salukispeed

98 Xj has wierd new problem. I turned on the windshield wipers yesterday and the factory radio turns off any time the wiper motor runs. As soon as the wiper motor stops the radio retrns to normal. even on intermitant mode. so the radio goes on and off as long as I leave the wipers on??
Any thoughts. I figure a bad ground or common power source. It does not lose time or stations just sound and display??

freegdr

Mine did this was a bad connection for fuse at box .

salukispeed

Will look there for starters when I get home.
Thanks

playbass

X2, the exact thing happened to me.

mattphillips90

it's your xj telling you to pay attention when it's raining

salukispeed

I like it!!.

salukispeed

I have not looked yet. Are we talking about the fuse/relay box in the engine compartment?

stock95sport(for now)

My '95 has this same problem. It's a bad ignition switch in mine. If i press the key IN toward the column itself, it works again.....

salukispeed

I did not find anything obvious at the fuse panels or ignition switch. and it does the same thing when turned to accesories if that matters. I will keep looking this weekend but still looking for to ideas and suggestions
Thanks. Any suggestions for good electrical schematics so I can find the common sources of power or grounds.

freegdr

what i ended up doing on mine ran seperate power to radio with fuse .

CCKen

The front WS wipers and the radio have seperate grounds so I don't think it's a ground nterference issue. The radio and the WS wipers have seperate fused power sources so I don't think that's it.

The closest I can get you to a somewhat common area is the radio suppression ground on the firewall. See pic.

Remove the braided strap bolt from the firewall and check for corrosion. Clean the contact area on the firewall to remove all corrosion. Squirt penetrating oil in the bolt hole if badly corroded, then use electronic cleaner to hose it out. Clean both sides of the terminal end on the braided strap. Reassemble using a new bolt. Torque to around 100 in/lb.

Remove the nut from the cylinder head stud/bolt and remove the braided strap. Clean, as above. If required, use a new nut. Reassemble using new nut if required.

If the braided strap is white with corrosion try cleanng it up. If you cn't salvage it you will need a new strap.

On my XJ, my bolt was a mass of rust, and its bolt hole was rusty. Took awhile to clean it up. Cylinder head attach point was okay.

Hope this helps.

salukispeed

I would not have thought of a radio ground in the engine compartment. thanks for the suggestion. I will look there also. Today I just noticed that every time the wiper motor comes off the park position there is a small but very noticeable dip in the lights that is exactly when the radio shuts off . Any thoughts on a unusual current demand on start up?? The wiper motor is a generic replacement and likely a rebuilt. yet it never pops the fuse? I am really interested in the reason and will share anything I find

Thanks Again

CCKen

Which lights.

Here's a pic of ground G106, near the PCM. Note that the front wiper motor is grounded here as well as other circuits, such as lamps. It may be worth while to disassemble these grounds and freshen them up.

What's a generic replacement motor? Should be an exact fit motor. Actually, it sounds like a bad motor assembly.

CCKen

Here's a test you can do before (and after) cleaning the firewall braided strap connections (modified from the FSM, section 8F)

XJ Body Ground Connection Test

This test checks the condition of the vehicle body ground connection (Braided cable on firewall to engine cylinder head bolt). This test should be performed with the battery positive cable removed from the battery.

Start: Disconnect both battery cables, the negative cable first. Reconnect the battery negative cable and perform the test as follows:

(1) Connect one ohmmeter test lead to the vehicle fender. Connect the other test lead to the battery negative post.

(2) The resistance should be less than one ohm.

(3) If the resistance is more than one ohm, check the braided ground strap connected to the engine cylinder head and the vehicle body for being loose, corroded, or damaged. Repair or replace the ground strap connection and replace bolt at firewall connection or nut at engine cylinder head bolt connection, if required.

Finish: Disconnect the negative battery cable. Reconnect positive battery cable, and then connect the negative battery cable.

~~~~~~~~~

Also, a correction to the torque value for the firewall bolt; it should be 20 ft/lb, not 100 in/lb. Same torque for the cylinder head bolt connection nut.

salukispeed

Thanks for all the tips. My comment ( Generic motor ) is because I bought my XJ from a little used car dealer in town and I would only take the car if He fixed the inop wipers. I got it from him and the bolts and screws were all loose and poorly assembled. The wiper motor looked like a poorley painted and shabby rebuilt, Possibly repainted junk yard. Works ok but suspect. Should have just taken the vehicle and did it myself.
Thanks again for the direction and tests. Great info to work with.