Wipers stopped working, replaced motor, still not working?

[plethaus]

Over the past couple of months the wiper motor on my car was clearly about to give up the ghost. It was very slow on everything except high, and made quite a racket (lots whirring). Last weekend I turned them on, they did one wipe and then it just stopped. Turning switch on/off doesn't do anything, no noise from the motor, etc.

I replaced the motor with a reman one from Autozone. It still isn't working. I checked the fuse box in the interior, the #2 spot for the wiper is a circuit breaker, not sure if that could be the problem?

Anyone have any ideas? We may be getting snow tomorrow, I'm dead in the water if my wipers don't work...

 

[randy'sho]

multi-disfunctional switch???

 

[plethaus]

multi-disfunctional switch???

What???

 

[randy'sho]

your switch that controls the wipers...it's known for gumming up or just pooping out! try to clean it first!

 

[hawkeye18]

lulz @ multi-disfunctional switch.

 

[plethaus]

I assume you mean the turn signal stalk? How does one go about cleaning it?

 

[93rev2sev]

Dishwasher.


But really...Could be the switch.
Must!
Take!
Apart!

 

[plethaus]

I don't even know where the switch is. Is it in the steering column or in the signal stalk itself? Either way, how do I get to the switch to clean or replace it?

edit: Nevermind, after some extensive searching I found the basic steps to replace it. I'll try that and see how it goes. Otherwise I'm placing my car for sale for $250 in the classifieds.. lol

 

[93rev2sev]

It won't be hard...just make sure you have a set of torx bits.

 

[hawkeye18]

and a long, skinny #2 phillips screwdriver.

Taking the unit apart itself can be a little bit of a pain in the ass, but the basic process involves yanking the cap off the stalk, and you can also take apart the main body, I think it's 6 T-15 screws. Getting it back together can be... exciting. Don't take it apart if you don't feel confident in putting things with springs back together.

 

[plethaus]

Well on the way to work this morning I suddenly heard a bunch of electrical arcing for 10 seconds or then it stopped and I could smell burning. Is it the MFS that burned up probably? It seemed like it was coming from the fuse panel area but not 100% sure. I won't be able to look at it until this weekend probably.

 

[93rev2sev]

I would imagine the fuse would blow as soon as the MFS shorted out...usually they just overheat...you might have bigger issues than the MFS...

I'm sure if you take it apart, it will look pretty fried...I'd just get a spare and see if the symptoms change...It's really easy to get one from a junk yard.