Windshield washer pump--or not?

[tbob]

Recently the windshield washer on my '95 Mark II Ram Van 2500 failed. The wipers cycled.

I pulled the plug on the washer pump under the reservoir and checked it on an ohmmeter. Oddly, when I hit the switch the needle swung left and buried itself--a negative reading? I thought when the current flowed it would swing the needle to the right. I reversed the test pins in the plug and had the same result.

I am not a wiz on auto electric, and I surmised it must be getting some kind of current.

I am supposing the pump is bad? Or could something else be going on?

[Dodgevanman]

Rather than measuring resistance, measure voltage. Or use a test light. One lead should be a ground and one power. If the test light lights, then you can be sure the pump is bad.

[tbob]

Nate,

Thanks for the reply.

I was measuring voltage, that is why I was taken aback when the needle buried itself below the 0 on the meter. I'll try the test light and see what happens.

[Dodgevanman]

Ooops..I got thrown off when you said Ohmeter..I thought you were measuring resistance. Maybe there's a dead short in the wiring somewhere.