Dakota Quad Cab 2WD V8-5.9L VIN Z LDC (2002)
Wiper Control Module: Description and Operation
The wiper module is secured with screws through four rubber grommet-type insulators to the cowl plenum panel and concealed within the cowl plenum
area beneath the cowl plenum cover/grille panel. The ends of the wiper pivot shafts that protrude through dedicated openings in the cowl plenum
cover/grille panel to drive the wiper arms and blades are the only visible components of the wiper module. The wiper module consists of the following
major components:
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Bracket - The wiper module bracket consists of a long tubular steel main member that has a stamped pivot bracket formation near each end where
the two wiper pivots are secured. A stamped steel mounting plate for the wiper motor is secured with welds near the center of the main member.
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Crank Arm - The wiper motor crank arm is a stamped steel unit that has a slotted hole on the driven end that is secured to the wiper motor output
shaft with a nut, and has a ball stud secured to the drive end.
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Linkage - The two wiper linkage members are each constructed of stamped steel. A driver side drive link with a plastic socket-type bushing in the
left end, and a plastic sleeve-type bushing in the right end. Socket bushing is snap-fit over the pivot ball stud on the left pivot, while the sleeve
bushing is fit over the longer wiper motor crank arm pivot stud. The passenger side drive link has a plastic socket- type bushing on each end. One
end of this drive link is snap-fit over the pivot ball stud on the right pivot, while the other end is snap-fit over the exposed end of the longer ball
stud on the wiper motor crank arm.
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Motor - The wiper motor is secured with three screws to the motor mounting plate near the center of the wiper module bracket. The wiper motor
output shaft passes through a hole in the module bracket, where a nut secures the wiper motor crank arm to the motor output shaft. The two-speed
permanent magnet wiper motor features an integral transmission, an internal park switch, and an internal Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC)
circuit breaker.
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Pivots - The two wiper pivots are secured to the ends of the wiper module bracket. The crank arms that extend from the bottom of the pivot shafts
each have a ball stud on their end. The upper end of each pivot shaft where the wiper arms will be fastened each has an externally serrated drum
secured to it.
The wiper module cannot be adjusted or repaired. If any component of the module is faulty or damaged, the entire wiper module unit must be replaced.
The wiper module operation is controlled by the vehicle operator through battery current inputs received by the wiper motor from the multi-function
switch on the steering column. The wiper motor speed is controlled by current flow to either the low speed or the high speed set of brushes. The park
switch is a single pole, single throw, momentary switch within the wiper motor that is mechanically actuated by the wiper motor transmission
components. The park switch alternately closes the wiper park switch sense circuit to ground or to battery current, depending upon the position of the
wipers on the glass. This feature allows the motor to complete its current wipe cycle after the wiper system has been turned OFF, and to park the wiper
blades in the lowest portion of the wipe pattern. The automatic resetting circuit breaker protects the motor from overloads. The wiper motor crank arm,
the two wiper linkage members, and the two wiper pivots mechanically convert the rotary output of the wiper motor to the back and forth wiping motion
of the wiper arms and blades on the glass.
