2001 Windstar (Deathstar) Rear Windsheild Wiper problems

Yes, the Deathstar again!

The rear wiper works fine when I use the spray & wipe, but when I put it into intermittent (eith high or low), I get about 50% stroke and then the wiper stops, waits a while and then finishes the stroke, waits a while and then return strokes about 50%, waits a while and then finishes the stroke....on and on.

Ford parts guy said the switch on the column, Ford Service (haha, what joke of a title) guy said it was the motor. Reading some of this forum, someone else suggested the relay and another suggested the GEM module (whatever/wherever that is?). Can anyone suggest a way I can narrow it down?

Thanks in advance!

Check the screw that holds the arm on the control shaft. Mine was loose.

Check the screw that holds the arm on the control shaft. Mine was loose.
That was the problem with mine as well. :banghead:

Which screw was loose? One of the two that hold the entire assembly to the steering column or one on the arm somewhere?

I had the entire assembly out of the van and took apart the whole thing, except I could not get the very end of the arm off (the part where the intermittent dial/switch is). I couldn't figure out if it would come off or if I was going to break it. I never found anything loose up to that point and I took the entire switch assembly apart (end that attaches to the steering column). Everything seemed to be functioning fine, but upon putting it all back together, it made no improvement.

I then went to the back to take out the wiper motor, which was quite easy. I got the motor and gear assembly out and took it all apart. I found the motor brushes quite worn and stuck, so I cleaned them up and got them sliding again. I also found the commutator bars on the motor rotor were full of carbon from the brushes so I cleaned them out and sanded up the comutator so it was good again. This got the wiper moving better, but it still only travels part way, stops, waits and then finishes the stroke. I did check out all the gears and watched it move with the cover off looking for any gear problems, but there were none. I checked the voltage at the motor and can see the voltage is starting and stopping just like the motor movement, so I suspect the problem is with what ever applies the voltage to the motor; it just isn't keeping the voltage applied long enough to do a complete stroke. Any ideas on what it is that applies the voltage and where to find it?

Which screw was loose? One of the two that hold the entire assembly to the steering column or one on the arm somewhere?

I had the entire assembly out of the van and took apart the whole thing, except I could not get the very end of the arm off (the part where the intermittent dial/switch is). I couldn't figure out if it would come off or if I was going to break it. I never found anything loose up to that point and I took the entire switch assembly apart (end that attaches to the steering column). Everything seemed to be functioning fine, but upon putting it all back together, it made no improvement.

I then went to the back to take out the wiper motor, which was quite easy. I got the motor and gear assembly out and took it all apart. I found the motor brushes quite worn and stuck, so I cleaned them up and got them sliding again. I also found the commutator bars on the motor rotor were full of carbon from the brushes so I cleaned them out and sanded up the comutator so it was good again. This got the wiper moving better, but it still only travels part way, stops, waits and then finishes the stroke. I did check out all the gears and watched it move with the cover off looking for any gear problems, but there were none. I checked the voltage at the motor and can see the voltage is starting and stopping just like the motor movement, so I suspect the problem is with what ever applies the voltage to the motor; it just isn't keeping the voltage applied long enough to do a complete stroke. Any ideas on what it is that applies the voltage and where to find it?


My 2000 does the exact same thing. My mechanic tried changing the computer and the wiper motor as well as the switch on the column and nothing fixed it. I changed the relay and it worked for a while and now does the same thing. I just gave up on it. If you do manage to figure it out it would be great to hear what it is.