I have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. This past winter, the rear wiper stopped working properly. Sometimes, it will work, sometimes it gets stuck halfway through the arc, then days or weeks later it will randomly start moving again. The dealer said it might be the motor, or it might be something else, and that it will cost $100 to take it apart to look at motor, then another $300 to replace it if that’s the problem.
1. How many other things could cause this to happen?
2. I found the wiper motor online for $100. How complicated is this repair? It would be nice to save the $300. I am capable of doing oil changes, tune-ups, and other minor stuff. Is this out of my league?
Thanks!
most rear wipers sieze at the shaft that goes through the hatch a quick try is a lot of penetrating oil at this erea you may have to remove the arm and the plastic finish cover if it works keep it lubed you can get fancy and dissasemble the motor clean and greese the shaft this fix is more permanant
There is a switch assembly located on the drivers side of the window latching mechanism. This can fail, but is repairable with some epoxy. The problem is that the spring loaded plunger can cause the switch itself to back out of the metal barrel. You can test the switch with an ohm meter. Check to see if the plastic part with the connector is a bit loose. If so, push it back in the whole way with it removed from the latch (this gets rid of the tension on the spring) and put epoxy the whole way around the metal barrel and plastic. You will need to remove the inside lower trim from the hatch to make this repair.
I suspect there is a intermittent power connection either to or inside the motor. This isn’t a hard problem to fix. Make sure power is getting to the motor when the trouble is happening. If it is then the motor is the trouble and replacing it should be fairly easy.