Dodge Nitro. Manual — part 965

REAR WIPER AND WASHER SYSTEM

Fig. 2: Rear Wiper And Washer System Components
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

An electrically operated fixed interval intermittent rear wiper and washer system is standard factory-installed
equipment on this vehicle. The rear wiper and washer system includes the following major components, which
are described in further detail elsewhere in this service information:



Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster - The Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also
known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN) is located on the instrument panel directly in front of the
driver. Refer to DESCRIPTION .



Rear Washer Nozzle (4) - A fluidic rear washer nozzle is secured by integral latch features to a
mounting hole on the right side of the Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) on the liftgate outer
panel above the liftgate glass opening.



Rear Washer Plumbing - The plumbing for the washer system consists of rubber hoses and molded
rubber or plastic fittings. The plumbing is routed across the front of the engine compartment to the right
side of the engine compartment from the washer reservoir on the left side of the cooling module, and
through the dash into the passenger compartment. Then it is routed up the right cowl side and A-pillar to
the headliner, and above the headliner to the upper liftgate opening header, then through the upper inner
liftgate panel to the rear washer nozzle.



Rear Wiper Arm And Blade (6) - The single rear wiper arm is secured by a nut directly to the rear
wiper motor output shaft, which extends through the center of the liftgate outer panel near the base of the

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

liftgate glass. The single rear wiper blade is secured to the rear wiper arm with an integral latch, and is
parked at the base of the liftgate glass when the rear wiper system is not in operation.



Rear Wiper Motor (5) - The rear wiper motor includes the motor bracket and three rubber-isolated
mounting tabs. The wiper motor output shaft is the only visible component of the rear wiper motor. The
remainder of the motor is concealed by the liftgate inner trim just below the liftgate glass opening.



Right Multi-Function Switch (3) - The right (wiper) multi-function switch and the left (lighting) multi-
function switch are secured to brackets integral to the clockspring housing, on the top of the steering
column just below the steering wheel. The right multi-function switch is connected by a short jumper
harness to the Steering Control Module (SCM), which is internal to the left multi-function switch
housing. Only the switch control stalk extending from the right side of the steering column is visible,
while the remainder of the switch is concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. The right multi-
function switch is dedicated to providing all of the driver controls for both the front and rear wiper and
washer systems.



Steering Control Module - The Steering Control Module (SCM) is internal to the left multi-function
switch housing, which is secured to a bracket integral to the left side of the clockspring housing on the top
of the steering column just below the steering wheel. Only the left switch control stalk extending from the
left side of the steering column is visible, while the remainder of the switch housing containing the SCM
is concealed beneath the steering column shrouds. Refer to DESCRIPTION .



Totally Integrated Power Module (2) - The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) is located in the
engine compartment, near the battery. Refer to DESCRIPTION .



Washer Pump/Motor - The reversible electric washer pump/motor unit is located in a dedicated hole on
the lower outboard side of the washer reservoir, on the left side of the cooling module fan shroud. This
single reversible washer pump/motor provides washer fluid to either the front or rear washer system
plumbing, depending upon the direction of the pump motor rotation.



Washer Reservoir (1) - The washer reservoir is integral to the coolant reserve bottle, which sits astride
the fan shroud of the cooling module. The reservoir filler cap is accessed from the left front corner of the
engine compartment.

Hard wired circuitry connects the rear wiper and washer system components to the electrical system of the
vehicle. These hard wired circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which are routed throughout the vehicle
and retained by many different methods. These circuits may be connected to each other, to the vehicle electrical
system and to the rear wiper and washer system components through the use of a combination of soldered
splices, splice block connectors, and many different types of wire harness terminal connectors and insulators.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and
connector repair procedures, further details on wire harness routing and retention, as well as pin-out and
location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.

OPERATION

FRONT WIPER AND WASHER SYSTEM

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

Fig. 3: Right (Wiper) Multi-Function Switch
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

The front wiper and washer system is designed to provide the vehicle operator with a convenient, safe, and
reliable means of maintaining visibility through the windshield glass. The various components of this system
are designed to convert electrical energy produced by the vehicle electrical system into the mechanical action of
the wiper blades to wipe the outside surface of the glass, as well as into the hydraulic action of the washer
system to apply washer fluid stored in an on-board reservoir to the area of the glass to be wiped. When
combined, these components provide the means to effectively maintain clear visibility for the vehicle operator
by removing excess accumulations of rain, snow, bugs, mud, or other minor debris from the outer surface of the
windshield glass that might be encountered while driving the vehicle under numerous types of inclement
operating conditions.

The vehicle operator initiates all front and rear wiper and washer system functions with the control stalk of the
right (wiper) multi-function switch (1) that extends from the right side of the steering column, just below the
steering wheel. Rotating the control knob (2) on the end of the control stalk, selects the OFF, DELAY, LOW, or
HIGH front wiper system operating modes. In the DELAY mode, the control knob also allows the vehicle
operator to select from one of five intermittent wipe delay intervals.

Pulling the control stalk rearward actuates the momentary front washer system switch, which selects the WASH
and WIPE-AFTER-WASH modes, depending upon when and how long the switch is held closed. Pushing the
control stalk downward actuates a momentary switch and selects the MIST mode, which cycles the wiper blades
for as long as the switch is held closed then completes the current cycle and parks the blades at the base of the
windshield after the switch is released.

The right multi-function switch provides hard wired analog and resistor multiplexed inputs to the Steering
Control Module (SCM) internal to the left (lighting) multi-function switch housing for all of the wiper and
washer system functions. The SCM then sends electronic wiper and washer switch status messages to the
Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN), over a Local
Interface Network (LIN) data bus. The EMIC responds to the SCM inputs by sending electronic wiper and
washer system request messages to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) over the Controller Area
Network (CAN) data bus requesting the appropriate wiper and washer system operating modes.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

Front wiper and washer system operation is completely controlled by the SCM, EMIC and TIPM logic circuits,
and that logic will only allow these systems to operate when the ignition switch is in the ACCESSORY or ON
positions. The TIPM uses intelligent, high current, self-protected high side switches to control wiper system
operation by energizing or de-energizing the wiper motor low and high speed brushes. The TIPM uses an H-
bridge circuit to control the operation of the reversible washer pump/motor unit. The right multi-function switch
circuitry receives battery current and a clean ground output from the SCM, then provides analog and
multiplexed inputs to the SCM to indicate the selected front wiper and front washer system mode.

The hard wired circuits and components of the front wiper and washer system may be diagnosed using
conventional diagnostic tools and procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. However,
conventional diagnostic methods will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the front wiper and washer
system or the electronic controls or communication between other modules and devices that provide some
features of the front wiper and washer system. The most reliable, efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the
front wiper and washer system or the electronic controls and communication related to front wiper and washer
system operation requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

OPERATING MODES

Following are paragraphs that briefly describe the operation of each of the front wiper and washer system
operating modes.

CONTINUOUS WIPE MODE

When the LOW position of the control knob on the control stalk of the right (wiper) multi-function switch is
selected the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch low status message to the EMIC over the LIN data bus, the
EMIC relays an electronic wiper switch low request message to the TIPM over the CAN data bus, then the
TIPM directs battery current to the low speed brush of the wiper motor, causing the wipers to cycle at low
speed.

When the HIGH position of the control knob is selected the SCM sends an electronic wiper switch high status
message to the EMIC, the EMIC relays an electronic wiper switch high request message to the TIPM, then the
TIPM directs battery current to the high speed brush of the wiper motor, causing the wipers to cycle at high
speed.

When the OFF position of the multi-function switch control knob is selected, the SCM sends an electronic
wiper switch off status message to the EMIC, the EMIC relays an electronic wiper switch off request message
to the TIPM, then one of two events will occur. The event that occurs depends upon the position of the wiper
blades on the windshield at the moment that the control knob OFF position is selected.

If the wiper blades are in the down position on the windshield when the OFF position is selected, the park
switch that is integral to the wiper motor is closed to ground, which provides a hard wired park switch sense
input to the TIPM. The TIPM then de-energizes the wiper motor and the wiper motor ceases to operate. If the
wiper blades are not in the down position on the windshield at the moment the OFF position is selected, the
park switch is an open circuit and the TIPM continues running the wiper motor at low speed until the wiper
blades are in the down position on the windshield and the park switch input to the TIPM is again closed to
ground.

INTERMITTENT WIPE MODE

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro