2002 explorer rear wiper works some times

[newtek007]

I have a 2002 explorer E.B. 4WD. When I turn on the rear window wiper it sometimes works and sometimes it looks like it is getting hung up. If you turn it to the intermittant setting it usually will not work, however, if you switch it to the regular setting and then back it will work.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[tytanutt94]

Sometimes for me too...

Yeah, every once ina great while my rear wiper stops in mid stroke.... But, haven't had any further problems though... I just call it gremlins (expletive-ing) with me...

 

[extremexplorer]

i found that if you turn it on and then just kind of pull on it a bit it will start working. i have done this a few times and it will work for a while afterwards.

 

[newtek007]

Want them to work when driving

I have done this too, and it works. However, I would like it to work when I'm actually driving in the rain. (I'm not trying to be a smart@@@).
If I do this it will work for a little while, but when I stop and then restart the truck it will do the same thing.

 

[762mm]

Wiper motor

I have the same problem on my 99 XLT, and I figure it's a bad connection in the rear wiper motor. I know that you can pull off the rear gate trim to access it, and then you could probably clean all connectors and cover them with petroleum spark plug gelly to prevent humidity/dirt from infiltrating the connectors again, but I did not really have time to look into it so far (plus it works 98-99% of the time, so it ain't that bad).

Now it's winter up here in Canada, and the outside temperature is cold enough to freeze your fingers off after a few minutes with no mittens, so I think it'd be best wait till the spring/summer for this urgent procedure. Just a thought...

 

[newtek007]

Cold!!!!!!!!!

I know it's cold up there. I went skiing in '96 somewhere around Medicine Hat and got caught in a blizzard on top of the mountain. Had to be rescued by ski patrol and transported to some hospital in Medicine Hat. If memory serves me correct I think it was about -40 below freezing!!!
Anyway, I have thought about doing the connection cleaning thing too, but my wife is always driving it and I have to schedule an appointment to have her "Bring it in." She'll kill me if she sees this post!

 

[Mike02]

I have the same problem. Rear wiper works when it feels like it. I think the 2002 X's have a lot of electrical problems.

 

[newtek007]

Agree

So far I am going to have to agree with you. I can now get the wiper to work if you initially put it on low, let it swing, then put it on intermittent. Agrivating.

 

[762mm]

What I do to my rear wiper when it doesn't work is this:

1) put the rear wiper switch to "high" (and of course that does nothing at that point).

2) get out of the truck, go to the rear and jerk the rear wiper arm a bit manually... after a few tries it starts to work, and wipes normally. Now you should go back inside the truck to turn off/reduce the wiper speed once it works, unless you want to continue wiping your rear glass like a maniac.

I just hope I won't need a Model "T" crank to start the truck in the near future as well.

Hope that helps.

 

[newtek007]

Hhhhaaaaa

That's funny! Not the getting out part, but the Model T part!
I have come to realize that the more we rely on computers, the more we have problems. Whatever happend to the good ole' days?