B1460

Code

Other B — Body

Wiper Washer Pump Motor Relay Coil Circuit Short To Battery

Brand: Other

Type: B — Body

Views: UK: 26 EN: 39 RU: 24

AI status

Completed

ready

Completed 100%

Page language: EN

Causes

Damaged or chafed wiring harness contacting battery positive or another fused hot circuit
Shorted relay socket or connector with corrosion/bridges between pins
Failed relay with internal short between coil and battery terminal
Incorrect or aftermarket relay installed (wrong pinout/internal ties)
Water intrusion in connector or pump area causing conductive paths
Body control module (BCM)/relay driver stuck or internally shorted

Symptoms

Washer pump or wiper/washer system runs intermittently or continuously without command
Blown fuse related to washer/wiper circuit
Battery drain when vehicle is off
Relay clicks constantly or feels hot
Intermittent or no control of washer pump despite control inputs
Related body network errors or module warnings in some vehicles

What to check

Confirm DTC stored and note freeze frame/conditions; check for other related codes
Visually inspect relay, relay socket and harness for melted plastic, corrosion, water, or obvious damage
Check relevant fuses for blown condition and fuse holder corrosion
Disconnect washer pump relay and see if fault clears or symptoms stop (safe isolation test)
Backprobe relay coil/control pin with ignition off and with system commanded to verify presence of battery voltage
Measure resistance between coil control circuit and battery positive/ground to detect shorts or opens

Signal parameters

Expected relay coil voltage (inactive): near 0 V (
Expected relay coil voltage (active): close to battery voltage (~11–14.5 V) when commanded
Typical relay coil resistance (small automotive relays): ~50–200 ohms (varies by relay)
Typical coil current when energized: ~60–300 mA (depends on relay)
Measured constant battery voltage on coil/control circuit with ignition off indicates short to battery

Diagnostic algorithm

Record DTC, freeze frame data and any related codes. Note when fault is present (ignition state, engine running).
Visually inspect relay, relay socket, wiring harness and connectors for damage, melted insulation, corrosion, or water intrusion. Repair obvious damage.
Remove the washer pump relay. With ignition off, measure voltage at the relay coil control terminal relative to ground. If ~12 V is present with relay removed and system not commanded, a short to battery is present downstream of the relay socket; proceed to isolate harness sections.
With relay removed and connector disconnected, measure continuity between the coil control terminal and battery positive to confirm short (low resistance indicates short). Also measure resistance to ground. Use wiggle tests on harness while observing readings.
If no short with relay removed, bench-test or replace relay to verify relay internals are not shorted. Compare coil resistance to specification or to an identical known-good relay.
If short remains in wiring, disconnect harness segments (follow harness routing) to isolate the shorted section. Re-test after each disconnection until short disappears to locate the fault area.
Inspect BCM or relay driver output if harness and relay test good. Use scan tool to command the relay and monitor output; check driver circuit for internal damage. Consider module replacement only after harness and component faults are ruled out.
After repair, reinstall components, clear DTCs, and perform functional test (operate washer/wiper system multiple cycles). Re-scan to ensure code does not return and verify no parasitic battery drain.
Follow safety practice: disconnect battery when performing wiring repairs that could short or cause sparks; secure vehicle and use appropriate PPE.

Likely causes

Chafed wire contacting ignition-switched or constant B+ conductor near relay harness
Corroded connector pins forming a conductive path to battery positive
Relay physically failed (internal short to supply)
Aftermarket accessory wiring tied into washer pump feed
BCM/relay driver output transistor failed shorted to battery

Fault status

⚠️ Status

Wiper/washer pump relay coil circuit has a short to battery (unexpected battery voltage present on the relay control/coil circuit). Inspect relay, connectors, wiring, and BCM driver.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2 hours