Erratic Wipers

Martin #6 · Dec 22, 2013

This started three days ago and is getting worse. The wipers have a mind of their own and turn on/off sporadically while driving down the road. When I first start the truck the wipers don't initially come on and the switch is in the "off" position. Once "on" I can cycle them faster with the wiper controller, but that's all the controller will do. The wipers will run for about 1 minute and then just stop midway through a complete cycle and be off for a period of time and then start over. I'm just going to pull the fuse at this point. Is there a separate wiper module that controls the intermittent function of the wipers?

Martin #6 · Dec 22, 2013

Now the wipers run continuously whenever the key is on even though the wiper switch is still in the off position.

ghohouston · Dec 22, 2013

Years ago I dealt with a 6.0 that was doing weird things with the wipers like your truck is, but I honestly dont remember what cured it. I want to say maybe the multi function switch, but its been a while, and only seen it happen once. Hopefully someone else has dealt with this

powerlifter405 · Dec 23, 2013

The turn/wiper switch on my bronco is going out I'd guess. I can turn on the wipers knob/rotating assembly and sometimes they work sometimes they don't. If I jiggle the arm things will work.

Also, when I signal right, it changes the idle w/ the blink. In my case I'd guess something in that arm/aperture is grounding out.

Yours could be the same. I believe there is a wiring plug underneath the dash/steering column for that arm. If you disable it and the wipers stop there in lies some more info on your problem.

Dena6.4 · Dec 23, 2013

Had this same problem with my old explorer and a buddy's 6.0..both were fixed by replacing the blinker arm assembly thing (or whatever the proper name is for it).

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ghohouston · Dec 23, 2013

Its called a multi function switch

mandkole · Dec 23, 2013

rain sensor? do you have auto wipers

Atsah · Dec 23, 2013

My 12 just started wiping once when I start it cold, not good when there is three inchs of ice on the windshield.. Time for my first trip to the dealer I guess..

ToMang07 · Dec 23, 2013

I had this happen recently on my 02....at first it was just erratic, then they got stuck on the slower if the 2 constant on positions, I could make them go faster, but not slower/off. I pulled the fuse to turn them on/off until I figured it out.

It was the relay on the wiper motor itself that was bad/stuck open. I took it out, smacked it with a mallet....worked for about 10 miles. Then it was stuck on again.

New wiper motor/assembly fixed the issue.

Martin #6 · Dec 23, 2013

mandkole said:
rain sensor? do you have auto wipers

I don't have auto wipers and the truck hasn't been wet in a couple of weeks.

Martin #6 · Dec 23, 2013

ToMang07 said:
I had this happen recently on my 02....at first it was just erratic, then they got stuck on the slower if the 2 constant on positions, I could make them go faster, but not slower/off. I pulled the fuse to turn them on/off until I figured it out.

It was the relay on the wiper motor itself that was bad/stuck open. I took it out, smacked it with a mallet....worked for about 10 miles. Then it was stuck on again.

New wiper motor/assembly fixed the issue.

It's narrowed down between the multi function switch or the wiper motor. Running a search comes up 50/50 for the switch or the motor. I might start with the relay in the wiper motor first before buying a new switch.
Thanks for the ideas.

ToMang07 · Dec 23, 2013

Martin #6 said:
It's narrowed down between the multi function switch or the wiper motor. Running a search comes up 50/50 for the switch or the motor. I might start with the relay in the wiper motor first before buying a new switch.
Thanks for the ideas.

With mine I ruled out the MF Switch when I removed it and the wipers kept going. I don't know how differently the ones in the newer trucks are set up, but I imagine the wiper assembly is pretty much the same.