Rear Wiper Not Working - Motor or Fuse?

[Off_Timing]

It's one of those things on the Winnie. We have a 2000 Winnie, with a 3.8L, 103K on the odomoter.

The rear wiper used to work fine. But it's not something we use often. When we tried to use the rear wiper....nothing.

Before I remove the rear hatch cover, anyone know which fuse the rear wiper uses? I looked it up on the fuse layout in the manual, but can't locate which fuse it is.

Also, in case it's not the fuse, anyone know how I can get to the rear wiper motor (as in removing the hatch interior cover)? Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[tomj76]

It could be one, the other, both or a qualified neither.

One day my wife drove into our garage with the hatch up, which broke the gears in the motor. The motor still ran, but the broken gears prevented the wiper from moving. I could hear the motor running if I stood at the back of the car with the wiper switch turned on.

I have a '96 so the rear wiper is done differently than in your 2000 (my wiper shaft comes out in the sheet metal, not the glass. However, I had to remove the inner plastic panel from the hatch, then remove three screws that held the motor bracket to to the hatch. There is also a nut that holds the wiper assembly to the motor output shaft, located under a plastic cover.

[racedad21]

On our '95 windbag, the problem was a siezed wiper motor. Replacing it was the best option. Not sure if this helps ya...

[12Ounce]

If you have the glovebox manual (Roadside EMergencies) , you should be able to locate fuse #7 and relay #203 ...near battery box.

[Off_Timing]

Thanks Guys. I was looking for the fuse in the underdash block. No wonder I couldn't find it. I don't understand why the engineers would put the rear wiper fuse in the high power fuse/relay block. I wouldn't think that was a high amp draw motor.

I lifted the hatch and found the two screws holding the inner plastic (lower) panel in place. I also found a smaller rectangular access cap just behind the wiper motor and 3rd lamp. I always thought that was a solid piece.

I'll check it out.

Thanks.

[Andrew1941]

2001 Deathstar ... rear wiper died on me a few months back. Yah check the fuse, but probably the motor. The motors are crap and water leaks into the housing through the rubber gasket in the glass. The motors are reasonable and you can get aftermarket ones. EASY to change. Remove the wiper arm from the outside of the van (lift cap and undo nut on wiper shaft). Then lift the tail gate and there are a few bolts in the handle and a few plastic clips that the interior panel snaps into to hold it in place. I think that is all there was? Been about 6 months or so now... Anyway, the wiper motor and gears are all one unit. Undo the wire harness clip and there should be three bolts/screws to undo and the entire thing pulls out towars the inside of the van. The aftermarket one I bought had a core charge on it because as the instructions said with the new one, it is a common failure for water to get in the housing and it is a relatively easy fix for them to replace and resell. They also said they put a drain hole in the rebuilt units to prevent reoccurrence. Good luck...

[Off_Timing]

Thanks Andrew. Sound like it won't be too bad. I'm thinking it's the motor too. But I'll theck the fuse and relay first.

Thanks again.

[Off_Timing]

Well.....the rear wiper magically started working out of the blue. Apparently, my wife knocked the switched the other day and it worked. I tried it today to see for myself, and yep, it worked.

I'm sure more than a few of you will agree when I say..."I hate electrical gremlins!!!"

[Andrew1941]

Hopefully that is all, but doubt it. You may have a dirt build up in the contacts on the stick on the steering column. I tried to open mine up unsuscessfully when i was trying to diagnose the problem. Turns out it didn't matter for me because it was the motor brushes in mine that were screwed up. However, I read about the dirt problem being fairly common, so it may come back. I read about it in this formn, so look around and you should find more info on it.

[12Ounce]

Sounds very relay-ish to me. Relay contacts get dirty/burned and very "iffy". Of course, there are a hundred or more other things ...

[Off_Timing]

Hmmm. I'll take a look at the motor, relay, and fuse. I'll leave the stalk switch for last. I've seen a post before about it being complex to try and figure out how it operates.