windshield wipers

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slimbuddha

slimbuddha

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Mar 17, 2007
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82
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Location
Albuquerque, NM
Ok, I searched, didn't find anything on this (but its also possible i am not quite the searcher).

It was just raining, and my wife was out. She turned on the front wipers, and they worked for a while, then just stopped (in the resting position). She messed around with the speed, still nothing. She then turned them off for a while. A few minutes later, she turned them back on, and they worked again... but only for a few minutes.

This is the second time it has happened to her. I haven't experienced it much, but then again, we live in a desert, so we don't see alot of rain.

Any ideas on what to check?
 
If you don't have any luck with a loose plug, there is an auto resetting circuit breaker in the wiper motor that could be tripping out, then cooling and allowing it to function again., so if you don't have any luck with finding it is a bad stalk switch, that is one other possibility. If you have a multimeter you can check at the motor plug to make sur e the stalk switch is OK. EDIT: You also say it was JUST raining, if you mean raining very lighly, this can make the wiper rubbers really drag on the screen and make the motor work harder and draw excessive current which may trip the circuit breaker.
 
Might try getting a little lube into the spindles where the base of the wiper arms attach to the motor. Not that I've ever had a problem on the TLC, but the Audi had this problem once. Would work for a few minutes, then jamb up a bit from friction/heat.
 
slimbuddha said:
Ok, I searched, didn't find anything on this (but its also possible i am not quite the searcher).

It was just raining, and my wife was out. She turned on the front wipers, and they worked for a while, then just stopped (in the resting position). She messed around with the speed, still nothing. She then turned them off for a while. A few minutes later, she turned them back on, and they worked again... but only for a few minutes.

This is the second time it has happened to her. I haven't experienced it much, but then again, we live in a desert, so we don't see alot of rain.

Any ideas on what to check?
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Ok, well, i just had the same thing happen to me. I've had to replace my windshield motor before(4 years ago/half the cars age ago). I took it apart tonight and messed around and it doesnt seem to want to work. If i pull the wipers up manually they "catch" about half way and the wiper goes back down. Motor works, i can hear it going but wipers dont move.

Gears look warn but they look like they should be catching. Im at a loss.





Anyone else besides me have to change the wiper motor before(and maybe a 2nd time it looks like)?
 
UPDATE:
well, took off the motor and it properly worked but the wiper linkage wasn't connected. took the plastic cowling off and reconnected it to the wiper motor. it was a tight snap so im lost as to how it came off.

I went to lexus last night to get them to look at it but they made it sound like a crazy job and wanted me to come back today. I went on the toyota technical information system this morning and got a schematic on the system and took it apart. Less then 30 min job not knowing what to do. Oh well lexus didn't get to bang me for a few hundred...their loss.
 
damn linkage popped off again. ordered a new one earlier hope to change it this weekend.

FYI it sucks to have your wipers stop working in the rain at the beginning of the week, fix em and then have them stop working in a snow storm at the end of the week.
 
1loudLX said:
damn linkage popped off again. ordered a new one earlier hope to change it this weekend.

FYI it sucks to have your wipers stop working in the rain at the beginning of the week, fix em and then have them stop working in a snow storm at the end of the week.
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:doh:
I think the idea about RainX is you have to be moving in order for it to work......:D
 
thanks captain O. Its hard to be moving when the idiots in FWD mazda proteges are stuck on a snowy hill blocking your path.
 
LOL Makes you want to use your ARB at times…..
 
1loudLX said:
thats another thing......i wish i had one of those! UGH DMX your not helping right now!
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Yes I am, I'm making you a Christmas list! :D
 
Just wanted to post an update on this...

I finally tracked this down to my washer signal going out... easy repair, but it runs over $100 for the part. After replacing it, still couldn't get it running. Ran through everything again, tightening/adjusting the front arms, verifying connections at the front motor, and replacing a fuse, everything is back up and running normal.
 
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