What are the symptoms of a faulty wiper relay?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a faulty wiper relay are that the front window wipers only spray water but do not move. To determine if the motor is damaged: First, turn the car's ignition switch to the power-on state, then try opening the front hood and activating the wipers. If the motor is not damaged, you should be able to hear the sound of the motor turning, and the sound is quite noticeable. However, if there is no sound and a slight burning smell, it is likely that the motor is damaged. In this case, you should promptly take the car to a repair shop for inspection and repair. The reason the wipers do not work is that the vehicle's electrical system prevents circuit overload, which can cause the wiper fuse to blow. Therefore, before determining whether the motor is damaged, you should first check the fuse.
Last time I was driving in the rain, my windshield wipers suddenly started acting erratically—sometimes working, sometimes stopping completely, totally out of control. This must be a relay issue. After checking some materials, I learned that the relay is the switch controlling the wiper motor. When it fails, the wipers may stop working entirely or only function in certain speed settings while failing in others. Sometimes you can even hear clicking noises, as if it's struggling to start. The worst part is during heavy rain—visibility instantly becomes blurred, significantly increasing safety risks. You need to fix it ASAP, otherwise rainwater could seep into the electrical circuits and affect other components. For a preliminary check, you can pop the hood and locate the relay near the fuse box, then wiggle it to see if it's loose. But it's best to get it professionally inspected at a shop. Remember, always perform maintenance before the rainy season to prevent problems in advance.
