Why is the wiper still moving when turned off?
3 Answers
The reasons why the wiper is still moving after being turned off are: 1. Poor circuit contact; 2. Damaged combination switch; 3. Faulty wiring of the wiper motor. The wiper is a blade structure installed in front of the windshield, composed of a motor, reducer, four-bar linkage, wiper arm spindle, wiper blade assembly, etc. Its main function is to clear rain, snow, and dust on the windshield that obstructs the view. The power source of the wiper comes from the motor, which is the core of the entire wiper system. The quality requirements for the wiper motor are quite high, as it uses a DC permanent magnet motor. The wiper motor installed on the front windshield is generally integrated with the worm gear mechanical part.
Once while driving, my wipers kept moving even though I had turned them off, which really startled me. After checking, it might have been because the switch got stuck or there was a short circuit, causing the relay to stick. Even if the button popped back, the current was still flowing. If left unattended, it could drain the battery and affect driving safety. I suggest not ignoring it—try pressing the switch repeatedly a few times to see if it resets. If that doesn’t work, turn off the engine, remove the key, and check if the wiper fuse in the fuse box has blown. Later, I went to the repair shop, and the technician said replacing the aged switch fixed it. It’s important to avoid water getting into the control panel and keep it clean to prevent such annoying surprises.
My car had this issue yesterday - the wipers kept moving even when turned off, which really worried me. After some thought, there are probably a few reasons: first, the control module might be faulty, with the sensor mistakenly thinking it needs to keep working; second, water might have gotten into the wiring or it's corroded, causing a short circuit that triggers the wipers abnormally. I immediately pulled over, turned off the ignition to check, and found that the connector under the hood was loose. Tightening it fixed the problem. You should never delay fixing such issues, as it can accelerate motor wear and even lead to dangerous driving situations. I recommend keeping a simple toolkit in your car. If you encounter a similar situation, first turn off the power and troubleshoot. If you're not confident in fixing it yourself, be sure to visit a reputable auto repair shop to prevent the problem from worsening.
