What to Do When the Car's Wiper Doesn't Move?
3 Answers
The solutions for a car's wiper not moving are: 1. Check the motor's connector to see if the wiring needs to be reconnected; 2. Set the wiper to the highest setting and gently push it to observe if it can move. If it can, it indicates that the wiper's sensor is rusted, and cleaning it directly will suffice; 3. Check if the wiper's fuse is intact, whether the fuse is blown, if the motor is burnt out, if the linkage is slipping, or if the combination switch has poor contact. In daily use, it's important to avoid letting the wiper scrape the glass dry. If the wiper rubber strip becomes aged and hard, or if there are sand or foreign objects on the windshield, the wiper can easily scratch the glass, causing irreparable damage.
It's really frustrating when the wipers suddenly stop working, and I've experienced it before. Don't panic just yet. Open the engine bay's fuse box (usually there's a diagram on the back of the cover), locate the fuse for the wipers, and check if the metal wire in the middle is blown. If it's black or broken, you can buy a replacement of the same specification at an auto parts store for just a few bucks and swap it in. If the fuse is fine, it's likely the motor that's the issue—try listening for a humming sound when you press the washer button. If there's no sound at all, the motor is probably burnt out. Oh, and remember to check if the base of the wiper arm is jammed by leaves or ice—last time during heavy snow, I got tricked by frozen icicles.
Veteran drivers remind you, don't rush to replace parts if the wipers stop working. First, pop the hood and give the wiper linkage a shake by hand. If it's stuck tight, it's likely the transmission mechanism is rusted. Spray some WD-40 rust remover on the linkage joints, wait 30 minutes for penetration, then try again. If they suddenly fail during rainy season, it's probably due to poor contact from rainwater soaking the motor connector. Remove the panel under the driver's seat, locate the square three-wire plug, unplug it, dry off any rust, and reconnect firmly. In winter, wipers often freeze to the windshield - forcing them can damage the gears, so always de-ice before turning them on.
