Auto Parts: Jetta Wipers, fuse panel, windshield wipers

Question
I have a 2000 Jetta and the wipers stopped working today. I switched them on and the went halfways up the windshield and stopped working completely. The switch did nothing and I had to push them back down manually. For a few weeks prior to this the wipers were stopping when switched on the fastest setting but would resume after a few seconds once turned down. I'm wondering if this could be a fuse problem or a problem with the actual wiper motor...any ideas?

Answer
    Windshield wipers generally don't have a fuse but, instead, have a circuit breaker.  It looks like a fuse, and fits in the fuse panel like a fuse, but can reset itself if it is overloaded.  The reason that they use them on the wipers is that windshield wipers are important from a safety perspective.  As electric motors get old and wear out, they begin to draw more and more current, eventually exceeding the safe level for the wiring in the car.  At this point, the breaker will open, stopping the wipers.  Then, when the motor cools off and the current draw goes down, the breaker will reset itself and allow the motor to continue until it heats up again.  So, you probably need to replace the circuit breaker with a new one, they can only stand so many cycles and then they fail completely.  Pushing the wipers back down off of the windshield wasn't a good idea, you probably should have left them where they were.  You may have to readjust their position when you get this thing going again.  And, although a new breaker may temporarily get you back in service, you will almost certainly have to replace the wiper motor very soon.  Rebuilt ones aren't that expensive, and the installation is actually fairly easy, considering.