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Rain Sensing Wipers mod for the Impala

4K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  4x4high 
#1 ·
**********DISCLAIMER********* I’M AT THE RESEARCH PHASE OF THIS MOD AND HAVE NOT PERFORMED/TESTED IT ON MY CAR YET. I WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD WHEN I HAVE COMPLETED THE MOD. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU MESSING UP YOUR RIDE IF YOU TRY THIS WITHOUT DOING YOUR OWN RESEARCH FIRST!

I'm looking into adding the rain sensing wiper feature from the late 90's Cadillac's. I found this thread on the Cadillac forum and started the research. Added Rain Sense to 98 DeVille

The impala wiper motor appears to be the same as the Cadillac's without the rain sensing feature (CE1 option). The wiper motor needed is GM part number 22137898 (with an 8 pin connector) and the pigtail for that motor. The motors are the same but the cover/modules are different. They are found on these models:

96-97 SEVILLE WITH OPT CE1
96 DEVILLE CONCOURS
97-99 DEVILLE WITH OPT CE1
96-02 ELDORADO WITH OPT CE1

You will also need the rain sensor (located attached to the windshield behind the mirror) with 5 wires NOT the 4 wire sensor. This is GM part number 25657767 or 25713342. GM lists for interchange:

Cadillac Concours 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac Concours 4 DR 1996
Cadillac Concours DEVILLE 4 DR 1997
Cadillac Concours SEVILLE 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac D’Elegance 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac D'Elegance CONCOURS 4 DR 1996
Cadillac D'Elegance DEVILLE 4 DR 1997
Cadillac D'Elegance SEVILLE 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac Deville 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac Deville 4 DR 1997
Cadillac Deville CONCOURS 4 DR 1996
Cadillac Deville SEVILLE 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac Deville Touring 1998, 1999
Cadillac Eldorado 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Cadillac Eldorado Touring 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Cadillac Hearse 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac Hearse CONCOURS 4 DR 1996
Cadillac Hearse DEVILLE 4 DR 1997
Cadillac Hearse SEVILLE 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac High Luxury 1998, 1999
Cadillac Limousine 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac Limousine CONCOURS 4 DR 1996
Cadillac Limousine DEVILLE 4 DR 1997
Cadillac Limousine SEVILLE 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac Seville 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Cadillac Seville 4 DR 1996, 1997
Cadillac Seville CONCOURS 4 DR 1996
Cadillac Seville DEVILLE 4 DR 1997

You will need to use AC Delco 25645365 (Windshield Washer Mist Sensor Cleaning Kit ($30 on amazon) to properly attach the sensor to the windshield.

The Impala turn signal stalk appears to work the same as the Cadillac (both CE1 and non-Ce1) and shouldn't need replaced. The first intermittent position appears to work the rain sensing wipers.

Start off with disconnecting your battery, R&R the Impala wiper motor with the Cadi wiper motor, and install the rain sensor behind the mirror. Now that the easy part is done let’s get into the spaghetti (wiring).

The only wiring currently in the interior of the impala to change will be the pink wire from the turn signal stalk. You will need to cut that wire and connect the pink wire from the Cadillac sensor to the cut pink wire going to the turn signal stalk. The light blue wire from the Cadillac sensor will be connected to the cut pink wire going to the engine compartment (wiper motor) (changed back to Lt Blue at the Cadillac wiper motor plug-you’ll see later).

Inside the engine compartment at the wiper motor there are two original plugs (3 pin-purple, yellow, black and 6 pin-yellow, grey, dark green, red, blue, pink) you will need to cut the existing 6 pin plug for the wiper motor and replace it with the Cadillac 8 pin pigtail from your donor Cadi.

5 of the 8 wires for the new 8 pin plug are the same color as the impala:

1) Dark Green to Dark Green
2) Gray to Gray
3) Red to Red
4) Dark Blue to Dark Blue
5) Yellow to Yellow

The remaining three wires are:

1) Pink (if you remember this was connected to the Lt Blue wire from the rain sensor inside the car) to Lt Blue on the 8 pin pigtail.
2) Purple from the new 8 pin pigtail spliced into the purple wire in the original impala 3 pin wiper motor.
3) Lt Green wire from the interior rain sensor, through the firewall to the Lt Green wire on the new Cadillac 8 pin plug.
Wrap it all up and you’re done! If you’re patient looking for the wiper motor and sensor this mod is reported to be around $100.

BIG THANKS TO RODNOK01 FROM Cadillac Owners and Enthusiasts Forum Homepage - Over 130,000 Members FOR THE ORIGINAL WRITE-UP!
 

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#2 ·
Very interesting mod and curious to see how well it works for you. I usually just wait til I see rain on the windshield and manually turn them on. Not sure if this is a mod "I" would persue but it does seem like a cool mod. Thanks for posting.
 
#3 ·
I hear ya on the, just turn on the wipers when you need it. Two of my three cars have rain sensing wipers and like most of these types of things once you get used to them it spoils ya.

When it starts to mist you turn on your wipers once and when the rain picks up you don't have to keep adjusting the wipers every few seconds/minutes.

I just added the power windows modules to my impala so all 4 windows are auto up and down, another similar feature that spoils you.
 
#4 ·
I hear ya on the, just turn on the wipers when you need it. Two of my three cars have rain sensing wipers and like most of these types of things once you get used to them it spoils ya.

When it starts to mist you turn on your wipers once and when the rain picks up you don't have to keep adjusting the wipers every few seconds/minutes.

I just added the power windows modules to my impala so all 4 windows are auto up and down, another similar feature that spoils you.
I guess you're right, I used to say the same thing about the Twilight Sentinel setup for automatically turning on your lights. I think I said this after my 1st attempt to install and later decided against it due to a missing connector in my car that the instructions had. But after trying a 2nd time and finally getting the TS installed, I gotta say.....I love it. So really glad I stuck with it.

What you mentioned about the misting type of Rain makes this something to really consider depending on how the Sensor works. What I hate is that very light rain and with the Intermittent wiper at the lowest setting, the next cycle happens, there's not enough rain on the Windshield and........"SCREEETCH" the wipers move across the glass. Maybe having this autosensing it holds off on that until there are enough rain drops on the glass to prevent this? I wonder if there is some sort of adjustability with the amount of water the sensor see's before it activates the wiper? Please share more details and pics as you do this mod....you got me thinking about it. >:)

Auto Up/Down on all windows?? Ahhhhhhh, come on now you really gotta share more details on this one. :wink2: This is a mod I would like to hear more about and see what is involved to add to the Caprice. Nice feature for the Driver window I would like to add to other three. Also, we don't have an "Auto Up" on the Driver Window anyway and that would be nice to add to the Impala/Caprice window circuit.
 
#5 ·
4DoorSS-The window module I used was the DEI 530T power window module. I had these (1 module for 2 windows) on my 2nd Caprice and they've been sitting around for about 12 years (R.I.P. Caprice #2). I believe the newer models are the DEI 535T ($54 each on amazon). Install is fairly easy and there is a pocket in the impala "b" pillar that the module fits in perfectly. You have to run 4 wires (2 14g wires and 2 18g wires) to each door if you want each switch to have the auto function. You can install both modules (if you can find room) in the driver's door but only the master driver switch will have the auto function and the other three will operate like normal.

I keep wanting to add this to my 07 Escalade. It's so frustrating GM only designed the Escalade with auto down only on only the front two windows. My 98 Lexus had auto up/down on all four doors. How the hell did Cadillac not have this option 9 years later?
 
#6 ·
I know it is silly, but when us cars guys get used to something it becomes a "Need".
I installed a Rain Tracker System in 2012. See attached wiring diagram.
'Took the connector from between the stalk switch and the wiper motor from a junker Caprice. Used this as my splice point and the just plugged it into the connector under the dash.
It works just as good as a factory system except there is a separate On switch you have to touch in addition to turning the wipers to the delay setting on the stalk.


As the old Tongue-In-Cheek BMW add said years ago, "The new rain sensing wipers control the wipers automatically, Think of how much more time you'll have with your family."
Best of Luck.
 

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#7 ·
Well that's a lot easier than trying figure out how to make the Cadi system work (off the shelf system). The only difference I think would be not needing the extra switch you mentioned. I think the Cadi system will be a little cheaper.

I hit the wrecking yard yesterday for the parts but the only Cadi they had was one year too new for what I need. I'll have to hit up the local pick-n-pull next time.
 
#8 ·
The DEI 535T looks interesting. I like the one touch power down feature of the Impala and wished it also had power up and being able to add that feature to both front windows would really be nice. I however do not like cutting factory wiring. I read the instructions and it appears you pretty much just simply install between the window motor and attached wiring so is it possible to source out the factory window motor connectors and a mating connector and do the install without cutting any of the factory wiring?
 
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