ZAAP!! - Toyota Yaris Forums

doginmyyaris · 01-17-2010, 06:04 AM

Was almost finished installing my new springs...just had to put my wiper motor and the shroud that you remove to access the top of the struts, back on. Suddenly, the wiper motor slipped and fell, touching both battery terminals!!

SHIT! ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!

I watched in horror as sparks ran down the wiper motors wiring harness, leaving a trail of gray smoke!

Long story short, everything works but the wipers. Thank god! The wires inside the lumen are all quite crispy. Anyone know where those wires lead? God knows what that will cost to replace. Who knows, maybe the wiper motor is still good and it's just the wires, but I doubt it.

ezhacker1 · 01-17-2010, 06:12 AM

iv had my fair share of "OMG why was i such an idiot" with electronics in my last car, frying stuff, one time i had a short and my headlights would come on by themselves even tho the stalk was set to off, then it corrected itself a few days later. One thing ill ask is, what happen to the protector cap on top of the Pos Terminal, would have prevented this.

goku87 · 01-17-2010, 06:14 AM

If you do it yourself (and it's just the wires) it will maybe cost you $6~12 dollars. A quick google search tells me the wiper motors run between $45~90, used/refurbished respectively.

But what happened to the cover for the pos terminal?

goku87 · 01-17-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezhacker1

One thing ill ask is, what happen to the protector cap on top of the Pos Terminal, would have prevented this.

You asked before I could lol.

doginmyyaris · 01-18-2010, 05:46 AM

Because of a couple accessories that require power to come direct from the battery, including a 4g amp wire, that little red cover wouldn't close. In an effort to give it a "cleaner" look, I removed the cover. Seems Toyota had a good reason for putting that little piece of plastic there.

doginmyyaris · 01-18-2010, 07:34 PM

This actually made me laugh. Found out to replace the wiper motors wiring harness, you must replace the ENTIRE wiring harness....as in the MAIN wiring harness.....for just a little over $1K!!!

Ya, right.

Guess I'll attempt to make a DIY harness just for the wiper motor.

goku87 · 01-18-2010, 08:28 PM

post some pictures. i dont see how replacing the motors requires replacement of the harness (unless it's melted), and who told you >$1k?

AlexNet0 · 01-18-2010, 10:52 PM

^ he said he fried the wires, aka, harness. how far they have been cooked, he didnt say

doginmyyaris · 01-19-2010, 12:35 AM

As far as I know, the motor still works (but not holding my breath!). It's the wires that went up in smoke. How far? Not sure yet. An automotive electrical shop called Toyota to price a "wiper motor wiring harness" and was told the wiper motor harness was actually part of the main wiring harness. Think he said something around $1200 (not installed!!), but as soon as my brain caught that sort of number, it stopped processing the idea of paying to have this fixed and opened a "doing it myself" file.

Took a quick look at the on-line repair manual, but wiring schematics (sp?) might as well be written in Chinese, as I have NO experience with them......

Maybe a direct wire to a whole new switch.

centrysis · 01-19-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doginmyyaris

Because of a couple accessories that require power to come direct from the battery, including a 4g amp wire, that little red cover wouldn't close. In an effort to give it a "cleaner" look, I removed the cover. Seems Toyota had a good reason for putting that little piece of plastic there.

i took mine off too.theres no way it would fit on there.i have 2,4,and 6 awg wires coming off mine.

01-17-2010, 06:04 AM	#1
doginmyyaris Drives: 07 yaris Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sacramento Posts: 34	ZAAP!! Was almost finished installing my new springs...just had to put my wiper motor and the shroud that you remove to access the top of the struts, back on. Suddenly, the wiper motor slipped and fell, touching both battery terminals!! SHIT! ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! I watched in horror as sparks ran down the wiper motors wiring harness, leaving a trail of gray smoke! Long story short, everything works but the wipers. Thank god! The wires inside the lumen are all quite crispy. Anyone know where those wires lead? God knows what that will cost to replace. Who knows, maybe the wiper motor is still good and it's just the wires, but I doubt it.

01-17-2010, 06:12 AM	#2
ezhacker1 Drives: Decepticon - Ravage Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,464	iv had my fair share of "OMG why was i such an idiot" with electronics in my last car, frying stuff, one time i had a short and my headlights would come on by themselves even tho the stalk was set to off, then it corrected itself a few days later. One thing ill ask is, what happen to the protector cap on top of the Pos Terminal, would have prevented this. __________________ Check out my Build thread: http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52274

01-17-2010, 06:14 AM	#3
goku87 Drives: Black HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AK Posts: 542	If you do it yourself (and it's just the wires) it will maybe cost you $6~12 dollars. A quick google search tells me the wiper motors run between $45~90, used/refurbished respectively. But what happened to the cover for the pos terminal? __________________ Selling: [NST Short Shift Kits] [Clazzio Seat Covers] [Carbon Fiber Shift Knob] [180mm Double Din Dash] [Replacement Stock Headlight Bulb] [Various Interior Trim Pieces]

01-18-2010, 07:34 PM	#6
doginmyyaris Drives: 07 yaris Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sacramento Posts: 34	things get ugly! This actually made me laugh. Found out to replace the wiper motors wiring harness, you must replace the ENTIRE wiring harness....as in the MAIN wiring harness.....for just a little over $1K!!! Ya, right. Guess I'll attempt to make a DIY harness just for the wiper motor.

01-18-2010, 08:28 PM	#7
goku87 Drives: Black HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AK Posts: 542	post some pictures. i dont see how replacing the motors requires replacement of the harness (unless it's melted), and who told you >$1k? __________________ Selling: [NST Short Shift Kits] [Clazzio Seat Covers] [Carbon Fiber Shift Knob] [180mm Double Din Dash] [Replacement Stock Headlight Bulb] [Various Interior Trim Pieces]

01-18-2010, 05:46 AM	#5
doginmyyaris Drives: 07 yaris Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sacramento Posts: 34	Because of a couple accessories that require power to come direct from the battery, including a 4g amp wire, that little red cover wouldn't close. In an effort to give it a "cleaner" look, I removed the cover. Seems Toyota had a good reason for putting that little piece of plastic there.

01-18-2010, 10:52 PM	#8
AlexNet0 View User's Garage Drives: '07 Yaris 3dr Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockland, ME Posts: 1,638	^ he said he fried the wires, aka, harness. how far they have been cooked, he didnt say __________________ ---------- MI-YW ----------

01-19-2010, 12:35 AM	#9
doginmyyaris Drives: 07 yaris Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sacramento Posts: 34	As far as I know, the motor still works (but not holding my breath!). It's the wires that went up in smoke. How far? Not sure yet. An automotive electrical shop called Toyota to price a "wiper motor wiring harness" and was told the wiper motor harness was actually part of the main wiring harness. Think he said something around $1200 (not installed!!), but as soon as my brain caught that sort of number, it stopped processing the idea of paying to have this fixed and opened a "doing it myself" file. Took a quick look at the on-line repair manual, but wiring schematics (sp?) might as well be written in Chinese, as I have NO experience with them...... Maybe a direct wire to a whole new switch.