Common Reasons Why Windshield Wipers Don’t Work

Why Windshield Wipers Don’t Work: Common Issues and Solutions

Windshield wipers are essential for maintaining visibility and safety during inclement weather. When they fail, it can be both inconvenient and dangerous. If your windshield wipers don’t work, the problem can stem from several common issues. Understanding these potential causes and how to address them can help you get back on the road safely.

The wipers don’t work due to a blown fuse

Start your diagnostic by checking the condition of the wiper motor connector to see if it’s making good contact and is free of corrosion. If it’s good, check the fuse.

Symptom: Wipers don’t move at all.
Solution: Locate the fuse box, usually found under the dashboard or in the engine compartment. Check the wiper fuse and replace it if it’s blown. Consult your owner’s manual for the exact location and specifications of the fuse.

Perform a visual examination of the fuse. A blown fuse will have a missing or melted portion of the fuse element (see image below).

Test all the fuse with a multimeter— If you don’t know which fuse powers your windshield wipers and you have access to a multimeter, test the fuses using this method. Set the meter on DC volts. Connect the black test lead to a good ground. With the key in the run position, touch the red lead to both sides of each fuse. If the fuse is good, you’ll see battery voltage on both sides of the fuse. A bad or blown fuse will only show voltage on one side of the fuse.

You have a Faulty Wiper Motor

You’ve checked the fuse, and you’ve checked for power and ground inside the wiper motor connector when you turn on the wipers, but the windshield wiper motor doesn’t move when you turn it on. That’s the sign of a burned-out wiper motor. Replace the motor

The windshield wiper don’t work but you hear the motor running — Broken Wiper Linkage

The wiper motor connects to a linkage that moves the wiper arms. That linkage has several ball-and-socket connections that can brake. If you hear the motor running, but the wipers aren’t moving, you have a broken linkage. Replace the linkage assembly.

Electrical Issues

In older vehicles, the wiper switch connects power to the wiper motor. If you own an older vehicle, use a multimeter to check for power coming into the wiper switch and then check for power in the wiring harness to the motor.

However, in late-model vehicles, the wiper switch is just an input request to the body control module (BCM). If your wipers don’t work, use a scan tool with live data to see if the BCM is seeing the wiper request from the switch. If not, test the switch and wiring harness between the BCM and the switch. If that’s good, the problem is the BCM. If the BCM sees the request, check the wiring from the BCM to the wiper motor.

Locate the windshield wiper fuse

The wiper fuse is usually located in the fuse box inside the passenger cabin. However, it is sometimes located in the underhood fuse box. Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact location. Or, look here to see if I’ve posted a list of fuse locations for your vehicle.

Remove the electrical connector from the wiper motor and check for corrosion. Clean any corrosion and try again. If the wipers still don’t work, check for battery voltage and good ground right at the connection using a multimeter. You may need a wiring diagram to determine which wires supply power and ground.

If you detect power and ground at the wiper motor connector but the wiper motor shows no signs of life when switched on, chances are the motor has burned out and must be replaced.

What causes a wiper motor to fail?

Wiper blades are frozen to the windshield or hitting an obstruction

When the wipers stall due to freezing or hitting an obstruction (like a bicycle on your bicycle rack), the motor windings overheat and break.

Binding wiper linkage

There are multiple pivot points in wiper linkage. As those pivot points wear out, they can create binding that increases stress on the motor, causing it to overheat and fail.

If the skipping affects both wiper arms, chances are the linkage is worn. In some cases you can buy replacement pivot points (try dorman.com), but often it’s best to replace the entire linkage assembly.

©, 2020 Rick Muscoplat