Front windshield wipers suddenly stop while driving
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 3
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ML 164
Front windshield wipers suddenly stop while driving
I just love my ML W164 and have owned it since 2009. But lately he's putting me in danger. I wonder what is going on, since the specialists at my dealership have no idea. Maybe you know what's happening?
In december my front wipers stopped for a first time, obviously while driving in the rain. They went to the bottom, but never came back up. I stopped the car. Waited a couple of minutes and it worked again.
Two days later, they stopped while driving in on the highway, in the rain. This was dangerous. They went to the bottom, never came back up.
This time for good. Even many hours later, still no life. I checked the fuses, made sure to open and close the front bonnet thorougly in case the car thought the bonnet was open...The spray things that spray the window always keep working. The back wiper works as well (so I don't think it's the switches on the steering wheel, but not sure).
Went to the dealership. They replaced the wiper-motor.
Problem seemed solved.
Until yesterday, 2 months later. Same thing on the highway. But this time after 5-10 minutes they fired back up. Strange thing again is they stop at the bottom position, not in the middle.
Now today I've let them run in my garage for a couple of hours already. After 2 hours, they do stop after a couple of minutes now, in the middle! but when I turn the switch at the steering wheel, they fire back up right away. But 5-10 minutes later, they stop again (in action, so not at the bottom). The wiper motor is too hot to touch for long. But this here is different than what I had while driving. Spraying the wind shield does not reactivate them, only turning the knob on the steering wheel.
I don't think it are the fuses or the relay since changing the motor was what solved it last time. Fuses seem fine, relays get hot.
And now it's a new motor. Plus again, until today they always stopped at the bottom, as if something gave the car the signal I didn't want the wipers to be on.
Do you have any idea what may be going on? The official dealership (including the head mechanic who worked there for +20 years) has no idea.
I hope someone here knows what it could be! Thanks in advance!
In december my front wipers stopped for a first time, obviously while driving in the rain. They went to the bottom, but never came back up. I stopped the car. Waited a couple of minutes and it worked again.
Two days later, they stopped while driving in on the highway, in the rain. This was dangerous. They went to the bottom, never came back up.
This time for good. Even many hours later, still no life. I checked the fuses, made sure to open and close the front bonnet thorougly in case the car thought the bonnet was open...The spray things that spray the window always keep working. The back wiper works as well (so I don't think it's the switches on the steering wheel, but not sure).
Went to the dealership. They replaced the wiper-motor.
Problem seemed solved.
Until yesterday, 2 months later. Same thing on the highway. But this time after 5-10 minutes they fired back up. Strange thing again is they stop at the bottom position, not in the middle.
Now today I've let them run in my garage for a couple of hours already. After 2 hours, they do stop after a couple of minutes now, in the middle! but when I turn the switch at the steering wheel, they fire back up right away. But 5-10 minutes later, they stop again (in action, so not at the bottom). The wiper motor is too hot to touch for long. But this here is different than what I had while driving. Spraying the wind shield does not reactivate them, only turning the knob on the steering wheel.
I don't think it are the fuses or the relay since changing the motor was what solved it last time. Fuses seem fine, relays get hot.
And now it's a new motor. Plus again, until today they always stopped at the bottom, as if something gave the car the signal I didn't want the wipers to be on.
Do you have any idea what may be going on? The official dealership (including the head mechanic who worked there for +20 years) has no idea.
I hope someone here knows what it could be! Thanks in advance!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 473
Likes: 241
From: New Hampshire
ML 63 AMG
Originally Posted by Geertv;[url=tel:8925129
8925129[/url]]I just love my ML W164 and have owned it since 2009. But lately he's putting me in danger. I wonder what is going on, since the specialists at my dealership have no idea. Maybe you know what's happening?
In december my front wipers stopped for a first time, obviously while driving in the rain. They went to the bottom, but never came back up. I stopped the car. Waited a couple of minutes and it worked again.
Two days later, they stopped while driving in on the highway, in the rain. This was dangerous. They went to the bottom, never came back up.
This time for good. Even many hours later, still no life. I checked the fuses, made sure to open and close the front bonnet thorougly in case the car thought the bonnet was open...The spray things that spray the window always keep working. The back wiper works as well (so I don't think it's the switches on the steering wheel, but not sure).
Went to the dealership. They replaced the wiper-motor.
Problem seemed solved.
Until yesterday, 2 months later. Same thing on the highway. But this time after 5-10 minutes they fired back up. Strange thing again is they stop at the bottom position, not in the middle.
Now today I've let them run in my garage for a couple of hours already. After 2 hours, they do stop after a couple of minutes now, in the middle! but when I turn the switch at the steering wheel, they fire back up right away. But 5-10 minutes later, they stop again (in action, so not at the bottom). The wiper motor is too hot to touch for long. But this here is different than what I had while driving. Spraying the wind shield does not reactivate them, only turning the knob on the steering wheel.
I don't think it are the fuses or the relay since changing the motor was what solved it last time. Fuses seem fine, relays get hot.
And now it's a new motor. Plus again, until today they always stopped at the bottom, as if something gave the car the signal I didn't want the wipers to be on.
Do you have any idea what may be going on? The official dealership (including the head mechanic who worked there for +20 years) has no idea.
I hope someone here knows what it could be! Thanks in advance!
In december my front wipers stopped for a first time, obviously while driving in the rain. They went to the bottom, but never came back up. I stopped the car. Waited a couple of minutes and it worked again.
Two days later, they stopped while driving in on the highway, in the rain. This was dangerous. They went to the bottom, never came back up.
This time for good. Even many hours later, still no life. I checked the fuses, made sure to open and close the front bonnet thorougly in case the car thought the bonnet was open...The spray things that spray the window always keep working. The back wiper works as well (so I don't think it's the switches on the steering wheel, but not sure).
Went to the dealership. They replaced the wiper-motor.
Problem seemed solved.
Until yesterday, 2 months later. Same thing on the highway. But this time after 5-10 minutes they fired back up. Strange thing again is they stop at the bottom position, not in the middle.
Now today I've let them run in my garage for a couple of hours already. After 2 hours, they do stop after a couple of minutes now, in the middle! but when I turn the switch at the steering wheel, they fire back up right away. But 5-10 minutes later, they stop again (in action, so not at the bottom). The wiper motor is too hot to touch for long. But this here is different than what I had while driving. Spraying the wind shield does not reactivate them, only turning the knob on the steering wheel.
I don't think it are the fuses or the relay since changing the motor was what solved it last time. Fuses seem fine, relays get hot.
And now it's a new motor. Plus again, until today they always stopped at the bottom, as if something gave the car the signal I didn't want the wipers to be on.
Do you have any idea what may be going on? The official dealership (including the head mechanic who worked there for +20 years) has no idea.
I hope someone here knows what it could be! Thanks in advance!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Wipers are associated with the Front SAM, which is poorly located and gets wet when it rains. That sends things like wipers into a frenzy as well as other functions.
You need to scan your car for codes. If its SAM related you'll quickly find out. Do you have an MB specific scan tool?
You need to scan your car for codes. If its SAM related you'll quickly find out. Do you have an MB specific scan tool?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
ML 164
Thanks for the ideas already.
I thought of the overheating issue indeed. Before the first motor was replaced, there was a time were even after an hour he still didn't work. So I thought it wasn't just overheating, but maybe that one just broke down fully because of it.
I've let the wipers run on dry for hours in my garage yesterday. After about two hours it does stop (wherever the wipers were). Pulling both wiper relays in the front out and putting them back in, taking the key out and putting it back in immediately fixes it then. For another 5 minutes or so. And I can keep repeating that. Not sure if that's the motor or the relays overheating then. If I don't pull the relays out, and I just wait for 5 minutes. It works again as well. But, like I said, the big difference is during this test the wipers stop wherever they were. My previous issues while driving, there the wipers went to the off position first and thén stopped working. As if some software was telling them to do that first.
About the front SAM, is that the same as the fuse box in the engine department? Is that the SAM?
I can't read the car yet since I don't have the software and cable. But I look for where I can buy this.
It was nice and dry, the fuse box, although I now just broke one of the plastic hooks that you clamp the metal on to keep it closed, while trying to close it. So I guess the entire box will need to be replaced.
I thought of the overheating issue indeed. Before the first motor was replaced, there was a time were even after an hour he still didn't work. So I thought it wasn't just overheating, but maybe that one just broke down fully because of it.
I've let the wipers run on dry for hours in my garage yesterday. After about two hours it does stop (wherever the wipers were). Pulling both wiper relays in the front out and putting them back in, taking the key out and putting it back in immediately fixes it then. For another 5 minutes or so. And I can keep repeating that. Not sure if that's the motor or the relays overheating then. If I don't pull the relays out, and I just wait for 5 minutes. It works again as well. But, like I said, the big difference is during this test the wipers stop wherever they were. My previous issues while driving, there the wipers went to the off position first and thén stopped working. As if some software was telling them to do that first.
About the front SAM, is that the same as the fuse box in the engine department? Is that the SAM?
I can't read the car yet since I don't have the software and cable. But I look for where I can buy this.
It was nice and dry, the fuse box, although I now just broke one of the plastic hooks that you clamp the metal on to keep it closed, while trying to close it. So I guess the entire box will need to be replaced.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
No. The fuse box and the Front SAM are 2 different items. If youd like to better understand faults with your car, an MB Specific scan tool is the way to go. Then your car can talk to you about what is going wrong and youre not guessing.
A reasonably good one to purchase would be something like this. Youll save the cost of it inside the first few months in diagnostic fees.
https://www.amazon.com.au/LAUNCH-Mer...61&sr=8-2&th=1
A reasonably good one to purchase would be something like this. Youll save the cost of it inside the first few months in diagnostic fees.
https://www.amazon.com.au/LAUNCH-Mer...61&sr=8-2&th=1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
ML 164
Thanks! I appreciate it. I can't buy that one straight away where I live it seems, but just ordered this one "MOTOPOWER MP69033" to get started.
And aha, I'll try to find where the front SAM is then to check if there's any moisture etc. But I'll await what the scan tool tells first. Should be delivered tomorrow.
And aha, I'll try to find where the front SAM is then to check if there's any moisture etc. But I'll await what the scan tool tells first. Should be delivered tomorrow.
