Chrysler Repair: wipers and steering wheel volume contols: 02 300m, wheel volume, using a voltmeter

Question
2002 Chrysler 300m the wipers and steering wheel volume control quit working. Is there a fuse that the two are linked with. If not then what should I look at. Thanks for the help.

Answer
Hi John,
If those two function only quit working and they did so simultaneously, then the only common item to both of them is the body control module which does many things including these two systems. No common fuse is involved.
Their wires end up at the same plug on the body control module plug #2. If water may have leaked into the cabin at the far left of the dash (dripping down on the plug) through the lower corner of the windshield then that might temporarily cause this until it evaporates.
On the other hand, if these failed independently then the volume control wires go through a coil in the steering column called the 'clockspring' and that specific wire (of several) may have broken assuming that everything else on the steering wheel still works.
On the wipers, those are controlled by the multifunction switch which if the plug for that came loose then everything on that switch would also not function so check that out. The fuse that powers the wipers is #5 in the box behind the left end cap of the dash, so check that out, but if the front washer pump is spraying on the windshield then that fuse is OK. Then the issue would be either the wiper switch or the wiper motor in which case you would have to check the circuit by looking for voltage at the wiper motor when you turn on the switch or check the contacts at the switch itself using a voltmeter or a 12v glow light.
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Thanks,

Roland

Thanks for that report, John. It is interesting to learn that fuse #5 also powers specifically that clockspring communication function in the body computer. I did notice that the wiper fuse also gives some power to the bcm (actually 7 fuses power the bcm!) but it is moot as to that  radio volume control on the clockspring being a specific purpose for that fuse's power input to it. I have noted that in my manual's wiring diagrams.