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Wipers not working - missing Ground signal at relays
Front wipers stopped working - ON/Low/High speeds only? Only error reported:
A6CA JBE: Relay, Wiper Stage 1, for front wiper
I identified the following:
Windshield washer spray on Front & Rear working, Rear Wiper motor is working fine.
I uses xTool D8 and verified that every position of the wiper stalk generates a unique response to the tool. (I used iPhone to record that series of tests).
I checked both relays (R5 Stage1 & R7 Stage2). They both tested fine, (but I doubted myself and purchased replacements anyway). No improvement.
Engine compartment fuse F9 (30amp) checks out fine.
I removed both relays (R5&R7) and verified that i have 12v power all the time at 3 pins across the 2 relays.
I jumped R7 relay (Stage 2) 12v (pin1) to Pin4 and the Front wiper motor works fine at Low speed.
I jumped R7 relay (Stage 2) 12v (pin1) to Pin5 and the Front wiper motor works fine at High speed.
Further testing with a test light and Voltage meter - I discovered I never get a GROUND signal at Pin 2 of either Relay R5 or R7. Those ground signal’s COMPLETE the coil circuit of either Relay which then activates the specific Relay’s circuit. If the R5 (Stage1) relay coil never energizes, the front wipers never activate on the default - low speed. Which is what reported error code A6CA is indicating.
I’ve temporarily wired 2 switches below my radio (1 for R5 and 1 for R7) … and bring a ground signal to Pin2 of each relay in the engine compartment. (I run the wires thru the cabin air filter into the engine compartment. The switches complete the ground connection at the passenger seat anchor bolt).
I can turn on the front wipers with the R5 switch, and then change speed to High by turning on the R7 switch. The wipers don’t ‘Park’ by themselves so i have to simply flip the switch ‘off’ at the right moment.
I queried my mechanic and he suggested he would just replace the motor???
I’m not ready to just start throwing more parts at the problem because at this point, each of the possible remaining parts cost well above $300+ …
My Question’s are many!
1) Can the motor be responsible for no ground signal at the relay? (I don’t see how, but I don’t know)??
2) Do I isolate the motor and test the park feature? I have a wiring diagram (paid $30 online for schematics) but can’t locate any video to test Park feature.
3) What do I test next knowing I’m not getting a ground signal at the relays when I turn on the front wiper’s by activating the wiper stalk UP 1x ?? Or activating High speed by pressing the stalk UP 2x’s ??
4) Junction Box electronics (Passenger foot well) may be responsible for not supplying ground signal to either relay when Wiper stalk is activated. I briefly attempted to remove the plastic panel covering the JBE - but it feels like it will crack or break and decided to get guidance from the forum before i create another problem.
Is there any dissassembly instructions or R61 Paceman videos for removing the JBE ???
5) If I’m able to remove the JBE, what then ???
Besides photographing and recording ID #’s, and looking for water damage???
ANY guidance or suggestions would be helpful from this point forward …
ANYONE with Front Wiper diagnostic experience - please speak up!
Front wipers stopped working - ON/Low/High speeds only? Only error reported:
A6CA JBE: Relay, Wiper Stage 1, for front wiper
I identified the following:
Windshield washer spray on Front & Rear working, Rear Wiper motor is working fine.
I uses xTool D8 and verified that every position of the wiper stalk generates a unique response to the tool. (I used iPhone to record that series of tests).
I checked both relays (R5 Stage1 & R7 Stage2). They both tested fine, (but I doubted myself and purchased replacements anyway). No improvement.
Engine compartment fuse F9 (30amp) checks out fine.
I removed both relays (R5&R7) and verified that i have 12v power all the time at 3 pins across the 2 relays.
I jumped R7 relay (Stage 2) 12v (pin1) to Pin4 and the Front wiper motor works fine at Low speed.
I jumped R7 relay (Stage 2) 12v (pin1) to Pin5 and the Front wiper motor works fine at High speed.
Further testing with a test light and Voltage meter - I discovered I never get a GROUND signal at Pin 2 of either Relay R5 or R7. Those ground signal’s COMPLETE the coil circuit of either Relay which then activates the specific Relay’s circuit. If the R5 (Stage1) relay coil never energizes, the front wipers never activate on the default - low speed. Which is what reported error code A6CA is indicating.
I’ve temporarily wired 2 switches below my radio (1 for R5 and 1 for R7) … and bring a ground signal to Pin2 of each relay in the engine compartment. (I run the wires thru the cabin air filter into the engine compartment. The switches complete the ground connection at the passenger seat anchor bolt).
I can turn on the front wipers with the R5 switch, and then change speed to High by turning on the R7 switch. The wipers don’t ‘Park’ by themselves so i have to simply flip the switch ‘off’ at the right moment.
I queried my mechanic and he suggested he would just replace the motor???
I’m not ready to just start throwing more parts at the problem because at this point, each of the possible remaining parts cost well above $300+ …
My Question’s are many!
1) Can the motor be responsible for no ground signal at the relay? (I don’t see how, but I don’t know)??
2) Do I isolate the motor and test the park feature? I have a wiring diagram (paid $30 online for schematics) but can’t locate any video to test Park feature.
3) What do I test next knowing I’m not getting a ground signal at the relays when I turn on the front wiper’s by activating the wiper stalk UP 1x ?? Or activating High speed by pressing the stalk UP 2x’s ??
4) Junction Box electronics (Passenger foot well) may be responsible for not supplying ground signal to either relay when Wiper stalk is activated. I briefly attempted to remove the plastic panel covering the JBE - but it feels like it will crack or break and decided to get guidance from the forum before i create another problem.
Is there any dissassembly instructions or R61 Paceman videos for removing the JBE ???
5) If I’m able to remove the JBE, what then ???
Besides photographing and recording ID #’s, and looking for water damage???
ANY guidance or suggestions would be helpful from this point forward …
ANYONE with Front Wiper diagnostic experience - please speak up!
Did you get this resolved?
I'm troubleshooting similar problem with 2015 countryman US version.
What I found is water damage on JBE junction box on the footwell. Possibly clogged moonroof drain. I couldn't make further troubleshooting due transportation needs of the owner.
Youtube videos have instructions for wiper park mode.
New to the forum and haven't figured out how to link videos.
My next step is to check good connections between wires that provide ground to both relay going to the JBE connectors. I believe its bown/blk & brn/ blue. From second to third pictured.
Last edited by Tiffysmini; Oct 1, 2024 at 07:34 AM.
You’re the first to respond and your EXACTLY at the point I left off at, testing specific wires between Relays and JBE.
i did successfully gain access to the JBE and found corrosion at a single connector. I cleaned that up as best I could. But still no luck - so I’m left with either the ground wires both being bad in the harness back to the relays or the JBE itself?
The moonroof drains were the source of flooding. I used a 3’ clear (small engine) gas line hose attached to an air compressor and blew out all 4 drain holes from the top … the hose was able to snake in pretty deep and eventually I was successful without causing any internal disconnects of the drains that others had reported. I used a plastic bottle of water and dumped directly into the 4 drains with the moonroof open … to verify that the drains now were working properly … incidentally, 4 lightbulbs in the rear tail-lights and the 2 license plate bulbs (6 total) needed to be replaced. The rear drain holes of the moonroof exit right above those tail-light assemblies (under the rear hatch/door) and after I removed the assemblies it was clear why the bulbs failed - the assembly rear was packed with dried dirt …(rear bulbs should be replaced in pairs - per side).
that also explained how the underfloor storage area at the rear of the vehicle was full of water.
Well, right now no more water drain issues & I have access to the JBE … we’re I was now able to get the serial/model number. Since my 2 rocker switches currently allow me to manually send a ground signal to the relays - my wife is happy and so am I …
When I gain more confidence I’ll try to advance testing to the wiring harness ground wires for continuity testing.
Good luck and PLEASE, if you have an opportunity to work on that car again - please update this thread with ANY progress or information you uncover …
Last edited by Pellechi1; Oct 1, 2024 at 08:27 AM.
Reason: Spelling
Did you ever find the bad grounds? - It looks like I am experiencing the same issue on 2014 Mini Countryman S (r60) Good info, and have used it to get me further down the road, but I'm stuck at the same point you were - WHERE do the bad grounds terminate and WHY don't they terminate to ground!!
Originally Posted by Pellechi1
You’re the first to respond and your EXACTLY at the point I left off at, testing specific wires between Relays and JBE.
i did successfully gain access to the JBE and found corrosion at a single connector. I cleaned that up as best I could. But still no luck - so I’m left with either the ground wires both being bad in the harness back to the relays or the JBE itself?
The moonroof drains were the source of flooding. I used a 3’ clear (small engine) gas line hose attached to an air compressor and blew out all 4 drain holes from the top … the hose was able to snake in pretty deep and eventually I was successful without causing any internal disconnects of the drains that others had reported. I used a plastic bottle of water and dumped directly into the 4 drains with the moonroof open … to verify that the drains now were working properly … incidentally, 4 lightbulbs in the rear tail-lights and the 2 license plate bulbs (6 total) needed to be replaced. The rear drain holes of the moonroof exit right above those tail-light assemblies (under the rear hatch/door) and after I removed the assemblies it was clear why the bulbs failed - the assembly rear was packed with dried dirt …(rear bulbs should be replaced in pairs - per side).
that also explained how the underfloor storage area at the rear of the vehicle was full of water.
Well, right now no more water drain issues & I have access to the JBE … we’re I was now able to get the serial/model number. Since my 2 rocker switches currently allow me to manually send a ground signal to the relays - my wife is happy and so am I …
When I gain more confidence I’ll try to advance testing to the wiring harness ground wires for continuity testing.
Good luck and PLEASE, if you have an opportunity to work on that car again - please update this thread with ANY progress or information you uncover …
I found the wires and corresponding pins on the JBE (bottem socket pin 31 Braun/Black and pin 40 Red/Blue) but pins on the JBE looks fine and I have opened the JBE and could not find any more oxidation. For now I have made a panel to switch the wipers on and off for my holiday. After that I think I am gonna order a new JBE for it.
(Ordering two of the same toggle switches would have taken to long for me before my holiday, sorry!)
