Windshield Wipers not working correctly

This will sound crazy, but your wipers operate through the BCM (Body control module) and the multifunction switch (steering column). Powered by two micro relays under the hood in the power distribution center, then to the wiper control module, any of theses, except maybe the relays, could be the cause! A test with a Chrysler DRB III tool is needed to find out if a module, or the motor, or switch is at fault. My money is on the wiper motor park switch, inside the motor, but test first!
Operation; the front wiper module operation is controlled by the battery current inputs received by the wiper motor from the wiper on/off and wiper high/low relays. The wiper motor speed is controlled by current flow to either the low speed or the high speed set of brushes. The park switch is a single pole, single throw, momentary switch within the wiper motor that is mechanically actuated by the wiper motor transmission components. The park switch alternately closes the wiper park switch sense circuit to ground or to battery current, depending upon the position of the wipers on the glass. This feature allows the motor to complete its current wipe cycle after the wiper system has been turned off, and to park the wiper blades in the lowest portion of the wipe pattern. The automatic resetting circuit breaker protects the motor from overloads. The wiper motor crank arm, the two wiper linkage members, and the two wiper pivots mechanically convert the rotary output of the wiper motor to the back and forth wiping motion of the wiper arms and blades on the glass.

Heres a guide on testing wiring and relays

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Wiring diagrams for your wipers are attached below

We had a big snow storm recently and after cleaning ice and snow off my windshield, my wipers no longer work. There isn't even a noise, nothing. How bad is it?

Thanks!!

Dorothy

that is really a crazy coincidence, you will need to check the fuse/relay for the wipers. I believe it is a relay. because if it was the motor, you would still hear the clicking of the relay.

After finding out it was just a fuse, the LED light on my radio is blown out. The repair shop I used said it was "just a coincidence" and takes no blame for it.

do you mean the problem is now fixed? yeah shops never want to take blame for anything, even if you see it happen. they will still try to find some way to say it was not them.

I have a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The wipers on the front wind shield do not park or stop in a down or off position. When selecting off or intermitted they will stop anywhere along their route of travel. To get then to stop in the down position, the sws must be selected off at just the right time. I have tried replacing the relay and that did not work. Any suggestions before I have to take it to the dealer.

I don't have a testing procedure on this. The porblem lies in one of three likely areas. The switch, the intermittant wiper controller or the motor.

The switches on the late model chyslers were having a problem like this. Having said that I have also seen the intermitant wiper controller be the bigger source. The controllers are very common on the GMs.

The exception to this is if the windsheild has been replaced with the wrong one, the rain sensor will pick up an incorrect refraction of light...this is a long shot.

My wipers stopped working as if a fuse blew. I checked the manual but no fuse for front wipers was listed. I also checked the Power Distribution box under the hood but still can not find a fuse for the front wipers. I went to an auto zone and looked in a repair manual for my jeep and in the wiring diagram it shows a 7.5 amp fuse for the wipers in the fuse block, but it doesn't exist. I also called some jeep dealers and they say its in the fuse block. Please help!

There is a detailed listing of your fuse box.It looks like the wipers run off a breaker (#30)instead of a fuse Every electrical component in your car is fused. Here is a guide and some diagrams (below) so you can get the problem fixed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

I have checked the manual from cover to cover also a chiltons repair manual which says there is a 7.5 amp fuse for the wipers but doesn't tell where it is. I even pulled every fuse inside and under the hood in the power distribution box to check them in case of mislabeling but they are all good. Where ever it is , its not in a obvious location.

I am having the same problem with my 99 Jeep Cherokee.. There is nothing in the manual indicating which fuse is connected to the wipers, very strange. I think I will take it in to the mechanic.

It's not the fuse on mine though because the wiper fluid still works. And I can hear the motor. I think the motor is either not grounded, or is on its last leg.. Have you resolved your issue yet?

The wiper motor had quit so the mechanic replaced it
He did a quick check to look for the fuse but could not find it either. but there was power to the motor so he didnt have to look for the fuse.

wipers only work on high speed, washer works,will not return to park. i installed a new switch and still the same as before. i have read about a (intermittent wiper module). if it has one could you please tell me where it is at and if i can replace it? Thanks!

Good morning.

The logic you are talking about is part of the switch.

In most cases, the motor itself is the failure. I attached a wire diagram for you to view. check the wires to the motor when in lower positions. you know it works on high. if you have power it is the motor. if it does not have power it is either wiring between the switch and motor or the switch itself.

Roy

I have a 1998 Jeep Chrokee sport, it has about 150k miles,v6. I have a couple minor problems with it. My heat/ac only works if it is on 4( full blast) When the knob is on 1,2,or 3 I get nothing. Should I just take the knob off and replace it with another one or is there more to it? Next on the list is my driver side door. It doesn't fully close. From the outside I have to lift up a bit then close it. From the inside most of the time it isn't fully closing and I am getting a cold draft. Last but not not least my windshield wiper lever has no relay on it, it is either off, slow constant or fast constant. Is this normal or is there a way to fix it? Any solutions?

[quote:8b023b9dfa="Cmendez"]I have a 1998 Jeep Chrokee sport, it has about 150k miles,v6. I have a couple minor problems with it. My heat/ac only works if it is on 4( full blast) When the knob is on 1,2,or 3 I get nothing. Should I just take the knob off and replace it with another one or is there more to it? Next on the list is my driver side door. It doesn't fully close. From the outside I have to lift up a bit then close it. From the inside most of the time it isn't fully closing and I am getting a cold draft. Last but not not least my windshield wiper lever has no relay on it, it is either off, slow constant or fast constant. Is this normal or is there a way to fix it? Any solutions?[/quote:8b023b9dfa]

Your heater problem is your resistors. You can pick these up at your local dealer and they install very easily once you remove the glove box. The doors just suck - I have a 95 and 98 that both do this and have had them looked at several times, I cant find a way to fix it sorry. and the wiper it sounds like your switch is bad. I just bought a new one from jeepsareus.com installed and everything works fine. It installs easily as well, but a little nerve racking working around the airbag module in the steering wheel.

About 4 months ago my turn signals began to act up ..they would stop working..and then a little later they would just fix themselves. a little later the heat and windsheid wipers stopped working too. Now the strange part is, is that i could make them all work again if i figgeted with the tumbler it would feel like it would stick and then work.
Now nothing works...heat, wipers or signals...but the heat still comes through the vents when on highway but the motor itself is not blowing. another strange thing is that the heat and wipers work when i move the key to the accessories position...but not when im driving, i thought maybe if i replaced the tumbler,,ignition key than maybe it would work but im unsure.

If you have any thoughts on what this could be i would really appreciate it.

With everything working when put on accessories, I would look at the ignition switch. But first check all the wires around the fuse box and check the fuses. I would think there is a ground problem. Accept that they work with the accessories turned on. the heater, wipers and signal lights they are on separate circuits. Check the wires from the ignition switch to the fuse box. Check the fuse for the wipers. use a tester to see if it is getting current with hey on position and then turn the key to accessories and see if the test light comes on. If the light does not come on in the on position and does in the accessories position then I would look at the ignition switch.

My windshield wipers are not working. I check the fuse for corrosion. They try to work when I push the knob, so they are getting power. Could the wiring not be on all the way? Could it be the motor? My limited mechanic skills could not get me out of this one.

Two things to look at. First, turn the switch to the "low" or "high" position; not an intermittent setting. Now push on the wiper motor to see if it starts running. Alternately, check for the presence of 12 volts on the metal case of the wiper motor. Be sure your meter's negative probe or your test light's ground clip is on the battery's negative post or on the engine, not on the plate the motor is bolted to.

If you find 12 volts or the motor starts to run, add a jumper wire from the motor to the body.

Ok, thanks. I will try that when I get time and get back to you!

Caradiodoc is one of our best

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

Yessir, i am a bit busy. I will once school gets out.

Do i need to push on the actual motor? Do I need to take the protective plastic off?

Yes, push on the wiper motor. Alternatively, tug up on one of the wiper arms in your photo. That will move the linkage and motor. The most common cause of this problem is an arced ground strap on the motor, and just moving it slightly will momentarily get it going. If it does, there is a simple fix. You can almost get the motor to run temporarily by staring at it hard enough!

When the motor is easily accessible, you can also measure the voltage on the metal case of it. If there is any voltage when the wiper switch is on, that ground strap needs to be repaired.

If moving the motor doesn't work, we'll need to do some voltage measurements to solve the problem.

1985 Cherokee/Pioneer 2.5l engine, 4x4, A/C apx 230,00 miles.
I took my vehicle into the shop about a month ago to have the tilt steering wheel tightened up as it was loose. The windshield wipers worked perfectly fine and were not an issue. Typically this is about a two hour job and approximately $50.00 as I have had it done a couple times in another locale. This time it ended up having to stay over night as after saying they could handle the repair without problem, I found out they were awaiting a "special tool" to tighten the wheel. After picking my vehicle up I found the wheel did not tilt down as far as it used to, but understood that it was now correct and can live with this. However, the front windshield wipers suddenly did not work. At first thought fuse was blown and they found two blown fuses to unknown and hazards (were not blown previously I do not believe) and replaced with no affect to wipers. They asked me to come back on another day as they indicated the wiper switch had suddenly gone bad. I returned and they were unable to repair, and admitted they did not know what was wrong, but to come back on another day and they could spend more time troubleshooting. Returned again and they stated the multi function switch had suddenly gone bad and would have to be ordered. Returned the next week and they found the multi function stick was not the problem and stated this time it was indeed the switch. Returned the following week when the switch arrived and they could work on it, to find that it was not the switch after all. They now say it is the windshield wiper Control Module, a sealed black box from up under the dash with Velcro on it and will return next week for that. Questions; does this make sense? I found a little spring like device on the floor board directly beneath the wheel, they said it went to nothing, probably just a clip from up under the dash (V type spring, Black, approximately two inches long), they indicated it is not necessary to align wheel notches on old cars, they took wheel off with an impact wrench, battery not disconnected during deep column work. Any thoughts, any chance this is what they say it is, any chance it is something else, if it is what they say it is, what could have suddenly caused it to go out when working in column? Pardon all my questions, etc. over this, I hope you understand. Thanks a billion for any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, or info you can provide regarding this dilemma.

Wow! This has "The Three Stooges" written all over it. It sounds like the service folks simply do not know what is wrong. I am looking at an electrical schematic for 1984 to 1988 wiper/washer system with and without intermittent wipers. Since you mention a control module, I am going with has intermittent wipers. Okay, what does work with this system? Does the pump do its thing and pump water? Does the wiper motor actually still work? (has the shop actually put twelve volts to the motor to see it move?). Now, the wiper circuit is powered through a circuit breaker located in the fuse panel, it will stay tripped until the short/overload is corrected, and some circuit breakers have to be reset manually. It just may be the wiper module at this point, but if the circuit breaker needs to be reset (push button in).Working in an energized steering column with metal tools does not sound too swift, easy to accidentally short wires. As for the spring, I am not a fan of finding "bonus parts" lying around after a repair job. "Hey, Moe! I am a victim of circumstance! Nyuk, Nyuk..." Hope some of this helps, I am curious exactly what ends up being wrong. please post back when you find out!

Richards,
Thanks a billion for the response. Yes it has everything (intermittent wipes) and yes, suddenly nothing at all is working on the front, pump, wipers, nothing. Signals, horn, and flashers all work fine now that fuses replaced. wheel still does not tilt down as far as it used to. In the very beginning asked if the motor had been tested. They said yes, but often times not sure if they just say these things to answer me. I did actually see them testing the motor somehow with a simple voltage tester on Friday morning as they removed the cowl and all for the first time (I could tell). Not certain what they were testing for with the sniffer if they knew power was not getting to the motor. I am certain direct twelve volts has not been put to the motor, pretty well certain. I have the distinct feeling they are just trying things. Does that price of $120.00 for parts sound right for this wiper control module?
Thanks again.