Windshield Wiper Motor Cost!!

[goingtocarolina]

I posted last week about our rough idling problem, come to find out when we took it to the Dodge dealership that a spark plug was misfiring and it needed a fuel injection cleaning. Anyway, we're glad that's fixed but our windshield wiper's intermittant selection only works for a minute or two, then they won't do the intermittant until we turn them off and back on again.(they won't work continuously at all) The Dodge dealership said without doing a diagnostic on them (which would have cost more money) they believe it sounds like the motor (BCM, or BMC?)needs replaced, a $435 job!!
My question, is there anything else that could be causing them to not work without it being the motor, and if it is the motor are there rebuilds or used ones available for less money? We live in a state that we use the wipers quite a bit and are afraid that the whole unit might stop working, our van only has 68k on it, doesn't seem like a wiper motor should go bad so soon?!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[yogi_123rd]

The BCM (body control module) is a computer that controls the vehicles lighting, windshield wipers, horn, i.e. non engine related sensors and switches). It is located in the engine compartment next to and in back of the fuse box on the right side.

Your problem does not sound like it is a wiper motor as it works in intermittant mode. It sounds more like a bad wiper switch or the control module that reads the switch.

The BCM itself may not be bad, but just in need of being reset. Rain water dripping on the BCM's connectors can cause weird behavior that will require it to be reset.

You can test this out (if this is your problem) by simply disconnecting the battery for 15-20 minutes and reconnecting it back. This causes the BCM to reload the sensor's state and it's programming back to the factory default.

[ggratecc]

I have a 98 Voyager and have a similar wiper problem:
"windshield wiper's intermittant selection only works for a minute or two, then they won't do the intermittant until we turn them off and back on again." However, mine (ggratecc) will work fine on low or high fixed setting.

I'm want to fix it myself, but would like feedback/consensus as to
what part to replace. I have read other posts on the internet... some say to replace the multifunction switch on the steering column; others say it's the wiper motor itself (bad contacts). Others say BCM.

I have had this problem -intermittently- for over two years.
Anyone have a strong opinion of what to replace first?
thanks in advance,
ggratecc

[goingtocarolina]

[quote=ggratecc]I have a 98 Voyager and have a similar wiper problem:
"windshield wiper's intermittant selection only works for a minute or two, then they won't do the intermittant until we turn them off and back on again." However, mine (ggratecc) will work fine on low or high fixed setting.

Hi,
We still have not figured out what the problem is with our wipers, it's driving us crazy on those days when you just don't need the steady wipers. If you get any more info on this please let us know. We tried disconnecting the battery for a while to see if it would reset the wipers but that didn't work. We just can't afford the BCM if that's the problem so we've been holding off on trying to fix it.

[ggratecc]

goingtocarolina,
thanks for the reply...
what year is your Voyager/Caravan?

[goingtocarolina]

It's a '99 Grand Voyager, been a great van so far, only a few repairs so far but not bad for an almost 6 year old van.

[moose1]

I have the same problem. 2000 GC intermittent wipers only work some of the time, constant wiper settings work fine. I think I'm going to try disconnecting the battery and see if that works.

[ggratecc]

Originally Posted by moose1

I have the same problem. 2000 GC intermittent wipers only work some of the time, constant wiper settings work fine. I think I'm going to try disconnecting the battery and see if that works.

I am still having that same symptoms as before...constant wiper settings work fine.
(1) If I use the delay wiper setting, it sometimes just stops wiping entirely.
(2) Another symptom is when I turn the wipers off using the lever control, then the wiper don't stop OR they stop somewhere other than the HOME position.

Has anyone fixed this problem by replacing the wiper relays?

[professor9]

The wiper motor on my 96 Town and Country started making a grinding sound about a week ago. Checked the wipers and ran the motor with the wipers up and away and the sound is like a grinding or drive cable binding sound. Anyone have any leads or experience on this one? Thanks Prof

[RIP]

Gees. You've committed a forum sin. Though shalt not reopen threads older than two months unless you have info directly related to the original post. You don't. Watch for the lightening.

The wiper motor is in the wiper tray. That's the compartment directly in front of the windshield. You'll have to remove the wiper arms and the black air intake vent to gain access to the motor and investigate.