Chevy Tahoe Rear Wiper Repair - Troubleshooting and Wiper Motor Removal

You are watching Part 1 of a video Series that shows troubleshooting and repair of the rear wiper on a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. This procedure should be similar if not the same for GMC Yukon, and Chevy/GMC Suburbans based on the GMT800 platform.
Video #2 is here:
• Chevy Tahoe Rear Wiper...
Video #3 is here:
• Chevy Tahoe Rear Wiper...

[@MrDanthemechanic]

Well, after fixing that broken orange 12V wire, the wiper decided to act sporadically. I added the ground link from the wiper motor mount to the latch mount. That 'worked' for a day, then the motor acted up again. Conducted endless ohm and voltage checks on all the wires in the harness. In conclusion, it was the connector to the motor. The female terminals inside the connector had become wide/loose over 15 years (go figure). Fixed/pinched the terminals inside the connector and it now works like a champ. (In spite of watching Mr. 741 take apart the motor and resolder it and concluding that did nothing, I did the same thing. Good practice though!). Thanks for the excellent video.

[@stoobydoo4790]

Very informative video. There are still people that prefer to fix things instead of throwing if away & buying new . UPDATE: I did the repair , it was a very easy quick fix that anyone can do. Just take your time. I wish that I would have found this video sooner. My wife was SOOO happy to have it fixed. Thanks again for the informative video.

[@rockinjuliescott]

Thank you. These vehicles last forever and I'm rather attached to my 2005 Tahoe. Unfortunately, I accidentally left the hatch open while backing into my garage and knocked the wiper parking ramp off. Your video really helped me repair it properly. Thanks for posting!

[@nickamb4236]

Hey this worked, mine was all gummed up. Didn't even have to unsolder I just bent that out of the way gently thank you

[@Journeyman-Fixit]

Great video, I own a 2003 Sierra Model 1500 truck. Love it because it was cheap and just celebrating a 14 year birthday and hitting 150,000 miles look forward to more miles in the future. It has the all-cast iron V6. Thumbs up!

[@BellesetBeauxDad]

Excellent videos! Thanks for the detailed information.

[@bone231_plays8]

Best auto door opener ever!

[@alyssapeters6271]

I'm jealous at how clean this car is. I don't think I want to mess with taking the motor out. Most likely my issue. I'm good without. Great video! I wrote down all the steps just in case! Thank you! 😁

[@biltonomega5682]

What an awesome video. So thorough and the explanations were great. Overall, just well done

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks, glad you liked this!

[@themightywaypodcast]

I'm painting an old tahoe for my local art car parade. I needed to figure out how to get the rear wiper off since it's just in my way. This helped! thanks! lol

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks for letting me know! If you are an artist, you might like this channel my friend started. kzbin.info/door/hKGo8NzXjSxs8Mb8P6c9lg

[@MrDanthemechanic]

I found that the large orange wire in the harness to the wiper motor had zero volts. After reading other forums, found the recommendation to check inside the 'loom' harness on the top of the hatch. Sure enough, the orange wire had simply snapped, therefore providing no voltage all the way to the wiper motor harness. Spliced it together, and the rear wiper motor works again just fine.

[@fargosoccer]

I am experiencing the same thing and will try to apply your fix. However, where did you perform the splicing?

[@carolinamanjr1385]

This video reminds me I have to do the same thing to my Expedition

[@duaneg.8638]

I love the camo tape comment. Great video thanks

[@weloveups831]

Most common issue of that year with no wipers and defrost is burnt ground at connector 901. Upper right

[@xn8northx]

Where is connector 901 located at?

[@buzzsah]

I use to like my part-time job, it kept me from going nuts at my full-time. lol

[@coryoconnor4795]

Great video man, it’s very difficult to find any videos that have information on troubleshooting the rear wiper motor. I’m going through the same thing right now. My 15 amp fuse originally blew on the wiper motor and I replaced it with an ATM 15 amp fuse instead of the low profile mini fuse that was originally in it. It was definitely a little too big for that fuse box but I did manage to get the fuse box cover back on it after and It did work for a couple weeks with the new fuse, despite the obvious size difference (still same 15 amperage though). but my wiper stopped working again a couple days ago in mid motion on the highway during a rain storm. but the fuse didn’t blow this time! I was told it could either be wiring or the motor itself. I am going to take back trim off and do a multimeter test on the motor. And I did watch all 3 of your videos.. I noticed it ended up being a faulty ground wire, so I bought a jumper wire to test that after watching your video just in case. Do I need to take the negative contact off the battery when I’m tinkering with the wiper motor? I know it sounds like a silly question but I would feel worse not asking you. Again, thanks so much for taking the time to inform all of us!

[@SevenFortyOne]

If you are checking voltages you'll need to keep the battery connected. But if you are taking things apart it won't hurt to disconnect the battery. I've found that my wiper still had problems at times. My truck had an aluminum tailgate and I think the only real ground connection to the chassis is through the latch. If the gate isn't shut tightly the ground connection is lost and the wiper won't work. You may want to check this on your truck too. I'd also look at the wiring where it goes from the hatch to the body. There is a connection there that is known to fail.

[@coryoconnor4795]

SevenFortyOne thanks for the tips, I will Definitely do all of that. Apparently in the state of Vermont where I live, you can fail state inspection now for failed rear wiper so I am going to hopefully get to the root cause of this failure ASAP.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I have family in central vt and have heard they are cracking down on stuff. I spent alot of time up there as a kid...it was my second home really. Anyway, good luck with your repair!

[@coryoconnor4795]

SevenFortyOne thanks man, appreciate it! I love Vermont, I’m down in southern VT, just getting over this long winter. Yes, last year a law was passed to tighten up restrictions on vehicle inspections in VT so they are failing people a lot more these days for things that would have passed previously. BUT I read in the newspaper last week that the Senate signed a new law that will hopefully go into effect soon that is actually lightening up the restrictions a little bit.

[@coryoconnor4795]

Sorry to bug you again dude but had one more ? For you. Do you recommend disconnecting the negative lead from battery when using multimeter on the ohms setting for resistance? Just want to see if there is resistance on high and low setting for my rear wiper switch..

[@alecgildner1200]

Curious as to how you fixed your defroster not working? I also have 12v power to mine but they don’t heat up. Thanks

[@ppenberthy]

I just fixed the rear wiper and defogger on my 2003 Tahoe. It was a bad ground in the rear connector for the tail gate. I just wired around it and now everything works great. It helps that I was a Tech and have a degree in Electrical Engineering. This might be your problem also.

[@youssefosman4734]

nice work and nice test

[@genesis21054]

I removed the windshield wiper assembly from a 2011 GMC Yukon. What I found after the removal is the spline is larger than pictures and video show. My new assembly will not fit over the spline. Has anyone seen this or have a remedy.

[@buzzsah]

It's always the little things that give the most trouble.

[@Radiowild]

Be interesting to see what's going on inside.

[@michealclark6888]

So I have a problem with the connection to the battery and the fuse on both rear wiper and rear defogger do you have a video or explain to me how I can fix this please?

[@enriquet548]

My sister got a 2008 Tahoe with the rear wiper cut off. Do you know if this is typical vandalism or just easily broken?

[@vincenorman9291]

Thanks: Great video, think I'll skip trying to repair the motor but now I know how to get the cretin out thinks I'll replace it. I'll get my buddy to do the hard part so he will get blamed if the paint gets scratched. Its my wife's Denali...😅😂

[@ChaskeJohnson]

I didn’t get 12 volts on both legs of my fuse in the truck next to the steering wheel. What would be your next approach? Thanks for your help

[@SevenFortyOne]

Maybe check the fuse box under the hood

[@johndoe-mc1oj]

Having the same issue on my 2004 Tahoe. Removed the motor to find a large amount of corrosion. Took it all apart, cleaned it up..hooked it to a 12v battery and the motor worked fine. Reinstalled it, It came on for a brief second and turned then went off so it still wouldn't work. Tried to jump the ground like you did, still don't work...checked the under hood fuse and the side of the dash fuse, all are good and getting 12v. When I hooked my multimeter to the orange wire on the harness it only read about 10.45-10.60 volts..thinking the orange wire is getting a poor connection somewhere so have to follow the harness to see If the orange wire could be damaged. If you have any other suggestions it could be let me know please.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Check the connector between the hatch and the body...also clean the latch striker as grease buildup can prevent a good ground

[@johndoe-mc1oj]

@@SevenFortyOne I found the issue.. On accident lol I removed the factory tape on the wire harness all the way to the top, after not seeing any issues I electrical taped it all back up and after that when I closed the hatch it worked. Not sure what it was, maybe a kink or something in the wire harness somewhere.

[@SevenFortyOne]

There is a connector up at the top near the hinge on the body side of the truck. You may have just moved things around so it was making contact. If it goes out again, check that connector.

[@katynunnery6254]

So one need to make a video on rear hatch wiper motor and I have two trailblazers and 1 works so I placed in on my nicer trailblazer and I now not working on it but works on my nasty looking one so what's the priblem

[@katynunnery6254]

Update both motors works on the older blazer and switches but not in nice trailblazer

[@adelaideautowashes]

I apologise if this is rude, but are you really short or is your Tahoe really high up?

[@martyhart135]

Replaced my rear wiper motor on 2004 gmc Yukon Denali and didn’t work. Checked wires a pink wire has no juice 3 of the 4 do 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@dmdltz843]

@sevenfortyone my 05 has that white paint on wiper arm as well and I've seen it on other Tahoes, any idea how the paint gets there?

[@SevenFortyOne]

Not sure what white paint you are talking about ..it's been a while since I did this job. Are you talking about the exposed aluminum where the paint has come off?

[@dmdltz843]

@@SevenFortyOne well not really sure what it is but before you started the job and on the wiper arm where theres something that looks white,....

[@dmdltz843]

@@SevenFortyOne right where arm rests when not in use

[@SevenFortyOne]

@@dmdltz843 I looked at the video and see what you mean now. That's the exposed aluminum where the black paint has flaked off. Aluminum develops a light gray powdery finish when exposed to the elements for a while. The camera makes it look more white than it really it.

[@dmdltz843]

@@SevenFortyOne ah ok, well mine is like that too, probably gonna paint it. Wasn't sure if it was paint spilled, I'd seen other Tahoes with the same problem Thanks!

[@georgefirman3187]

where did you find that plastic nut did you replace it?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I think I reused the original

[@elnoodles13]

I just replaced wiper motor and still doesn’t work. I do hear a noise from around motor when wiper switch on. Fluid pump does work

[@Ufcinc]

The issue is then with the connector between the liftgate and the body.

[@n34z3r]

My 03 just doesn't spray. It works and so does defroster and there's fluid in the reservoir.

[@boricuda]

This is a few months old, but I had the same problem and it ended up being the tiny hose connection from the reservoir to the rear wiper under the hood. It was disconnected close to the driver side door. I think it was because the fluid was froze inside the tube in the winter and the pipe burst at the seam. Just had to reconnect and all was fine.

[@christoph8365]

Where is the link?

[@shawnhollywood3707]

Green is always the ground

[@alyssapeters6271]

Would you have any videos on antifreeze reservoir leaks 🤔

[@SevenFortyOne]

sorry I don't

[@alyssapeters6271]

@@SevenFortyOne Thank you 😊 I was able to find one. Seems easy enough for a girl to do 😆 I'm so glad it was just that piece that was disconnected. I think the motor in rear window is bad but I'm not worried about it. I don't really use it as much as the front. I'm so happy!!! Thank you again. 😊

[@SevenFortyOne]

I used mine in the winter to clear snow but that was about it. Glad you found my video helpful!

[@jameslucas5590]

Has anyone had an issue with the rear wiper moving when you use the left turn signal? I replaced the wiper motor, the turn signal switch and the dimmer switch. Items Replaced: goo.gl/QqRn2u goo.gl/f4uWsM goo.gl/y4crB1 I can't figure out what cause the rear wiper to move when I use the left turn signal. I removed the dimmer switch so it would stop the rear wiper. But that's not a long term solution. Any one have an idea?

[@swdbamboo]

It looks like you completely skipped over the part where you remove the motor from the inside and outside

[@SevenFortyOne]

Did you watch the whole video?

[@karenvanderwall669]

don't assume that ALL people know what you're talking about..wish those who post these videos would watch them before posting... DON'T use your finger to point at what you are talking about... use a pencil ... make sure we can see everything you are talking about..(ex...like the fuse you say is out of our view,and trust me it's there ??????) hand is in the way while testing/using meter....can't see how you are doing it... one nice thing you can hear what you are saying.....

[@SevenFortyOne]

You're welcome.