Wiper problem..
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 690
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From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
Wiper problem..
My 00 320 - 88K miles..
Today morning, in heavy rain (cold - 34 degrees), the front wipers suddenly stopped working....after some fiddling with the wiper stalk settings, I could only get the wiper blades to work on their peak setting.
All other settings, the wiper blades just don't swing... (the rear works fine alll the time) I have experienced the wiper blades dying intermittently on me, while driving in extreme weather (cold, snow etc.) in the past, but the wipers seem to return to normal behavior once the car get backs in normal weather for a couple of hours.
I am hoping, this time it will do the same, once this bad weather system passes by N. Cal..
Has anyone experienced this? What could be the cause? I am interested in knowing whether it could be a wiper motor problem, or just an electrical fuse/relay problem...since, ideally I would like to find a proper solution to this rather than just living with dead wipers off and on...
Today morning, in heavy rain (cold - 34 degrees), the front wipers suddenly stopped working....after some fiddling with the wiper stalk settings, I could only get the wiper blades to work on their peak setting.
All other settings, the wiper blades just don't swing... (the rear works fine alll the time) I have experienced the wiper blades dying intermittently on me, while driving in extreme weather (cold, snow etc.) in the past, but the wipers seem to return to normal behavior once the car get backs in normal weather for a couple of hours.
I am hoping, this time it will do the same, once this bad weather system passes by N. Cal..
Has anyone experienced this? What could be the cause? I am interested in knowing whether it could be a wiper motor problem, or just an electrical fuse/relay problem...since, ideally I would like to find a proper solution to this rather than just living with dead wipers off and on...
Last edited by mihir_d; Mar 4, 2006 at 01:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 690
Likes: 33
From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
I thought so...
Maybe, there is some connection between my MCS event and the wiper event ...that's why, the first thing I want to do tomorrow morning, is get back to the fuse box and check my wiper fuses/relays...
I would be sceptical about a wiring problem, since I don't seem to have a single blown fuse...it might be just that some fuses have losened up and need to to be re-tightened in place....
Will let you know, what I find out...the wiper problem too has been sort of a recent occurence (last 1-2 months)...I have been losing the wipers intermittently....and am still not able to properly identify a pattern or sequence of events that cause them to fail...they seem to be failing just randomly and coming back to life randomly too...
The fuse box might just hold the answer to this one too....thanks for your advice...
I would be sceptical about a wiring problem, since I don't seem to have a single blown fuse...it might be just that some fuses have losened up and need to to be re-tightened in place....
Will let you know, what I find out...the wiper problem too has been sort of a recent occurence (last 1-2 months)...I have been losing the wipers intermittently....and am still not able to properly identify a pattern or sequence of events that cause them to fail...they seem to be failing just randomly and coming back to life randomly too...
The fuse box might just hold the answer to this one too....thanks for your advice...
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,212
Likes: 9
From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
Originally Posted by sosh
Could be the switch or the wiper motor/controller
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 690
Likes: 33
From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
My problem disappeared on its own after a few days...
As the winter is getting to an end...and as the temperatures stopped dropping as much, my wiper problem disappeared...
But, that doesn't mean, I am not looking for a solution...this is risky business...losing wipers in the middle of heavy rain or snow is no fun....
In my case, its definitely a prolonged cold outside temperature that seems to cause it...I had experienced an occasional loss of wipers in the cold before, but this winter, they died for almost a full month before coming back to life...
Its not the stalk then for sure, its either the wiring or the wiper motor that gives up in the cold...
But, that doesn't mean, I am not looking for a solution...this is risky business...losing wipers in the middle of heavy rain or snow is no fun....
In my case, its definitely a prolonged cold outside temperature that seems to cause it...I had experienced an occasional loss of wipers in the cold before, but this winter, they died for almost a full month before coming back to life...
Its not the stalk then for sure, its either the wiring or the wiper motor that gives up in the cold...
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,212
Likes: 9
From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
Im not sure what my cause is... a few weeks ago I lost them momentarily, I got out of the car and when I touched them they magically came to life again. In both instances it wasnt particularly cold, yesterday it was maybe 55-60 and then it was 40-45.
