2003 Envoy Windshield Wiper Motor

Ziggie · November 23, 2009

On weekend it was snowing and wife came back complaining that the wiper does not work, neither the wash, on the front that is.

On rewiewing schematic and checking the fuse, (good), it was time to dig in.

I removed the cowl and then removed the connector at the front wiper motor. Checking at that connector I confirmed that the switch is good, and I could also activate wash pump on one pin. Problem was with the motor, so I removed it, only two bolts hoding the whole assembly. You have wipers and antenna removed at that point, before remowing the cowl.

After removing the motor and putting in on the bench, I removed the cover of the electronic controller.

The problem was right there due to water getting into the controller and corroding out some part on the board, as it was not properly sealed and board was not properly coated.

I could not get replacement motor assy on the weekend, so deceided to see what I can do.

The controller is a smart one, has a small micro chip on it, crystall for the clock, two relays, and as I am electronic technologist it was not that difficult to find the problem, it was more difficult to fix it due to damage done, to make story short, I managed to soldier the leg on the relay, (corroded out) and replaced the burnt out traces. Problem was that the main 12 supply (present in run) was corroding out traces etc, you know DC voltage + moisture from car washes = electrolisis.

With the rapair I could to the board, I do not have much fate it will last, but it works again for now.

I painted the board with nail polish to seal it and put it together, works just fine.

Problem was that water was getting in trough the connector, so after 6 years it eventually gave.

I am getting new motor assy at $300.00 to have it on standby, just to see how long my repair will last.

I wish I could get just the board, as rest of the motor assy is just fine. Furthermore, the way connector is made, with a yellow rubber sealing, I am not sure if this will ever seal.

Moral to this story is:

This is quite nice design, but problem is one detail, as it it hard to make sure it is really sealed, after all it is wiper motor, there is lots of water where it is installed, why it is not sealed properly.

For guy like me, I wish I could just buy the replacement board, probably at the fraction of the cost, not the whole motor assembly.

Unfortunately I thought about pictures too late, so I do not have any pictures.

Ziggie

jjohns · November 24, 2009

Nice fix. I bet it lasts longer than you expect.

minibike132 · November 25, 2009

I don't want to deminish your repair because it is great, but there is a recall for that. Post your vin, I can run it and see if you are covered. The only problem is that you would get a new module (that is available independant of the motor) for free if it didn't work but you fixed it so they will just seal it and send you on your way.

Ziggie · November 25, 2009

Thanks Spartech,

Now, as you said that, I think the board was replaced under recall, when was still under warranty and I had it in the shop for signal lights or someting, will review my records tonight.

I will also post a VIN tonight for you to check, thanks for being so kind.

I phoned the dealer today, and there is "cover kit available", including controler board, at $150.00, but I needed VIN for that as well.

Mayby I will go to the dealer who sold the vehicle and did the recall and see what could be done, if anything.

I was thinking to really fix the board a bit better, but I could not get the Tyco relays part #T72M5D121-12, probably ~$10.00 or so, but obsolite part. I think the repairs to the board are solid, but the leg implant I made to the relay is not too good, will not handle much of a current too long.

Anyway, at least I can buy the board, $150.00 is not that bad and I will have a spare one, the one with my repair on it.

Ziggie

minibike132 · November 26, 2009

Thanks Spartech,

Now, as you said that, I think the board was replaced under recall, when was still under warranty and I had it in the shop for signal lights or someting, will review my records tonight.

I will also post a VIN tonight for you to check, thanks for being so kind.

I phoned the dealer today, and there is "cover kit available", including controler board, at $150.00, but I needed VIN for that as well.

Mayby I will go to the dealer who sold the vehicle and did the recall and see what could be done, if anything.

I was thinking to really fix the board a bit better, but I could not get the Tyco relays part #T72M5D121-12, probably ~$10.00 or so, but obsolite part. I think the repairs to the board are solid, but the leg implant I made to the relay is not too good, will not handle much of a current too long.

Anyway, at least I can buy the board, $150.00 is not that bad and I will have a spare one, the one with my repair on it.

Ziggie

No problem, with the vin I can tell you if it was replaced under warranty and when. I'm not sure about the policies and proceedures about a failure after the warranty runs out after the recall has been performed. You would have to talk to a service writer about that if it had been replaced. Let me know the vin when you get a chance and I can give you a place to go from there.

Ziggie · November 26, 2009

Thanks Spartech,

Now, as you said that, I think the board was replaced under recall, when was still under warranty and I had it in the shop for signal lights or someting, will review my records tonight.

I will also post a VIN tonight for you to check, thanks for being so kind.

I phoned the dealer today, and there is "cover kit available", including controler board, at $150.00, but I needed VIN for that as well.

Mayby I will go to the dealer who sold the vehicle and did the recall and see what could be done, if anything.

I was thinking to really fix the board a bit better, but I could not get the Tyco relays part #T72M5D121-12, probably ~$10.00 or so, but obsolite part. I think the repairs to the board are solid, but the leg implant I made to the relay is not too good, will not handle much of a current too long.

Anyway, at least I can buy the board, $150.00 is not that bad and I will have a spare one, the one with my repair on it.

Ziggie

No problem, with the vin I can tell you if it was replaced under warranty and when. I'm not sure about the policies and proceedures about a failure after the warranty runs out after the recall has been performed. You would have to talk to a service writer about that if it had been replaced. Let me know the vin when you get a chance and I can give you a place to go from there.

Sparkstech,

I reviewed the records, this car was in the shop few times under warranty, for some minor things, it was at two different dealers, (just across the street from each other), and they both claim they did recall 04005, install wiper motor reseal kit.

Well, either they did not do it, or they did not do it right, I think the cover was sealed properly, but the water got in around the connector, as the yellow soft rubber did not work. I think I could do much better with some white grease in that conector.

The vin is: 1GKDT13S332180972

The first record I have of being done is from 08/05/04, I think it is August 5, 2004, done by Northgate Pontiac Buick GMC of Edmonton, that is where the vehicle was purchased.

The second record I have of this being done is from 10/05/04, I think it is October 5, 2004, done by Stedelbauer Chevrolet of Edmonton, (just accross the street from Northgate).

So I do not know, as this is wife's car and she was mostly dealing with it, I just fix it when she complains about something.

It would be interesting to see what you come up with, again this is Edmonton Alberta Canada.

Thanks again,

Ziggie.

minimiss · November 26, 2009

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http://www.macktruck.org

minibike132 · November 26, 2009

Thanks Spartech,

Now, as you said that, I think the board was replaced under recall, when was still under warranty and I had it in the shop for signal lights or someting, will review my records tonight.

I will also post a VIN tonight for you to check, thanks for being so kind.

I phoned the dealer today, and there is "cover kit available", including controler board, at $150.00, but I needed VIN for that as well.

Mayby I will go to the dealer who sold the vehicle and did the recall and see what could be done, if anything.

I was thinking to really fix the board a bit better, but I could not get the Tyco relays part #T72M5D121-12, probably ~$10.00 or so, but obsolite part. I think the repairs to the board are solid, but the leg implant I made to the relay is not too good, will not handle much of a current too long.

Anyway, at least I can buy the board, $150.00 is not that bad and I will have a spare one, the one with my repair on it.

Ziggie

No problem, with the vin I can tell you if it was replaced under warranty and when. I'm not sure about the policies and proceedures about a failure after the warranty runs out after the recall has been performed. You would have to talk to a service writer about that if it had been replaced. Let me know the vin when you get a chance and I can give you a place to go from there.

Sparkstech,

I reviewed the records, this car was in the shop few times under warranty, for some minor things, it was at two different dealers, (just across the street from each other), and they both claim they did recall 04005, install wiper motor reseal kit.

Well, either they did not do it, or they did not do it right, I think the cover was sealed properly, but the water got in around the connector, as the yellow soft rubber did not work. I think I could do much better with some white grease in that conector.

The vin is: 1GKDT13S332180972

The first record I have of being done is from 08/05/04, I think it is August 5, 2004, done by Northgate Pontiac Buick GMC of Edmonton, that is where the vehicle was purchased.

The second record I have of this being done is from 10/05/04, I think it is October 5, 2004, done by Stedelbauer Chevrolet of Edmonton, (just accross the street from Northgate).

So I do not know, as this is wife's car and she was mostly dealing with it, I just fix it when she complains about something.

It would be interesting to see what you come up with, again this is Edmonton Alberta Canada.

Thanks again,

Ziggie.

It looks like it was done way back then. Being that it was 5 years ago I don't think you are going to get any help on it. The recall was not to reseal the whole thing, we were to inspect to see what type of wiper motor was on the vehicle. If it was one particular type with a hole in the cover that they put there for venting we were to inspect the connector area for evidence of water intrusion, if none was evident install a patch over the hole. If water intrusion was evident we were to clean the connections and install a new motor. The cover was not available at the time.

I wish I could get you one for free but at least we got you down from $300-$150.