B0220 code meaning
Front Wiper Motor Speed Circuit
What B0220 means
B0220 is absent from the openly accessible J2012 lists and from carmaker documents, so it cannot be proven publicly; the front wiper motor circuit itself has the code B0900. The speed circuit is the part that selects slow or fast wiping. Classic wiper motors have three brushes, one for low speed, one for high and a shared one. In the prior art described in Denso's US6917173B2, a relay feeds the high brush while a MOSFET switches the low brush, both commanded by a wiper control unit; that patent replaces the arrangement with a two-brush motor whose speed is set by PWM duty, 100 % meaning fast. US5216340A also shows the low and high brush layout. Bosch's brushless EC drive does without brushes. An open speed line leaves one stage dead; a short can lock the wipers at one speed.
B0220 at a glance
- Check engine lightUsually not
- Emissions testNot an emissions code
- Limp modeNot expected
- Repair difficultyMedium, DIY possible
- Typical labor0.3 to 2 hours
- Clears after repairWhen cleared with a scanner
Symptoms of B0220
- Wipers work at only one speed, slow or fast
- Wipers run at one speed and cannot be switched to the other
Common causes of B0220
- Most likelyHigh/low speed relay or its contacts failed in the fuse box or control module
- PossibleWire or plug to the low or high speed brush of the motor open or shorted
- PossibleOne speed brush worn out or burnt inside the wiper motor
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Front wiper motorBody control moduleWiper relay
What each part of B0220 means
| B | Body system: airbags, seat belts, power seats, lights and climate control. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 20 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note B0220 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about B0220
What does B0220 mean?
B0220 means "Front Wiper Motor Speed Circuit". B0220 is absent from the openly accessible J2012 lists and from carmaker documents, so it cannot be proven publicly; the front wiper motor circuit itself has the code B0900. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with B0220?
B0220 does not normally turn on the check engine light by itself. Watch for the symptoms above and have it checked soon.
Will B0220 fail an emissions test?
B0220 is not an emissions code, so on its own it usually does not fail an emissions test. Other stored codes or a lit check engine light still can.
How hard is B0220 to fix?
Difficulty: medium. A typical repair takes 0.3 to 2 hours of work. A careful DIY repair is possible with basic tools and a scanner.
Will B0220 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.