B1241

Code

Other B — Body

Wiper Washer Rear Pump Relay Circuit Short to Battery

Brand: Other

Type: B — Body

Views: UK: 43 EN: 58 RU: 48

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Page language: EN

Causes

Short to battery on the rear washer pump relay control or switch circuit
Failed or stuck relay contacts allowing full battery feed to the control circuit
Damaged wire insulation or chafed harness contacting battery voltage
Corroded or bridged connector terminals at the relay, pump, or BCM
Faulty washer pump with internal short feeding back to the relay
Faulty BCM or control module driving the relay output high erroneously

Symptoms

Rear washer pump runs continuously or intermittently without activation
Blown fuse for washer pump circuit or recurrent fuse failures
Battery draining when vehicle is off
Washer pump does not respond to switch or control commands despite battery voltage present
Relay clicking or overheating
Possible BCM warning indicators or related body-system errors

What to check

Confirm DTC with scanned freeze frame and readiness/status data
Visual inspection of rear washer pump area, relay location, wiring harness, and connectors for damage, corrosion, or water entry
Check washer pump fuse(s) for condition and correct rating
Locate washer pump relay and note terminal labeling (coil/control, switched battery, ground)
With key OFF, measure voltage at the relay control terminal and pump power terminal to identify unintended battery feed
Check continuity from control circuit to BCM/switch and for shorts to constant battery feed and to ground

Signal parameters

Control/coil terminal: should be ~0 V (or low) with ignition and washer OFF; should be pulled to relay drive voltage when activated (varies by vehicle)
Switched supply (pump feed): ~12 V relative to chassis ground with ignition ON and pump commanded on
Pump current draw (when running): typically 1–10 A depending on pump — abnormally high current suggests internal pump fault or blockage
Relay coil resistance (typical range): roughly 50–200 ohms for many automotive relays (verify with service data)
Short condition: presence of battery (+12 V) on control/coil terminal with washer off indicates short to battery

Diagnostic algorithm

Retrieve freeze-frame and confirm B1241 is active; note conditions when fault occurred (ignition state, pump on/off).
Perform a visual inspection: check relay socket, harness routing to rear pump, connectors at pump and BCM for corrosion, pin damage, or water intrusion. Repair visible damage first.
Check fuses: verify correct fuse is installed and not blown repeatedly. Replace blown fuse only after identifying cause.
Locate the rear washer pump relay. With ignition OFF, measure voltage at the relay control/coil terminal. If ~12 V present with key OFF, suspect short to battery on control circuit.
Remove relay and re-check voltage at the control terminal. If voltage disappears when relay removed, inspect relay socket and harness for conductive debris or bridged terminals. If voltage remains, trace harness back for a short to battery.
With relay removed and harness accessible, perform resistance checks: measure resistance from control terminal to battery positive and to BCM control output. Look for unexpected continuity to battery. Also check continuity from pump power terminal to battery and to ground.
Bench-test or swap relay with a known-good unit to rule out stuck contacts or internal short. If swapped relay corrects behavior, replace relay.
If relay swap does not resolve, disconnect the pump connector and check the control circuit and supply separately. If the short disappears with pump disconnected, inspect/replace the pump or repair its wiring. If short persists with pump disconnected, trace/back-probe toward BCM/switch for a wiring short or module fault.
Inspect for aftermarket splices or body repairs that may tie battery power into the control circuit and remove/repair as needed.
After repair, clear codes and verify proper operation through multiple cycles; monitor for reappearance of B1241 and verify no parasitic battery drain.

Likely causes

Relay coil/control terminal connected or shorted to constant battery feed due to pin damage or harness chafe
Aftermarket equipment or repairs incorrectly spliced into washer pump power or control circuit
Water intrusion/corrosion at rear pump connector allowing battery feed to backfeed control circuit
Defective relay with welded/stuck contacts
Faulty ground or missing ground causing circuit to find alternative battery path