It seems as though windshield wipers always stop working when you need them the most. If you want to repair your own wipers, you need to start by diagnosing the problem. It could be the wiring, a fuse, the wiper motor or a host of other problems. DIY windshield wiper repair is not that difficult if you can pinpoint exactly what is wrong with the wipers.
If your windshield wipers work but will not clear the windshield, this is the simplest windshield wiper problem to repair. Simply replace the rubber squeegees by sliding the worn rubber wiper off the windshield wiper arm and sliding on a new one. It is seldom necessary to replace the whole wiper blade arm unless it is broken.
If the windshield wipers are trying to move but cannot do anything more than move a tiny bit, unlatch the windshield wiper motor under the hood and attempt to move the windshield wipers with your hand. If they will move like normal, then the wiper motor is the problem and you need to replace it. It cannot be the electrical power or else the wipers could not move even that little bit.
To unlatch the wiper motor, get under the hood and disconnect the battery. Take the cover off the power distribution box where the motor is located in the middle of six blocks near the end of the box and unlatch the motor from the clips. Rid the box of corrosion, dirt or anything that might have caused damage to the wiper motor. Place the new motor firmly into the empty wiper motor socket and latch it back in.
If the wipers do not work after replacing the wiper motor, you could have a problem with the pivots that attach the windshield wipers to the car. Spray some oil around both of the pivots and attempt to move the wiper arms. If they still will not move, then detach take them off the car and soak them overnight in a penetrating oil.
If your windshield wipers will not move at all, there could be a problem with the fuse. Remove the fuse to see if it is blown, and if so, then replace it with the same type of fuse. If the fuse was not blown, check that the wiper switch has power. The electrical power travels through the fuse and into the switch to get the motor started. Many of the new windshield wiper switches are placed in the steering column, so you might have to take apart the steering column just to reach the switch before testing for power.
Wiper switches mounted on the dash should be easy to access. Either way, when you can access the wire connections, check that they are well connected and that when the wipers are on, there is power. If you have power, then you probably need to replace the switch. If the wipers still will not work after replacing the switch, then you might have a broken relay or a broken wire. Without a wiring diagram, these are difficult to repair. You should take the car to be serviced.
