Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual page 576

AN
WIPERS/WASHERS (Continued)
cleaning the wiper blade and the glass, if the wiper
blade still fails to clear the glass without smearing,
streaking, chattering, hazing, or beading, replace the
wiper blade. Also, if a wiper blade is damaged or the
squeegee rubber is damaged or deteriorated, replace
the wiper blade with a new unit. Do not attempt to
repair a wiper blade that is damaged.
Fig. 1 Wiper Blade Inspection
1 - WORN OR UNEVEN EDGES
2 - ROAD FILM OR FOREIGN MATERIAL DEPOSITS
3 - HARD, BRITTLE, OR CRACKED
4 - DEFORMED OR FATIGUED
5 - SPLIT
6 - DAMAGED SUPPORT COMPONENTS
WASHER SYSTEM
The washer system
inspected periodically, not just when washer perfor-
mance problems are experienced. This inspection
should include the following points:
(1) Check for ice or other foreign material in the
washer reservoir. If contaminated, clean and flush
the washer system. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIP-
ERS/WASHERS - CLEANING).
(2) Inspect the washer plumbing for pinched, leak-
ing, deteriorated, or incorrectly routed hoses and
damaged or disconnected hose fittings. Replace dam-
aged or deteriorated hoses and hose fittings. Leaking
washer hoses can sometimes be repaired by cutting
the hose at the leak and splicing it back together
using an in-line connector fitting. Similarly, sections
components should
of deteriorated hose can be cut out and replaced by
splicing in new sections of hose using in-line connec-
tor fittings. Whenever routing a washer hose or a
wire harness containing a washer hose, it must be
routed away from hot, sharp, or moving parts. Also,
sharp bends that might pinch the washer hose must
be avoided.
CHECK VALVE
DESCRIPTION
A washer system check valve is standard equip-
ment on this model. The check valve is integral to
the washer nozzle plumbing wye fitting located in
the cowl plenum beneath the cowl plenum cover/
grille panel near the base of the windshield. The
check valve consists of a molded plastic body with a
round center section. Three barbed hose nipples are
formed in a wye configuration on the outside circum-
ference of the center section of the valve body. Within
the check valve body, a small check valve operated by
a small coiled spring restricts flow through the unit
until the valve is unseated by a predetermined inlet
fluid pressure. The check valve cannot be adjusted or
repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be
replaced.
OPERATION
The check valve provides more than one function
in this application. It serves as a wye connector fit-
ting between the cowl grille panel and washer nozzle
sections of the washer supply hose. It also prevents
washer fluid from draining out of the washer supply
hoses back to the washer reservoir. This drain-back
would result in a lengthy delay from when the
washer switch is actuated until washer fluid was dis-
pensed through the washer nozzles, because the
washer pump would have to refill the washer plumb-
ing from the reservoir to the nozzles. Finally, the
check valve prevents washer fluid from siphoning
through the washer nozzles after the washer system
be
is turned Off. When the washer pump pressurizes
and pumps washer fluid from the reservoir through
the washer plumbing, the fluid pressure overrides
the spring pressure applied to the check valve and
unseats the valve, allowing washer fluid to flow
toward the washer nozzles. When the washer pump
stops operating, spring pressure seats the check
valve and fluid flow in either direction within the
washer plumbing is prevented.
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the wiper arms from the wiper pivots.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIPERS/WASHERS/
WIPER ARMS - REMOVAL).
WIPERS/WASHERS 8R - 7