Darn Wipers ..... Again. Now What???

[Bluerauder]

This really stinks. But is "different" this time. I am on my 3rd wiper motor and the darn wipers came on by themselves again enroute to lunch. I yanked fuse number #17 as a temporary fix; but am PO'd over Ford's inability to correct a wiper issue.

In the past instances, the problem developed after heavy rainstorms creating puddling under the wiper motor leading to the motor shorting out. Motors replaced and drain enlarged. They've been OK for about 18 months since the last fix.

This time is different. Haven't seen rain for a week so that kinda rules out the shorting problem. Same symptoms. Wipers come on by themselves even when set to the off position. Don't know whether this is tied to the LCM issue with my lights going off-then on again when in the "auto" position.

Maybe this heat is affecting the electronic switches? :dunno: But, I didn't experience any problems whatsoever while at Carlisle.

Maybe this is the same "gremlin" that was working on ctrlraven's car? Seems it may have gotten to Motorhead too.

Its downright embarrassing to be driving a great car like the Marauder and have screwed up lights and wipers. :o Thank you Elena Ford. :P

[DOOM]

Im sorry to hear that charlie. I hope its nothing serious or expensive to fix.

[Zack]

Has anyone traced the wires to the power source when this happens yet?

5 years of this and no one has bothered to figure it out?

[Breadfan]

Charlie perhaps sometime we can sit and chat about what you've replaced again. My wipers have been acting up but I've been lazy and just pulled the fuse. It's still an intermittent bug for me.

It seems the fix can vary. But there are severe cases where the basic fixes don't seem to solve it.

Big thing is, has your LCM been replaced yet?

I just need to get un-lazy I plan to pull the motor, LCM, etc. and see how it's all interconnected. Also I've heard mixed stories about the LCM being servicable, that it may have relays inside that can stick and possibly be repaired/replaced?

Again I should stop reading and get wrenching...

[Bluerauder]

Big thing is, has your LCM been replaced yet?
Nope - the LCM has not been replaced yet. The light problem seems related to the "auto light" setting. Has not reoccurred when in the manual positions. Last time I had a problem was during the big storm on Wednesday last week. I was still enroute home when the 2nd storm hit. Lights were on automatic and I turned on my wipers to the Warp 9 setting because of the heavy downpour. The headlights started to flash on and off very quickly. When I moved the switch to ON with foglights, it stopped. Could be a problem in the wiper-lights interconnect operation (i.e lights come on automatically when the wipers are activated). :dunno:

[Bigdogjim]

Has anyone traced the wires to the power source when this happens yet?

5 years of this and no one has bothered to figure it out?
I did and found a pinched wire all the way down by the lower fiirewall.

[Breadfan]

Nope - the LCM has not been replaced yet. The light problem seems related to the "auto light" setting. Has not reoccurred when in the manual positions. Last time I had a problem was during the big storm on Wednesday last week. I was still enroute home when the 2nd storm hit. Lights were on automatic and I turned on my wipers to the Warp 9 setting because of the heavy downpour. The headlights started to flash on and off very quickly. When I moved the switch to ON with foglights, it stopped. Could be a problem in the wiper-lights interconnect operation (i.e lights come on automatically when the wipers are activated). :dunno:

If I were a parts thrower I'd replace the LCM. The LCM is a common bond between wipers and lights, so problems in each could represent a faulty LCM. There are diagnostic steps that would lead to LCM in a troubleshooting effort, plus it'd be good to understand how they interconnect and if there's anything wrong with the wiring that could cause such a problem.

I still wonder if an LCM is a serviceable part in any sense of the word.

[Bluerauder]

If I were a parts thrower I'd replace the LCM. The LCM is a common bond between wipers and lights, so problems in each could represent a faulty LCM.

Sounds reasonable.

[ckadiddle]

Has the wiper motor wiring pigtail been replaced yet? Dealer replaced the pigtail with some updated aprt when they replaced the motor and no trouble since. Wipers do get plenty of use her in Orlando.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

My "wacky wiper" syndrome just started the other day after a rain storm. It has not gone away since, and I am now driving a luxury car with 32,000 miles on it, with the wiper fuse pulled. This is rediculous. I have no other electrical issues other than the wipers going on all the time when they are switched off. Should I replace the turn signal stalk first, the wiper motor pigtail, or go directly to the LCM?

[Bluerauder]

My "wacky wiper" syndrome just started the other day after a rain storm.
This sounds like the typical "Uncommanded Wiper Operation" noted in a TSB. The occurrence right after a rainstorm leads me to believe that the drain hole under the wiper motor is clogged and that the rain puddled up and shorted out the motor. Solution is replace the wiper motor (and the pigtail if contacts are corroded) and enlarge the drain hole after cleaning it out.

It is doubtful that the LCM is the culprit unless you have flashing lights along with the wacky wipers.

BTW -- I am having my LCM replaced today.

[Breadfan]

I think the order or steps is first to clean the drain in cowl, expand the drain hole, and then replace the motor assembly and pigtail. This I believe can be inspected and/or cleaned possibly even rebuilt if you are so inclined (but at risk of losing your core).

Next would be MF switch and then LCM.

There are diagnostic procedures but not sure if they do much to help diagnose which of the three issues you have.

Mine is doing it too, started a month ago. I'm like you, driving with the fuse out. I put it in if it rains.

I forgot to take it out and today was driving some coworkers to lunch. Everything was fine until we were almost back and I had to politely explain why my wipers were on and wouldn't stop.

On that note it did appear to happen after I used my turn signal, not sure if this is simply coincidence or what...

[Breadfan]

OK, my wiper problem is still going on, I haven't yet had time to delve into it. I'm looking to devote a day or so to going through the various parts.

The good news is this - I have access to another Marauder that does not have a wiper issue. I'm going to see if it's OK to swap parts between them and see if I can fix my issue and recreate it on the other car.

This will really help isolate what part is causing the issue. If I can't recreate by swapping parts that may lead me to believe the issue is in the wiring.

If I do solve my problem and move it to the other Marauder, I'll button things up and tell the other owner their wipers don't work right. :D

So anyway, Charlie maybe this will help when you get to round 5?

[merc]

OK, my wiper problem is still going on, I haven't yet had time to delve into it. I'm looking to devote a day or so to going through the various parts.

The good news is this - I have access to another Marauder that does not have a wiper issue. I'm going to see if it's OK to swap parts between them and see if I can fix my issue and recreate it on the other car.

This will really help isolate what part is causing the issue. If I can't recreate by swapping parts that may lead me to believe the issue is in the wiring.

If I do solve my problem and move it to the other Marauder, I'll button things up and tell the other owner their wipers don't work right. :D

So anyway, Charlie maybe this will help when you get to round 5?

Looking forward to see what you may find:beer:

[Breadfan]

Looking forward to see what you may find:beer:

Yup, will see how it goes.

The other car is an '04 I take it all the parts are the same...

[HWYSTR]

I'm curious here too, have a friend who's 04 is doing the same. What's the part number on the pigtail, anyone know?

[HWYSTR]

Nevermind, I got it! But still curious as to what you find Breadfan...

[mrjones]

I did and found a pinched wire all the way down by the lower fiirewall.

I had the same issue.