPERS/WASHERS
WIPER BLADE (Continued)

INSTALLATION

NOTE: The notched end of the wiper element flexor
should always be oriented towards the end of the
wiper blade that is nearest to the wiper pivot.
(1) Lift the wiper arm off of the windshield glass,
until the wiper arm hinge is in its over-center posi-
tion.
(2) Position the wiper blade near the hook forma-
tion on the tip of the arm with the notched end of the
wiper element flexor oriented towards the end of the
wiper arm that is nearest to the wiper pivot.
(3) Insert the hook formation on the tip of the
wiper arm through the opening in the wiper blade
superstructure ahead of the wiper blade pivot block/
latch unit far enough to engage the pivot block into
the hook (Fig. 21).
(4) Slide the wiper blade pivot block/latch up into
the hook formation on the tip of the wiper arm until
the latch release tab snaps into its locked position.
Latch engagement will be accompanied by an audible
click.
(5) Gently lower the wiper blade onto the glass.
WIPER HIGH/LOW RELAY
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 22 ISO Micro Relay
30 - COMMON FEED
85 - COIL GROUND
86 - COIL BATTERY
87 - NORMALLY OPEN
87A - NORMALLY CLOSED
The wiper high/low relay is located in the Inte-
grated Power Module (IPM) in the engine compart-
ment near the battery. The wiper high/low relay is a
conventional International Standards Organization
(ISO) micro relay (Fig. 22). Relays conforming to the
ISO specifications have common physical dimensions,
current capacities, terminal patterns, and terminal
functions. The relay is contained within a small, rect-
angular, molded plastic housing and is connected to
all of the required inputs and outputs by five integral
male spade-type terminals that extend from the bot-
tom of the relay base.
The wiper high/low relay cannot be adjusted or
repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the unit must be
replaced.

OPERATION

The wiper high/low relay is an electromechanical
switch that uses a low current input from the Front
Control Module (FCM) to control a high current out-
put to the wiper motor. The movable common feed
contact point is held against the fixed normally
closed contact point by spring pressure. When the
relay coil is energized, an electromagnetic field is
produced by the coil windings. This electromagnetic
field draws the movable relay contact point away
from the fixed normally closed contact point, and
holds it against the fixed normally open contact
point. When the relay coil is de-energized, spring
pressure returns the movable contact point back
against the fixed normally closed contact point. A
resistor is connected in parallel with the relay coil in
the relay, and helps to dissipate voltage spikes and
electromagnetic interference that can be generated as
the electromagnetic field of the relay coil collapses.
The wiper high/low relay terminals are connected
to the vehicle electrical system through a connector
receptacle in the Integrated Power Module (IPM).
The inputs and outputs of the wiper high/low relay
include:
• Common Feed Terminal - The common feed
terminal (30) is connected to the output of the wiper
on/off relay at all times through the wiper on/off
relay output circuit.
• Coil Ground Terminal - The coil ground termi-
nal (85) is connected to a control output of the Front
Control Module (FCM) through a wiper high/low
relay control circuit. The FCM controls wiper motor
operation by controlling a ground path through this
circuit.
• Coil Battery Terminal - The coil battery ter-
minal (86) receives battery current when the ignition
switch is in the On or Accessory positions from a fuse
in the Integrated Power Module (IPM) through a
fused ignition switch output (run-acc) circuit.
• Normally Open Terminal - The normally open
terminal (87) is connected to the high speed brush of
the wiper motor through a wiper high/low relay high
speed output circuit, and is connected to the high
speed brush whenever the relay is energized.
• Normally Closed Terminal - The normally
closed terminal (87A) is connected to the low speed
brush of the wiper motor through a wiper high/low
relay low speed output circuit, and is connected to
the low speed brush whenever the relay is de-ener-
gized.
DR