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DaveG39's avatar
DaveG39
Explorer
Nov 25, 2017

windshield wiper stopping issue

Lately when shutting off the wipers instead of the wipers homing to the usual place at the center edge of each windshield they stop wherever they happen to have been when they were shut off. Any suggestions to get them to work like they used to?

13 Replies

  • Wiper motors have battery power supplied directly to the motor as well as ignition power.

    When the wiper switch is turned off, the battery power continues to supply the motor with power until the wipers arrive at their resting place. Inside the gearbox is a limit switch oriented to shut the wipers down when they reach the PARK position.

    A broken limit switch inside the wiper gearbox would cause this. So would a fried wiper pigtail battery power terminal. There is no way to defeat the auto park feature except to turn the key off while the wipers are in action. So, the clue is to check battery voltage at the connector to the wipers. It's time to grab a 12-volt test light and access a factory wiring diagram. Blind parts replacement try-it-and-see is a poor diagnostic substitute.
  • My first suspect would be the multifunction switch (the stalk on the side of the steering wheel) if your vehicle has one.

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