Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 978

REMOVAL 

FRONT WIPER MODULE 

Fig. 43: Identifying Screws, Nut, Cowl Plenum, Weld Stud, Wiper Motor & Wire Harness Connector 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.  

2. Remove both front wiper arms from the wiper pivots. See REMOVAL.  

3. Remove the cowl plenum cover/grille panel from over the cowl plenum. Refer to REMOVAL .  

4. Disconnect the wire harness connector (6) for the front wiper motor (5) from the motor connector 

receptacle.  

5. Remove the two screws (1) that secure the ends of the front wiper module bracket to the cowl plenum (3). 

6. Remove the nut (2) that secures the front wiper motor bracket rubber insulator to the weld stud (4) located 

on the bottom of the cowl plenum.  

7. Remove the front wiper module from the cowl plenum as a unit.  

INSTALLATION 

FRONT WIPER MODULE 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 44: Identifying Screws, Nut, Cowl Plenum, Weld Stud, Wiper Motor & Wire Harness Connector 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Position the front wiper module into the cowl plenum (3) as a unit.  

2. Position the front wiper motor bracket rubber insulator over the weld stud (4) located on the bottom of the 

cowl plenum.  

3. Loosely install the two screws (1) that secure the ends of the front wiper module bracket to the cowl 

plenum. Tighten the outboard screw, followed by the inboard screw. Tighten the screws to 8 N.m (72 in. 
lbs.).  

4. Install and tighten the nut (2) that secures the front wiper motor bracket rubber insulator to the two weld 

stud on the bottom of the cowl plenum. Tighten the nut to 7.5 N.m (67 in. lbs.).  

5. Reconnect the wire harness connector (6) for the front wiper motor (5) to the motor connector receptacle. 

6. Reinstall the cowl plenum cover/grille panel over the cowl plenum. Refer to INSTALLATION . 

7. Reinstall both front wiper arms onto the wiper pivots. See INSTALLATION.  

8. Reconnect the battery negative cable.  

WIPER MOTOR 

DESCRIPTION 

REAR WIPER MOTOR 

NOTE:

Be certain to turn the ignition switch to the ON position, then turn the front 
wiper switch ON and OFF again to cycle the wiper motor and linkage to 
their natural park position before reinstalling the front wiper arms onto the 
wiper pivots.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 45: Locating Rear Window Wiper Motor Components 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The rear wiper motor (2) is concealed within the liftgate, below the liftgate glass and behind the liftgate inner 
trim panel. The end of the motor output shaft (1) that extends through the liftgate outer panel to drive the rear 
wiper arm and blade is the only visible component of the rear wiper motor. A rubber bezel and grommet is 
engaged within the output shaft hole of the liftgate outer panel and seals the output shaft where it passes through 
the panel. An integral connector receptacle (4) connects the rear wiper motor to the vehicle electrical system 
through a dedicated take out and connector of the liftgate wire harness. The rear wiper motor consists of the 
following major components: 



Bracket (5) - The rear wiper motor bracket consists of a molded plastic mounting plate for the wiper 
motor that is secured with screws to the wiper motor housing, and through three rubber isolators (3) to the 
liftgate inner panel.  



Motor - The single-speed permanent magnet rear wiper motor is secured with screws to the rear wiper 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro

  

motor bracket. The wiper motor includes an integral transmission, a motor output shaft, an automatic 
resetting circuit breaker, and the rear wiper motor park switch.  

The rear wiper motor cannot be adjusted or repaired. If any component of the motor is ineffective or damaged, 
the entire rear wiper motor unit must be replaced. The motor output shaft bezel and grommet, nut, and nut cover 
are available for individual service replacement. 

OPERATION 

REAR WIPER MOTOR 

The rear wiper motor operation is controlled by the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), which uses 
intelligent, high current, self-protected high side switches to control rear wiper system operation for energizing 
or de-energizing the rear wiper motor. The TIPM uses internal programming and electronic messages received 
over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus from the Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) 
(also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN) to provide the appropriate rear wiper and washer system 
operating modes. The EMIC uses electronic messages received from the Steering Control Module (SCM) over a 
Local Interconnect Network (LIN) data bus to determine when to send electronic rear wiper system requests to 
the TIPM. 

The rear wiper motor park switch is a single pole, single throw, momentary switch within the wiper motor that 
is mechanically actuated by the wiper motor transmission components. The park switch alternately closes and 
opens a path to ground for the rear wiper motor electronic control logic circuitry of the TIPM, depending upon 
the position of the rear wiper blade on the liftgate glass. This input allows the electronic logic circuits of the 
TIPM to control all of the electronic features of rear wiper motor operation and to keep the motor energized 
long enough to complete its current wipe cycle and park the wiper blade after the wiper system or the ignition 
switch has been turned OFF. 

The rear wiper motor is grounded at all times through a take out in the body wire harness that is secured to a 
ground location in the passenger compartment. The automatic resetting circuit breaker protects the motor from 
overloads. The rear wiper motor transmission converts the rotary output of the wiper motor to the back and 
forth wiping motion of the rear wiper arm and blade on the liftgate glass. 

The hard wired inputs and outputs of the rear wiper motor may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic 
tools and procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. However, conventional diagnostic methods 
will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the rear wiper motor or the electronic controls or communication 
between other modules and devices that provide some features of the rear wiper and washer system. The most 
reliable, efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the rear wiper motor or the electronic controls and 
communication related to rear wiper motor operation requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the 
appropriate diagnostic information. 

REMOVAL 

REAR WIPER MOTOR 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Wipers/Washers - Service Information - Nitro