wipers stopped working - again

[Effy]

About a year ago I had an intermittent wiper issue. Thought it was a bit odd as our unit is fairly new. I never did figure the issue out but it stopped happening and worked fine for the remainder of the year. First trip this year and they won't work at all. A 4 hour trip and tried several times and they simply don't respond to the switch. The washer pump works though. I checked the wiring and everything seems to be connected fine, connection in the box is fine, ground looks solid etc. I have not tried a voltage meter - not sure exactly how I would test that. Short of taking it to the shop I am not sure what else to try. Thoughts?

[DSDP_Don]

While you're in there messing with it, these wiper arms and connections are out in the open, under the front hood, (unlike a car) and get dry and dusty. It's a good practice to lube everything up (once a year) while you're under there.

[hottubkid]

SCVJeff wrote:
Buy a tube of dialectric grease and use it on any connectors that get wet. That's what it's for.. you will find it from the factory on countless electrical and RF connectors. It's the foggy clear stuff with the viscosity of Vasolene

Normaly I would agree but my coach is a 2004 and the outside of the connector broke and fell off. So I sealed it. In this case the rtv can be pulled off

[SCVJeff]

Buy a tube of dialectric grease and use it on any connectors that get wet. That's what it's for.. you will find it from the factory on countless electrical and RF connectors. It's the foggy clear stuff with the viscosity of Vasolene

[hottubkid]

Very weard but when it rained the plug on the water container would get wet and short it out. The wipper blades would run until it dried out and then the wippers would stop. Has worked now for over two years

[Effy]

hottubkid wrote:
I had a similar problem but only when it rained. I put most electrical connections in a plastic lunch bag and tie wrapped the wires to the bag. I covered the connection on the washer tank with RTV and have not had the problem sense. Again this was only when it was raining. Good Luck

ironic huh.

[hottubkid]

I had a similar problem but only when it rained. I put most electrical connections in a plastic lunch bag and tie wrapped the wires to the bag. I covered the connection on the washer tank with RTV and have not had the problem sense. Again this was only when it was raining. Good Luck

[dougrainer]

If Ford, the control module is at the firewall next to the Gas/Brake pedal. The Motor and the Wiper arms/linkage are THOR. The switch and control module is Ford. Doug

[Effy]

traveylin wrote:
Ford has a service bulletin on how to troubleshoot. I was ready to get out the meter and really get involved. Turned out a 6 pin disconnect was loose near the motor. Cleaned up and secured with a tie wrap. I also lube the mech joints of the wipers once a year due to infrequent use

thanks, makes sense why it was intermittent before. I will disconnect everything and clean and snug it up and see if that helps.

[traveylin]

Ford has a service bulletin on how to troubleshoot. I was ready to get out the meter and really get involved. Turned out a 6 pin disconnect was loose near the motor. Cleaned up and secured with a tie wrap. I also lube the mech joints of the wipers once a year due to infrequent use

[Effy]

crasster wrote:
Put the meter on 20V DC. Go to the motor and unplug the positive wire. Then put the meter on the positive wire (the red wire from the meter) and put the negative wire either to ground (any frame metal on your unit) OR on the negative wire going to the motor. Be sure to have somebody turn on the wipers. You should see power of around 12-14Volts.

the motor has a wiring harness going into it which is why I was having issues diagnosing before. There does not appear to be one hot and ground, there are a few wires.

[crasster]

Put the meter on 20V DC. Go to the motor and unplug the positive wire. Then put the meter on the positive wire (the red wire from the meter) and put the negative wire either to ground (any frame metal on your unit) OR on the negative wire going to the motor. Be sure to have somebody turn on the wipers. You should see power of around 12-14Volts.