Dodge Windshield Wipers

[Finns]

1997 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 5.9 engine. Driveing down the road in the rain the windshield wipers quit. Pulled over, got out the manual (truck still running) to see where the fuse in fuse block might be. As looking fuse up the wipers started working again. Went to the grocery store for supper food. Shut the truck off. Came out and fired it up again and the wipers have not worked since. The local auto supply store said might be motor or some sort of board that includes the adjustment lever (in the steering column, that gives the differnt speeds). Anyone have this problem before? How to tell which part might be bad?

[MuleShack]

For a 97' it may be as simple as a rusty or loose wire under the hood too?

[Jeremy airjer W]

If you set the switch to high there should be power on the red w/yellow wire at the wiper motor. If there is power there than I would use a jumper wire to ground the case of the motor to the battery ground. If it starts working than the ground is bad. If it still doesn't work and there is power than tap the wiper motor with a hammer (key word tap). If it starts working replace the wiper motor.

[Valv]

I would check the switch also, they were notorious for failing.

[Finns]

Do you mean the turn signal/wiper adjustment switch?

Thanks for the input!

[Valv]

Yes, the combination switch, I had to replace it in 2 trucks I had. About 60 bucks at many parts stores

[Finns]

New motor solved the problem.

[Finns]

Solved the problem for two days. The other night fired up the truck, turned on the lights and on come the wipers. Turned off the lights off go the wipers. Turned on the left turn signal, on come the wipers. Turned on the right turn signal, no wipers. Friend of mine that has a radio/remote start business said maybe bad board (?) in wiper motor. Parts store guys say no as they have never had one of these motors come back. I'm at a loss!

[Jeremy airjer W]

If its acting up when you use the switch...........there's a good possibility it is the switch.

[Finns]

Thought about that but the headlight switch is on the dash not on the column.

[Jeremy airjer W]

That certainly slipped my mind. The high and low beam is in the muti function switch. So headlight power is routed through the multi function switch?

[Finns]

Off to buy a new switch (the one on the column)! What's 60 or 70 bucks!

[Finns]

Put a new switch in the column. When I say 'switch' I'm talking about the turn signal, wiper on/off and delay, high/low beam lights, hazard 4 way flasher gizmo. Still screwed up as above mentioned. Luckily autoshop took returns.

Roy Orbison coming on PBS and dinner at daughters tomorrow so maybe look again Monday.

[Finns]

The electric/radio guy put in a used/remanufactured Central Timer Module. Seems to work now. Will keep checking over the weekend before declaring it FiXeD!