2000 Explorer: Windshield washer relay location and how can I test it???? I've read it's in the fuse box in the engine compartment, but how can I identify it? Please help before the wife starts driving my 98 F150 4x4 :-O

 

Should be able to find a wiring diagram on the Autozone website.

 

To test a relay pull it out if its base(the fuse box). Flip it over so that the pins are sticking up. There should be numbers by each pin. The numbers should be 85,86,87,30. The way a relay works is that when you apply power to the pins 85&86 it closes a contact between pins 87&30. When power is no longer appled to the pins 85&86, the contact opens and no power is allowed to flow between the pins 87,30.

Now to test the relay. Connect a wire from the negative battey cable to pin 86. Then connect a wire from the positive battery cable tto pin 85. As soon as you connect the wires you should hear a click. If you hear a click, this is telling you that the coil is ok. If you donot hear a click then the relay is bad. Next to test the contact, get a ohm meter out. Connect a wire from pin 85 to the positive battery cable, and a wire from pin 86 to the negative battery cable. Now hook the ohm meter up to the to remaining pins(87&30). If the ohm meter shows any reading higher than say .1 then the relay is bad.

Another way to test the relay is to just replace the old relay with a new one. If the wipers work then great. If they don't, atleast you know it is not the realy.

Here are two sites that explains how a relay works. It should help especialy if my explination made you more confused.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay.htm
http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

Now where the relay is located, i don't know but if someone else doesnt reply where it is, i'll do some diging and see if i can find were it is. The closes i can get you is the main fuse box. If you look in the owner's manual it should tell you witch socket is the Windshield washer relay. Also, Autozone does not have the wiring diargam for your Explorer.

Chris

 

Thanks for the tips Chris. I will do the test as soon as I locate the relay. I reviewed the owners manual, but there isn't a relay labeled for the windshield washer, but what is strange is my 98 F150 4x4 manual shows a relay for the washer. Unfortunately, the main fuse box is not the same layout as the explorer. Any help you can offer is GREATLY appreciated. I tried to chase the wires back from the pump, but they disappear into the wire loom, so no luck there.

 

My 93 X has a relay box in the engine compartment. I think the regular old fuse box under the dash has some relays too - been a while since I've had to look at it. One thing about living in the desert - your electrical circuits don't get moisture corrosion.

So I'm looking at my wiring diagram off the Autozone web site, and I see no relays for any of the wiper features - even washer pump. It runs right off a fuse under the dash. Looks like power runs from the fuse through the switch directly to the washer pump motor and then to ground. There something call an internal governor in between the wiper motor and the switch on the steering column. Looks like this controls the wipers going on when you hit the wash button.

So check out your wiring diagram and if it's the same set up, you'll need to trace out the wires for a short or open. If everythings OK, your pump motor is bad. Like a $15 part.

 

There is a fuse in the interior fusebox labeled washer pump relay, rear washer pump relay. It is fuse number 12 and is a 7.5 Amp fuse. There is not a relay for any washer pump in the engine fuse box. This means that the relay is going to be hidden from you. About the only way to find them is going to be to follow the wires. My guess is that the relays are located under the dash, as this would be the most logical place for them.

Chris