I have a question for you all that have had the windshield washer fluid heater recall done. This recall happened 5-6+ years ago and it was due to the faulty windshield washer fluid heater, which would somehow create a fire. I refused to have the fluid heater removed, I signed a waiver and was done with it. But I kept getting letters in the mail and the dealer kept reminding me about it and how it was still open in their system. Moving forward, I never had it removed, BUT years ago, they did apply the first "solution" to the issue, which was put an inline wiring harness which included a 5 amp fuse, unfortunately this fix still did not prevent the fires.

So I recently went to the dealer, if you may have read my thread about being there eight hours total. The service advisor "went ahead" and did the fluid heater recall, w/o asking me. I was "whatever" about it since I was about to spend 550 dollars on a upper control replacement, and I just wanted to get the heck out of there already, not to mention the bad alignment they gave and tried to talk me out of them re-doing the alignment.

So I googled the washer fluid heater recall, and saw that a company, Alphatherm, sells a replacement fluid heater unit, and folks were just buying these and it was easy install since our cars were built with these things and all the hardware and wiring and switch are already in place. So I went to check and see how the tech did the recall on my car, and I saw he bent the heck out of the bracket which holds the fluid heater, and then put the wiring harnesses on the wrong side of the bracket.

So now my question is, do I still use the "first fix" that GM put in place when I install the new fluid heater, which is the additional wiring harness with the inline fuse? or do I pull it out and not use it? I've uploaded a pic of said wiring harness.

Thanks in advance!

 

I bought the Alphatherm unit for my Burb. They're only a few miles from my home, and when I went over there, I ended up talking to the owner.

I don't remember specifically, but I think I'd remember doing the install if it'd caused me any problems. I believe the wiring on mine was snipped at the plug, so I untaped and removed the old plug, and the new unit just plugged right in. I do recall that splicing into the washer hose was a PITA. I'd pinched the hose, so when I first tested it, nothing was coming out.

If you're going to get it, just buy it and figure it out once you have the unit in your hands. I don't have any such harness on my install.

 

it should not matter either way as the problem heater element is removed. leave the fused wiring harness in if you can. hope they left in the switch and heater mounting bracket

I wired one of the old units into my 2000 using relays and have not had a problem. Haven't scraped ice off my windshield since.


I have seen one melted dash wiring harness from the recall. Gm, had 2 recalls to repair this feature, then(what i heard was) instead of working for a fix with the company they bought this device from; they sued them and put them out of business. The 3rd recall was to remove the option and pay the customer $100 for the loss of the option.

 

I talked to the company at SEMA in 2009 and he said they bought the company that originally made it for GM went bankrupt after GM forced redesigns that led to the failures that caused the fires. So when I got my 2010, put one in and could see why it would never fail. The power cable is about the size of a jumper cable and has a huge fuse near where it connects to the + battery terminal. Works great!

Never had a problem w/ the one in my 2007 either.

 

do you know the gauge wire size of the updated one u bought? I used 10 gauge iirc.
The heater draws 59 amps so that surprized me. I was going to run it off a maxi fuse in the underhood fuse box, but after measuring the current draw, a 60 amp inline fuse was used. Wiring the control side into the mux circuit wiper system required some diodes.






the funny thing about the melted circuit I saw. It wasn't the power side but rather the control side that ran behind the dash.

 

I don't know the wire gauge but both it and the fuse are large.

 

Thanks to all who responded. I am not sure of the gauge wire the new unit is, but here is a pic from alphatherms website.

http://www.alphathermusa.com/images/...sh-AT-37GM.JPG

I'm leaning towards not using the "first fix" wiring. I got word back from someone at alphatherm and he suggested not to use it, and said it would not make a difference at all. I'm not expert, only a novice, and I feel like the shortest path for the power would be best, but having another inline fuse wouldn't be so bad. I don't know... Darn my OCD!! lol!

 

He bent the bracket a bit out of shape, then put the plugs on the wrong side of the bracket. this is the same tech that tried to align my Tahoe the same day and gave the car back to me with the camber on both front wheels out of spec, so his shotty work didnt surprise me. He did leave the switch in the center console. I believe the procedure was to just cut off the wiring to the old unit and just tape the ends of the wiring with electrical tape, and leave all connectors connected, and remove the faulty heater. I never had an issue with my except once, and it was shooting steam out of the nozzles and I almost pooped my pants, and turned it off right away, lol.

 

Heres a link to another thread with pics comparing the old and new units.

Posible solution for Wiper heated fluid Recall - Page 3 - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

 

mine vents steam out the washer sprayers with each use...its the best part of the show!