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Rain Tracker RT-50A Troubleshooting Procedure 

Motor Switching Applications

This procedure is for Rain Tracker installations that apply current directly to the wiper motor.  For example, HSS (Hot Side 
Switching) and GSS (Ground Side Switching) applications.  If the installation required external resistors, see the “External 
Component Applications” procedure.

Notes on wiring 

Did you get the instructions from our website at www.raintracker.com? If you did not, check that first.

If you did and its not operating properly, go through the procedure.

If you checked and the instructions did not include your vehicle, a few notes:

You can test for wire function and use the instructions included in the kit

Sometimes, previous years are the same as current years. Check for this.

Access to the vehicle wiring diagram is always very helpful. Try to obtain a wiring diagram for your vehicle.

Following this procedure will save you time.

1. Check that the Rain Tracker is getting power and ground

Use a multi-meter or test lamp.  Unplug the Rain Tracker interface (J1) so you can put the test probes into the connector.

Symptom

Check

12 V Present?

Go to step 2

No 12V

If possible, check the ground with a multi-meter.  There should be no more than a couple ohms 
from the Rain Tracker ground (black wire) to a good chassis ground.  (Such as the connection on 
the outside metal sleeve of the cigarette lighter.)  

2.  Check how the system behaves in each of the manual modes.

With the Rain Tracker activation switch off:

Symptom

Check

Manual off, slow, and 
fast and wash work as 
before

Go to step 3

Manual slow does not 
work

Check the connections to the SLOW relay, both the motor and the switch side.  (PPL and BLU 
on the Rain Tracker.)

If the system is responding to water but manual slow is not working, then the problem is 
probably the SNC connection.   (PPL wire from the Rain Tracker.)

Wipers run all the time

Could be a damaged Rain Tracker interface module.  See “Bypassing the Rain Tracker” on the 
next page.

Fast speed is slower than 
it should be

There is some wiring error that is shorting the wiper motor slow and fast windings together.  For 
example, the power diode (YEL & WHT) from the Rain Tracker is not wired in place.  Be sure 
to correct this as it wears the wiper motor out.

Fast does not work

Did you cut the FAST wire, rather than Tee into it? 

Wash does not work

The Rain Tracker does not control wash.  Did you cut a wire you should not have?

Rain Tracker RT-50A Troubleshooting Procedure: Motor-switching Applications
www.raintracker.com

Page 1 of 6

Last Revised: 08/02/12

Summary of Contents for Rain Tracker RT-50A

Page 1: ... ground with a multi meter There should be no more than a couple ohms from the Rain Tracker ground black wire to a good chassis ground Such as the connection on the outside metal sleeve of the cigarette lighter 2 Check how the system behaves in each of the manual modes With the Rain Tracker activation switch off Symptom Check Manual off slow and fast and wash work as before Go to step 3 Manual slo...

Page 2: ...y the wipers will run slow To check fast connect YEL to PNK Wired correctly the wipers will run fast Since the module is unplugged the wipers will not run home You can plug in the module to run the wipers back home For GSS applications Using a stiff wire as a jumper on the Rain Tracker connector connect WHT to BLU Wired correctly the wipers will run slow To check fast connect WHT to PNK Wired corr...

Page 3: ... has likely been switched Make sure you have the PPL wire from the Rain Tracker going to the switch side of the vehicle slow wire and the BLU is going to the motor side Wipers stop on the middle of the windshield or I when I spray water the wipers step to make a complete wipe Some vehicles have digital systems that do not run the wipers direct from the switch The wires run through the computer fir...

Page 4: ... a good choice into the sensor cable and check with a multi meter Sensor responds barely at all Is the sensor mounted too far in the shade band From the mid 90 s on most US vehicles come with infrared absorbing shade bands The Rain Tracker sensor can be mounted on the edge but not deeply within the shade band Is the windshield an infrared reflective type These are very rare on some Chevy venture v...

Page 5: ...ose to the edge of the wipe pattern will make the system wipe too much No amount of water will make the system run fast Are you doing this in bright sunlight Note that the Rain Tracker will not run the wipers fast when in bright sunlight The Rain Tracker is intentionally less sensitive in very bright conditions which are often due to road spray This is to prevent smearing If possible have an assis...

Page 6: ... Wipers wipe when I drive over bumps Check to be sure that the sensor is securely snapped into the Rain Tracker coupler This can happen if the sensor cable has a long way to go to reach the headliner and is not secured Solution secure the sensor cable to the mirror mount base with a cable tie Wipers wipe when I tap the sensor Stop tapping the sensor Properly installed the sensor is immune to norma...

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