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intermittant wiper malfunction

jimbo231

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Year, Model & Trim Level
2001 Ford Explorer Sport
I've read some other posts but couldn't find my exact problem so here it is. My front wipers work fine on high or regular but stop on intermittant, then kick on for a sec then off for a while. The arms just stop where ever, all the way down, half way up, fully up. Just wondering what the problem might be.
 



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I've read some other posts but couldn't find my exact problem so here it is. My front wipers work fine on high or regular but stop on intermittant, then kick on for a sec then off for a while. The arms just stop where ever, all the way down, half way up, fully up. Just wondering what the problem might be.

Does wiggling/adjusting the wiper control switch back and forth (through all the settings) do anything?
 






Not until it hits the regular setting then they turn on.
 






Not until it hits the regular setting then they turn on.

Does the sprayer work and trigger the wipers?

if that dont work my first guess is a bad multifunction switch
 












i have the same problem on mine.. already replaced the wiper relays and the wiper switch/multifunction stalk but its still doing that stopping right in the middle of the windshield thing.. the new stalk cured the buzzing sound whne it gets cold though..

i guess the next thing for me to replace would be the gem?

gem as in (i forgot what it is..) but i've seen it in a few related posts..
 






what did you do with your old multifunction switch?
 






Yes that works fine.

Hate to implicate the GEM if its just the intermittent wipers. There could be a bad connection somewhere.

Next is a service manual download from my signature for some detailed troubleshooting to check wires, switches, etc.

Looks like you need a very snappy scan tool though to check GEM computer paramters and read special trouble codes (forget Autozone). The GEM monitors things like switch position and the park sense wire from the wiper motor. Without the scan tool you can do wiring checks and eventually find the issue.

For intermittant wipers, the multifunction switch sets an electrical resistance level for the GEM, then the GEM controls the duty cycle to the wiper motor. Obviously if that wire is bad the GEM could never do its job...
 












Hate to implicate the GEM if its just the intermittent wipers. There could be a bad connection somewhere.

Next is a service manual download from my signature for some detailed troubleshooting to check wires, switches, etc.

Looks like you need a very snappy scan tool though to check GEM computer paramters and read special trouble codes (forget Autozone). The GEM monitors things like switch position and the park sense wire from the wiper motor. Without the scan tool you can do wiring checks and eventually find the issue.

For intermittant wipers, the multifunction switch sets an electrical resistance level for the GEM, then the GEM controls the duty cycle to the wiper motor. Obviously if that wire is bad the GEM could never do its job...

i'll definitely check out that link..

now, if i can only read those small fonts..
 


















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