Five Reasons Why Your Windshield Wipers Stopped Working
September 25th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Compared with other car parts, a windshield wiper is a relatively flimsy and fragile apparatus and is easily susceptible to malfunctioning or simply wearing out. If your windshield wipers stopped working, there is bad news and good news.
The bad news is that you no longer have a clear view of what’s in front of you, making the probability of a collision or some other mishap much more likely. The good news is that learning how to diagnose and fix your windshield wipers yourself is not that difficult, and it could save you the additional – and perhaps unnecessary – expense of replacing your car’s wipers.
One windshield wiper not working can be a hassle. But both windshield wipers not working can put you and others in harm’s way. If your windshield wipers stopped working, the culprit is very likely one of these five factors:
1. They are torn
A torn windshield wiper is the most common cause of wiper malfunction. When the rubber edges on your wiper blades are torn, the wiper cannot move smoothly across your windshield and remove moisture or debris. This, of course, impairs your visibility and makes driving unsafe. Torn wiper blades almost always require immediate replacement.
2. The wiper motor is not working.
When a windshield wiper is not working, it could mean that the electrical motor inside the wiper shorted out or malfunctioned. This means that your wipers won’t work at all. Inspect the motor – there could be a loose wire in the circuit. You can try replacing any worn parts, but the easiest thing might be just to replace your wipers.
3. The windshield wiper fuse has burned out.
If your fuse burns out, it was probably by design. If your wiper motor is being overloaded, the fuse will automatically burn out – its way of shutting down and protecting the more expensive wiper motor. The question becomes, what caused the fuse to go out? If it happened during inclement weather, snow is a possible culprit. Before you install a new wiper, inspect the motor and see if something is obstructing it. Try replacing the fuse and if that does not make a difference, have a professional look at it.
4. Inclement weather
Sometimes we over-estimate what windshield wipers are capable of. In fact, they are simply not designed to clear away big chunks of frozen ice or remove heavy snow attached to the windshield. If you try to use your wipers in this situation, the probability of damaging them is very high. A little light snow or ice, sure, but anything heavy that causes friction or a tear on the blades will cause you problems. If the snow becomes wet and sticks to the windshield, do not even try it. A good rule of thumb is to always remove snow and ice from your windows before using your wipers. If you live in an area susceptible to heavy snowfall, consider purchasing sturdier windshield wipers designed to withstand these winter elements.
5. Need to tighten your wiper pivot nuts
A pivot nut connects the wiper arms to the wiper transmission. When that nut is loose, which is not uncommon, the motor will still work and turn the pivot, but the wiper arm will remain static, or you could find that only one wiper works. If either of these scenarios happens, inspect the pivot points and ensure they are firmly connected. This issue can be resolved by simply tightening the pivot nuts and should not require replacing the wipers.
If your windshield wipers stopped working even after you tried these five remedies, this could mean the problem is more complicated and that a comprehensive inspection of your entire coolant system may be necessary. One windshield wiper not working or both windshield wipers not working could mean different things. We recommend finding the reliable auto repair shop near you for an expert opinion. If you got in an auto accident and need high quality collision repair, Fix Auto USA is open for business and ready to serve you.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Kearny Mesa, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Kearny Mesa and surrounding areas in San Diego.
