Wipers run on their own

[LSW1]

I will be riding down the road and all of a sudden my wipers come on. The faster I go the more they do it. They also come on by themselves when I use the turn signal. The right one will not go all the way down where it belongs and I believe this might be the reason they start on their own with speed. I believe the wind catches it and makes them start. I can turn them on and off and it stops. I can also push on the end of the on/off arm on the steering wheel and stop them.

Would this be the arm on the steering wheel itself or the motor? They work fine when I need to use them - no problems at all there. This makes me think it is the on/off control on the steering wheel instead of the motor but just not sure.

Now my other question would be if it is the on/off control arm on the steering wheel, is this something that I can fix myself? I don't have a lot of money to spend with a mechanic and am very handy with following directions and such if I have them. So to replace it I would need instructions on how to do it and not sure where to find that either.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks !!
LSW

 

[team]

i would take off the multifunction switch, take it apart and clean all the copper contacts then put some dielectric grease back on the contacts and this should probably fix your problem. Once you look at the contacts you will see what the problem is, they will all be covered with green oxidation. Plus you don't have to spend any major money to try this.

 

[LSW1]

Thank you !!! I will try this method this weekend. I found a video on how to remove it so I am all set to do this now.

Thank you so much !!!!

 

[LSW1]

How do I clean the contacts? Just wipe them off or is there something I need to get to clean them with?

Just thought about this.....

 

[team]

i used a little dremel tool wire brush on them, but you can use a piece of sandpaper.

 

[LSW1]

Thank you again !!! This is a great forum !!! I have to say I never expected an answer much less one within an hour of posting so thank you so much !!!

 

[rollinstone]

I will be riding down the road and all of a sudden my wipers come on. The faster I go the more they do it. They also come on by themselves when I use the turn signal. The right one will not go all the way down where it belongs and I believe this might be the reason they start on their own with speed. I believe the wind catches it and makes them start. I can turn them on and off and it stops. I can also push on the end of the on/off arm on the steering wheel and stop them.
LSW

Auto wipers! You're lucky! I have to activate a switch to run my wipers. (sorry, couldn't resist).

 

[jremington59]

My wipers did that once and I tried cleaning them. It worked temporarily but they became erratic and sometimes wouldn't work. After I changed the multifunction switch everything was good...

 

[Electrohacker]

the problem is actually that the copper contact in the handle bent

I had to rework my wiper control when I reworked my MFS and I found that there was this long prong that had to be bent to keep the window cleaner from going off (which also activates the wipers)

 

[LSW1]

Thanks all and Thanks Rollinstone for the laugh. You wouldn't think it was so funny if it scared the crap out of you every time they came on ... LOL

I went to AutoZone yesterday and got some dielectric grease. I walked in and looked around and finally ask for help. They showed me this great big tub of the stuff and I must have had a weird look on my face because he asked me how much I needed. I said about the size of a quarter...maybe. He gave me this little package about the size of a sugar package at a restaurant and just laughed.

So if this weather will ever warm up a little I will be out in the yard working on it. I will check all the connectors too to make sure none are bent.

Thanks again !!!!

By the way, Electrohacker, I like the saying you have at the bottom of your posts. How true !!! How true !!!!

 

[Electrohacker]

I'll see about taking my wiper arm apart tomorrow and getting you some pictures, one connector HAS to be bent, I found this out by taking the bend out and have it freak out...

it's hard to explain without documentation

 

[fixxxer]

Sometimes it's easier/cheaper to go pull one at a local junk yard but a new one shouldn't set you back too much. There are several vendors here on the site that will give a big discount just because you are a member here.

 

[LSW1]

Documentation would be great but only if you have time for it. I can do anything with instructions and pictures.

I found a switch on a site for $49.99 for it. But I am hoping I won't need it. But even $49.99 is better than over $300 which is what a mechanic was going to charge me to fix it or the Ford place wanted to keep it for 3 weeks just for that. I can't be without my car. So if needed, I will take the names of some of those vendors.

I will await more info before I mess with it so I know what to look for.

Thanks !!!!

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

The same thing happened with mine last year, and I just
replaced the multifunction switch. It was a very easy job.
Autozone had it for under 50 bucks.

The wife thought the Explorer was haunted; the wipers would
activate with no warning, at any time, and it was very unnerving.

I've also seen posts where the multi-switch would start
smoking.....not a good feeling.....

 

[Electrohacker]

here's how to replace the switch: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137784

here's how to rebuild the switch: http://sites.google.com/site/mfs01explorer/

but notice it doesnt detail the wiper controls, I'll get those in a bit (I'm working on installing some parts today)

 

[LSW1]

ok, took the switch off today. Didn't see much corrosion there. Took it apart like the Google picture above showed. Totally worse than the picture above. I cleaned everything and put dielectric grease on it all, put it back together, put it back in the steering wheel and it all still works. I was afraid it wouldn't work at all after all that but it does.

Right now the only difference I can see is that the passenger wiper goes all the way down now whereas before it stayed about 5 inches above where it should be.

I turned the blinkers on and off because that is one way they used to come on by theirselves and they didn't come on. The only other test would be driving and using the blinkers - the other way they come on.

So I won't know if it worked completely until I take it somewhere which won't be today, but tomorrow. And of course it might work for a bit and then go back so now I just wait and see.

If this doesn't work completely or it comes back then next step will be replacing the whole switch which should be a piece of cake now.

So we will see....

And if you haven't figured it out already, you have taught a woman how to do something else with her car. So now not only can I change my oil, grease it all, change a tire, replace the spark plugs and all sorts of other things to do with my car but I can now replace the switch for my wipers and such.

There is not much my father didn't teach me to handle with my car growing up. He also made sure I could do plumbing and electrical as well.

So thanks again....I will let you know if it works. Couldn't have done it without all of you guys helping me out !!!

Linda

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Congratulations!

Nice going Linda.
Your dad taught you well.

 

[LSW1]

Well, two days and a lot of doing what would have started them on their own last week including a very fast drive down I-285 around Atlanta !! Woo-Hoo!!! Love that speed...just lucky I didn't get caught.

Still fixed...no 'ghost' wipers...yet !!! Fingers crossed this worked !!!

Thanks again guys !!!!

 

[LSW1]

Ok it has been a couple weeks now and NO GHOST WIPERS....You guys are the best. I hope it lasts but for now all is well. I also fixed my dad's old ranger. The steering column was locking up when you turned it. It turned out to be that the screws holding the column cover was very loose so it was catching on the dash board when I turned it.

So you see all of you wonderful guys taught me one thing and that saved me problems and money on something else.

I love this forum !!!!

Thanks so much again !!! If I have any more problems I will definitely be back.

Thanks
Linda