Windshield Wiper Fuses keep popping - how to fix?

[nwoods]

I have a 98 Gen2. The windshield wiper fuse keeps popping. It's a blue 10A fuse. The wipers will work for a while, then the fuse shorts out and I'm driving blind. I really have no idea how to trouble shoot that. Any suggestions?

 

[KarmannMarco]

Check your wiring. Could be a frayed power wire the touches ground when you hit a bump or turn. Not much more it would be. Check to see that the book requires a 10 amp fuse. It may require a 20 or 25 and when the circuit draws more then 10 amp it blows it.

 

[nwoods]

Definately supposed to be a 10amp fuse, it's stenciled right on the fuse block cover. but frayed wire = nightmare. I really don't want to try to trace that down!

 

[SilverBullet]

Take the motor apart and make sure the internal is solid. If the plastic mount is cracked, it will let the motor ground out and blue the fuse.

I had top do this on a family members suburban

 

[billygoats]

Nathan, maybe it's as simple as a new wiper motor needed. Your old one might be so gunked up, it might have high resistance, and pop the fuse. Might be time for a junkyard one. Or, you could take yours apart and clean it. Nothing to lose

 

[off-roader]

If I had to guess, Id put my money on a tired wiper motor (maybe can be rebuilt or cleaned) or a gunked (tech term) up mechanism that's over taxing the motor.

 

[MonteroLTD]

As mentioned, an old and worn electric motor draws excessive current and will blow a fuse. I would not rule out a 12v supply wire shorting to ground, bad ground or seized wiper linkage. My advice would be not to guess.

 

[nwoods]

First off, I'm wrong on the amp draw. These are 15amp fuses that i am blowing. Secondly, I may have fixed it (I hope!). I disconnected the harness, and it was pretty junked up with corrosion and even the remains of spiderwebs. I cleaned it all out, hit with dielectric spray and put it back together. I ran the wipers at various speeds for 15 - 20 minutes while spraying it down and it seems to have solved it.

Let's hope!

 

[mapper]

Try to lube up the mechanism anywhere you can too. My 98 VW passat owner's manual suggested that once per year. Got myself in the habit of doing so in when I bought it in 2004 and I don't have the "old car slow wiper syndrome" nearly as bad on that car as I've seen on so many others. Wipers move MUCH better than my 98 Montero which has far fewer miles on it. Probably good to start by cleaning it as much as possible...lotta little gears, joints and stuff to get creaky with age...especially in dry, dusty SoCal.