Vehicle-Specific Installation Notes

Rain Tracker Model: RT-40A
Vehicle-Specific Installation Instructions
The instructions included with the product tell you how to install a Rain Tracker. This page gives special vehicle-specific information. Print this page using your browser's print function.

Application Vehicles
These instructions apply to these vehicles, which all have similar wiper systems:

MERCEDES-BENZ 170 Chassis 98 - 04

Wiring Diagrams and Drawings:

Mercedes Benz Color Scheme 9- Drawing applies to all application vehicles listed above. Print this.
Mercedes Compatibility Table- Print if needed.
RT-40A - HSS (Hot Side Switching)- Included with product, so print only if needed.
Troubleshooting procedure- Print if needed.

Wire colors used in this vehicle:

+12V - LOCATE
GROUND - CHASSIS
FAST - NO COLOR
SLOW - NO COLOR
CAM - NO COLOR

Special Rain Tracker Installation Notes for this vehicle:

WIRE CONNECTIONS
The factory documentation gives no wire colors. A multimeter can be used to check for wire
operation.

If you did the digital switch test and the wipers stopped in the middle of the windshield, the
RT-40A will NOT work with your vehicle. You will need to use the RT-50A.

DIGITAL SWITCH SYSTEM
These vehicles have a digital switch system and may need to utalize the CAM Feedback input
only available on the Rain Tracker model RT-50A. Check for this using the intructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIGITAL SWITCH TEST (AT THE WIPER MOTOR)
For some digital switch systems, the software of the body control module can cause the
wipers to occaisionally stop in the middle of the windshield. The problem is that the body
control module does not run the wipers back to the home position after the Rain Tracker initiates
a wipe. You can check that the system does NOT exhibit this by:

1. Cut the SLOW wiper motor wire where you would install the Rain Tracker at the wiper motor.

2. With the vehicle on, momentarily connect the motor side to +12V, then back
to the switch side, restoring the original SLOW connection.

3. If the wipers run back home, the Rain Tracker should have no compatibility problems. But, if
they stop in the middle of the windshield, you will need to use the CAM Feedback Input located on
the RT-50A.

Mount the Rain Tracker control module in the passenger compartment under inst. panel. Find
suitable power and ground. Extend the FAST, SLOW and CAM (if needed) connections to the Rain
Tracker through the firewall to reach the wiper motor. Some models and years may vary slightly
in wire colors. Factory drawings can be wrong, so, confirm wire colors with a multimeter.

FIND +12V
For Rain Tracker power (+12V), locate a source of power hot in accessory
or run. Power source should be min. 12-16ga. wire on a 15-25A circuit. This
can be one of the +12V sources as shown on the diagram, or some other accessory
source. The cigarette lighter is often a good +12V source.

FIND CHASSIS GROUND
Find a suitable screw or bolt on the metal chassis of the vehicle to use as the
Rain Tracker ground. Scrape away paint as needed for a good connection.
Use a multi-meter to verify that the ground connection is at most a few ohms.
The cigarette lighter can also be a good alternate for ground and/or power.-

The RT-40A does not utilize the FAST windings of the wiper motor. Please disregard any references
to FAST that appear in these instructions.

The Rain Tracker wiper control system works in parallel with the existing wiper system, so the existing manual control modes are not affected. This page generated by vehicle data file name: mercedes-benz_c9.veh