Windshield wipers

My windshield wipers do not work when the switch is turned on. Sometimes I leave the switch on and then it works whenever it want to. When I press the windshield wiper washer, the washer works and the wiper does one cycle and then it turns off. Before I had this problem, the wipers would come on uncommanded and then turns off bythemselves. I suspect a defective wiper switch. It is just unsafe that the wipers will not work at all when you need it.

I have the exact same problem as you. My "Multi Function Switch" (wiper/indicator stalk) was replaced just over a year ago when the indicators failed and it fixed the ghost wiper problem too. But now I have this new improved problem. I stripped down the multi-function switch and found it operating perfectly mechanically & electrically. (I don't recommend you try this unless you are really good at working out how springs and levers go back together).

From what I have read it seems that the wiper motor may be at fault. Also it may be as simple as checking a small copper band for rust. It is used to ground the motor which is mounted on non-conductive rubber bushes and can loose conductivity when it gets corroded. Hope this helps, I'm off to check my wiper motor now. :)