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So when turning on wipers on intermittent, no matter which setting, the wipers will pause in different places on the up sweep, sometimes 3 or more times. In full slow and fast, they will work properly but not always go back to home position when turned off. I've read there is a module beside the radio in the dash that controls it and it has plates that corrode causing this.
Is this correct or is it the motor or the wiper control switch?
Not on your 01 F150
There is a GEM module that controls the wipers, but you are looking at a wiper motor that won't park issue
That issue is usually resolved with a new wiper motor
There are switch and motor tests in the service manual that you would need to do in order to figure out exactly what part or wiring has failed
Did used to see a few ground problems but not on the newer style motors like your 01 has
Either way, get a EVTM and verify the powers and grounds to the motor from the switch
Then perform a few of the switch and motor tests
You'll find you need a new motor most likely (unless you've kneed the switch stalk a hundred times getting into the truck)
Thats why you perform the tests, it could be the intermittent portion of the multi function switch that has broken / failed
Not saying it is not the GEM that is your problem either, they get wet and do all kinds of funky stuff when they short out
That GEM module is either behind the radio or behind the fuse panel
I can say those GEMs get tricky to diagnose if they have shorted out
Means hello parts cannon, use that option last
watching utubes of a guy diagnosing wipers non-op & he's showing that the GEM is behind the fuse panel (internal).
I have a couple other odd things happening like intermittent 4x4 LOW engagement & intermittent door open bell, so I'm leaning toward the GEM having some corrosion internally. It'll have to wait till after hunting season. I'll first replace the motor as it already quit on me twice and had to force it to move by pulling on the driver side wiper arm with the switch ON.
Try to run codes for the gem
Sometimes they show up as B codes or even Comm codes "U"
Most gems were right behind the fuse panel
Some early ones were behind the radio
Depending on what year you are working on, your 01 for instance
I can run the wipers and 4x4 using the Ford NGS scan tool
These are for sale cheap at times because it's outdated tech
But it's what's required for Ford vehicles of your generation
Only a few scan tools will run B and C codes, U codes as well
Find someone in your area that has one of these to help you out
Most of the old gem modules that shorted out would work fine once they dried out
The common replaced windshield and now it leaks was the problem in most cases
Once the windshield leak was fixed and the gem dried out they were okay
Course that was years ago and the trucks were mostly new still
What you see now days, is corroded brass and copper inside the gem where it was once wet
Hear tell about people successfully taking them apart, cleaning them, and making them work properly again
Took a few apart back in the day at the dealer, but we just replaced them
They were supposed to be Gods gift to us mechanics
And, they were ALL supposed to be the same
Joke after joke, once again from those Ford engineers
