ice storm...no wipers !!help!!

[snowbrules3]

ok so this morning i went to work and when i came out and warmed it up, scrapped the windshield and got all the ice pellets from around the wipers. When i went to use the wipers to clear the windshield they stopped in the up postion and will not move. I dont hear the motor. The fuse is good. Could it be the relay or do you think its the motor or something else?

 

[ExplorerDMB]

more than likely motor - very harsh conditions for a motor to work

-Drew

 

[scucci]

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I ran the engine for an hour twice and finally the ice stuck in the likage let go and the wipers returned to life. A hair dry down the vents should fix it.

Scucci

 

[Hugenstein]

HA!

Exact same thing happened to me yesterday! Pulled out of the parking lot, turned on the wipers and *cyunk*, stuck in the up position... I made it home just barely, thankfully the heat kept the ice melting.

Gotta whip out the hair dryer when I get home.

Thanks, Ryan

 

[techieman33]

It did that to me a couple of weeks ago, hot water works well too.

 

[Hugenstein]

Holy crap. You guys are good. Had to take the car to work, wife tried the hot water just now, it took only two pots!! What would I do without this forum? First my 00M12 fix, then the rear wiper grinding tip, now this...

 

[jagarundi]

This happened to me last night. When I get home, I'll break out a pot of hot water and pour it down the vents. WHEW!!! I thought I had a bigger problem!!

 

[snowbrules3]

thanks guys. i was in the same storm as Hugenstein since i am only a few minutes from him. i got to school near him in CT. Poured water in there and wala!! Im suprised the motor didnt burn up since they were stuck up all day trying to come down

 

[jagarundi]

thanks guys. i was in the same storm as Hugenstein since i am only a few minutes from him. i got to school near him in CT. Poured water in there and wala!! Im suprised the motor didnt burn up since they were stuck up all day trying to come down

I just got home. Warmed up about 4 good sized pots of water, poured them over the vents and gave the wipers a little shake. All is well!!

 

[snowbrules3]

good to hear

 

[jtnova13]

same thing happened to me! but i thought i blew the motor since it had been sitting on a lot for a week and a half in sub freezing temp. will try the hot water when i get home!

 

[66427]

Bringing up a thread from...yes 14 years ago...because the guys who know always say "Use the search function", this is exactly what happened to me today.
Turned wipers on they stopped in the full up position.
Spray does not work either.
I have checked the fuse and it is good, Rock Auto has motors from $40 to $140, Multi Function Switches from $30 to...well only $30, and relays from $3 to $14.

Motor is under the plastic vents I am pretty sure, MFS is in the steering column, where are the relays??

If I get it in the garage tonight and after a few hours it has not "thawed out" and started working, how do I tell if it is the MFS or a bad relay?
Well...I am not opposed, for $45 combined, to put both in if the motor works, but where are the relays?

I am ok at changing parts, but not good at electrical troubleshooting. Am I missing anything else that it could be?

PLEASE help...

 

[Mbrooks420]

Relays will likely be in the power distribution under the hood.

 

[fast_dave]

^^^^ Wiper relays are in the distribution box under the hood.

Front and Rear Wiper have separate relays - look in your owners manual for placement of each relay.

 

[66427]

Thanks!!

Found them.
Luckily, a couple hours in the garage and they started working, I assume with the amount of sleet then snow enough water got in to freeze up the linkage.
Not sure if a relay can fail due to temperature extremes, but if it happens again I will change relays, motor and MFS. It looks easy enough.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Relays shouldn’t be effected by any normal temps.

 

[J_C]

A failing relay can more often exhibit symptoms of that during temperature extremes, but is still far less likely than the mechanicals, and this you can measure for, whether voltage is getting past the fuse to it, getting past it to the motor, or swap in a different relay. Check easiest thing first or more likely thing? Depends on the situation.

 

[EB4X]

A hair dry down the vents should fix it.

Off topic but thought I'd throw it in for kicks..... Was driving company beater Aerostar van years ago, when it rained over night it would not start, didn't observe any serious direct "breach" of rain past hood mating points/ seals but noticed some slight dampness near PCM... would take hair dryer to edges of PCM for a few minutes --- started right up afterwards ---everytime! Rain here isn't that consistent (So Cal) and being my company's beater didn't bother addressing properly..