Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Washer / wipers
The windshield wipers are powered by a motor positioned under the cowl. There are also headlamp wipers. There are also washer nozzles on the hood and bumper cover for cleaning the windshield and headlamps. The washer nozzles are connected to a pump motor on the windshield washer reservoir at the front right of the engine compartment.
For cars with five doors, there is a wiper and washer nozzle for the rear windshield. The washer nozzle is connected to a separate pump on the windshield washer reservoir.
The windshield wipers are operated using the right-hand control stalk. There are three positions: intermittent, low speed and high speed. The time between strokes for intermittent wiping is adjusted using a ring on the control stalk.
Pull the control stalk towards the steering wheel to clean the windshield. The washer and wipers for the headlamps are activated at the same time. The headlamp wipers operate for as long as washing is activated. They are not activated when only the windshield wipers are activated.
Push the control stalk away from the steering wheel to clean the rear windshield. There is a button at the end of the control stalk to control the rear wiper.
Information about the position of the control stalk is transmitted to the central electronic module (CEM) on the controller area network (CAN). The central electronic module (CEM) also receives a signal from the wiper motor if the wipers are in the park position.
The central electronic module (CEM) also monitors the windshield washer reservoir level via a level sensor in the reservoir. The switch in the level sensor closes if the level falls below one liter. A text message indicating that the windshield washer fluid needs to be topped up then lights in the driver information module (DIM).
The power supply for the rear windshield wiper is via a directly connected relay on the rear electronic module (REM). Other wipers and the washer motors are supplied with power via relays in the engine compartment.
There are diagnostics for the windshield wipers.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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