Help please

[rockymntnhi]

My windshield wiper fluid isn't workin' . It was acting funny the last couple of weeks . Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't . But I would always hear the pump/motor , now nuthin' . It has plenty of fluid , the fuse is good and the back washer still works , so I'm assuming it has it's own pump/motor . Is it common for the pump/motor to go bad ? Can I replace it myself ? Anything I should check first ? THNX for any help .....

 

[Alec]

Are you sure it just isn't that the nozzles are clogged?

 

[Perry]

Take the hose off from under the hood and see if it sprays, that will tell you if the head is plugged. I'm not sure on yours, but a lot of times the motor is under the reservoir.

Hope this helps.

 

[mattadams]

do a search for windshield wiper motor, I had to replace mine in my explorer twice. You'd push the buttona nd nothing would happen. It's a very easy swap. It's located at the bottom of the windshield wiper fluid reservoir> At least it was in my 94, I'm sure its the same for your 98 though.

 

[Robert]

Don't overlook the wiper switch. Ford's are notorious for going bad. You can pop the tip off and bend the little copper fingers back down so they make contact. that will get you another year or two. My '97 Explorer, '93 Sable, '95 T-bird and '94 Ranger all had the same trouble. I never did have the motor go bad. If your motor is bad, yes it is located on the bottom of the wiper tank. I think it is the same motor that is used for the rear systems now that Ford has done away with the rear wiper fluid reservoir. That tells me it is not your pump. As Alec and Perry pointed out it could be clogged nozzles. If it doesn't spray out the hose after pulling it loose somewhere, it is probably your switch.

 

[rockymntnhi]

Thnx fellas . I can't hear it attempt to pump , thats why I think it's the motor . I'll check the switch first . That makes sense if the front and rear work off the same pump and diff. switches . Thnx again, Rand.......

 

[TPLYNCH]

I agree with Robert. It's the multifunction switch on the stalk.

 

[JDraper]

I don't know if the '98 is like the '01, but I had a similar problem, and it was a relay under the hood. My '01 has a single resivoir and pump in the front, and a relay controls where the fluid is pumped to. On my X, the rear wouldn't pump, but the front would. When I hit the button for the rear washer, I could hear the relay's click, but got no pump hum. If I hit the button on the stalk for the front, it worked fine. Ford replaced 2 relays under the hood along the right frame rail, and the problem was fixed.