Yesterday I tried to drive my car for the first time since we got all that snow and ice. Well I started her up and put the defrosters and everything on to try and get it warm and I mistakenly turned on the wipers to the first click. Well that was a bad idea because they were stuck under all that ice and snow, so ofcourse I turned them back off. I didn't realize it, but the wipers were still on trying to make 1 swipe before they shut off. All of the sudden smoke started coming out of the steering column from behind the cluster so I quickly realized what was happening and turned the car off. After I finally managed to free the wipers they worked fine in all positions except low and high. The switch on the cruise control where the wiper functions are will simply not move to the low or high position. What happened? Is there a way to get the switch to physically move to the low/high positions without forcing it and breaking it?

 

sounds like it's time for a new switch. it does seems strange you got smoke and the fuse didn't blow.

 

that would kinda make me wonder if its actually wired through the fuse box or if somebody did a fancy direct wiring job.. fuses sure are cheaper and less time consuming.. maybe someone was tryin to scan the car for a code with a paper clip and mistook the wiper fuse for the aldl? I've heard of dumber things.

 

I bought the car from a friend of my dad's who was the original owner. I have all paperwork and documentation. The guy was by no means a car expert and knows nothing about them. I know when I bought it the car came exactly like it did from the factory. What confuses me though is why won't the switch work? I saw smoke, which I assume was the wiper motor overheating, but I could be wrong? There was a foul burning smell also. The wipers work perfectly just as before, but the switch just wont go into the low and high positions, only intermittent operation. Anyone have any idea why the switch would be effected? If all else fails, I'll just try to jam the sucker into place, lol. If it breaks I'll just have to replace it, but it doesnt look like an easy job so hopefully it somehow magically fixes itself, lol.

 

Any updates?