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View Full Version : Wacky Wipers cause Wacky Headlights???



RocsMerc
12-20-2009, 02:12 PM
It seems like ever since my warranty expired, it's been one electrical issue after another. :mad2:

Here's my latest electrical issue with my Marauder. Whenever I turn on my windshield wipers, about 15 seconds later, (when the headlight's are supposed to turn on automatically) my headlights start to flash on and off with a loud relay clicking noise at about the same rate as a turn signal. Tic, Tock... Tic, Tock... This problem only occurs in daylight. At night it always functions perfectly. If I turn on my headlights manually while it's flashing, the headlights stay on solid and the relay ticking noise goes away. However, the dash back lighting continue to blink dim, bright, dim, bright at the same rate. Again, this behavior disappears at night.

Now to go into a little history with my car. About a year ago, I had the issue with the headlight relay failing in the LCM. I opened the LCM and soldered in a new relay, which fixed the issue. A few months after that, the relay that controlled the parking lights went bad. It was around this time I noticed the problem with the wipers/headlights, but I wasn't too concerned because I figured it was caused by the same problem. I reopened the LCM to fix it again, but this time I replaced all the remaining relays. After rebuilding my LCM completely, my parking light problem was fixed and all other LCM functions seem to function properly. (Turn signals, headlights, backup lights, interior lights, and such.) The very next rainy day, I discover that my wiper problem was still there, the one thing I forgot to test. I should probably also mention that around the beginning of the summer this year, I was having an issue with my wipers doing one swipe on their own every time I turned the key. This fixed its self after a week. I never did anything about it and haven't had a problem with that since.

Now my question is what do I need to replace??? I doubt it's anything to do with my LCM since I already replaced every relay in that damn thing! Is it my wiper motor? Can wacky wipers be resurfacing in some strange way? Is the unit that controls automating headlights with the wipers in the wiper motor? Can it be a problem with the unit that controls the auto headlamps at night since it only happens in daylight? I have no clue what to do? :help:

SC Cheesehead
12-20-2009, 02:41 PM
Could be the wiper control module. Have you cleaned out the drain holes and flap on the wiper cowling?

Check out this link, especially posts 13 and 14:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=47864

Big Black Beast
12-21-2009, 02:04 PM
I realize that this doesn't help, but this is one feature of this car that I absolutely despise.

SILVERSURFER03
12-21-2009, 02:15 PM
sounds like the wiper relay once water gets in it gounds out things clean clean the drain ...you wait to long and replacement is advized after cleaning

kphillykid1023
12-21-2009, 02:16 PM
i realize that this doesn't help, but this is one feature of this car that i absolutely despise.
0 im having tha same problem

MENINBLK
12-21-2009, 02:47 PM
You need a new wiper motor and a Lamp Control Module.

I can repair your LCM along with many other members here.

RocsMerc
12-21-2009, 03:48 PM
Thanks for all the responces. I believe cleaning my cowl/ducts as well as the wd-40 treatment to my wiper motor should be the first thing I try and see what that does. Right now there is a foot of snow on the ground, so it will have to wait a few days.

Silversurfer, is this relay in the wiper motor assembly? I'm assuming a water loged relay is beond the powers of wd-40. Is this relay replacable the same way you can replace them on the LCM curcit board, or do I replace the whole motor at that point?

MENINBLK, I already replaced every relay in my LCM, but thanks for the offer. I have a feeling I will be replacing the wiper motor though.

Richy04
12-21-2009, 11:21 PM
Roc,

If the motor is soaked from submersion, clean out the trough and chute, then remove all of the silicone from the circuit board inside the wiper motor housing, clean it up and recoat with fresh silicone, dry and clean everything real good first.

Just so you know, if the wipers come on, even due to a defect, in all probability the headlights will come on also, if the LCM sees the wiper motor powered up, it will command the headlights on.

SC Cheesehead
12-22-2009, 05:15 AM
Roc,

If the motor is soaked from submersion, clean out the trough and chute, then remove all of the silicone from the circuit board inside the wiper motor housing, clean it up and recoat with fresh silicone, dry and clean everything real good first.

Just so you know, if the wipers come on, even due to a defect, in all probability the headlights will come on also, if the LCM sees the wiper motor powered up, it will command the headlights on.

^^^^^ What Richy said ^^^^^

Big Black Beast
12-22-2009, 01:43 PM
I wonder if you could just rewire the car to use off the shelf components and remove the whole annoying wiper/lights connection and crummy lcm completely.

Maybe I shouldn't wonder this...

SC Cheesehead
12-22-2009, 02:14 PM
I wonder if you could just rewire the car to use off the shelf components and remove the whole annoying wiper/lights connection and crummy lcm completely.

Maybe I shouldn't wonder this...

;) Uh, if you try it, keep in touch and let us know how it works out for you. ;)