What Causes Intermittent Wiper Operation?
2 Answers
Intermittent wiper operation is generally caused by the following reasons: 1. Check the wiper blades: If regular maintenance of wiper blades is neglected, they may become severely damaged and fail to function properly when it rains. Simply replacing the wiper blades will solve the issue. 2. Check the wiper motor: After opening the car hood, you can see the wiper motor. Touch the motor with your hand - if it feels hot, this indicates an internal short circuit, and replacing the motor will resolve the problem. 3. Check the wiper linkage: The wiper linkage has multiple connection points. If these points malfunction, the wipers won't work properly. Observe the wiper operation to determine if it's a linkage issue. 4. Check the wiper fuse: Each electrical device in a car has a fuse to protect the circuits. If the wipers don't work, check if the wiper fuse is blown. You can replace it with a spare fuse from the vehicle. 5. Check the wiper switch: Although not frequently used, car electrical components can be unstable. If no issues are found in the above checks, consider the possibility of a faulty wiper switch. You can test the switch with a multimeter or simply replace it with a new one for testing.
My old car also had that wiper acting crazy before, took me a while to figure it out. The most common issue is when the wiper motor is about to fail – it heats up during operation, thermal expansion causes poor contact, especially noticeable in cold weather. Wiring aging is another headache, particularly those wires in the engine bay that make intermittent connections when jolted. Once I found the wiper linkage rusted and stuck, the rubber blades were fine but the mechanical parts wouldn't move. Rainy days are worst with fuse contact issues – the switch area is prone to water ingress, blades intact but power supply acting up. Tried cleaning the track channel myself with little improvement, ended up replacing the whole assembly. Checking these areas before rainy season is crucial, driving visibility isn't something to joke about.
