Now that summer is over, as seeing as how I've been trying to fix my wipers for a few months now as I just can't seem to track down the problem. I want go get this down before the rain starts falling!

First things first. My wipers would work, then would stop in mid-wipe at random moments. They would sometimes start working if I pulled the switch to change from brights to low beam or low to high. Then, eventually, they just stopped working all together.

I went and searched the boards to see who had a similiar problem and how they fixed it.

I went a checked the fuse. Not blown. I then bought a used wiper motor to see if that was the problem. I went a plugged that in, still not working. I then went a bought a new cruise control/wiper switch off of eBay. I plugged it in, and they still did not work. So, finally, I break down a take my car to Pep Boys to get it fixed. They can't find the problem, but suggest that I start by replacing the cruise control/wiper switch, but they can't do that for me because its a dealer ordered part. Hmmm.

So, now what? Anyone had a similar problem? Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Of course, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Well I'm sure one of the used parts you replaced would have fixed the problem if you broke down and got a new one.

Ok I need to replace the wiper switch on my truck but I'll admit I'm just to cheap to buy a $30 new part

Usually when the wipers start to flake out and go half or a quarter of the way up the motor is going, well not always the motor but the controll board can be shot too. This can come in a complete unit which is always nice since its a lifetime warrenty part. Azone has them for around $60 thats with the 3 pin connector which yours should be. Turn the wipers on and check for power at the connector if it has power at one of the terminals replace the motor assembly if you have no power then its possible a new switch is in order. Dumb question but does the washer function work? IF so that would help rule out the switch.

 

I just went out and bought a new motor, but it did not come with the control board, which I thought it would. I'll have to hook that up to the two old control units I have and see if either of them work.

Nothing on the motor works. The washer function doesn't work, but I did just buy a new switch, so I would hate to think I bought a faulty switch.

 

I tested the new wiper motor today with two different control boards. No luck.

I then did a simple light test to see if the circuit was getting power. I unhooked the switch, and did a test, and the light came on. I then hooked the switch back up and tested a wire after the switch connected to the steering column, the light came on as well. So, obviously, the switch is getting power. Its some kind of messed up connection between that and the motor. What'll I do now?

 

Ok so you have power at the switch in the car. Test the connection on the control board with your light and see if you have anything. IF you have power at the switch and at the motor run a test ground from the chassis to the motor body and see if it fires up.

 

Yeah, I went out and tried running another ground. No luck. I also just tried to touch the terminals of the plug coming from the firewall (which plugs into the actual wiper motor) and it showed it wasn't getting any power.

 

The most common problem with those involves the motor ground.

The factory mounted the motor on little rubber isolators; which obviously are a poor ground. They used a little brass strip across one of them to ground the motor. The strip loses its contact over time.

Add a ground wire from one of the screws in the motor, to the firewall.

As a test, you can try just turning the wipers on, and touching a wire from the motor case to one of the screws on the firewall, and see if that makes them work.

 

That's what I get for letting the Reply window sit open for a long time while doing other things....

 

Same problem and ground strap fixed it for me. Thank you all!