I'm new to the Forum and I hope someone can help me (I've searched this topic but did not find any previously posted information.)
I replaced my front windshield wiper motor last summer and everything worked correctly. About 6 weeks ago my front wipers suddenly began behaving oddly. I started my car in the usual manner and suddenly the wipers activated on their own. They cycled up and down about 3 times and then just stopped. They didn't park correctly but just stopped in the middle of the windshield. When I pushed down on the wiper control arm (on the right side of the steering column) the wipers activated and continued sweeping up and down as long as the control arm was held down (holding the control arm down is supposed to activate the wipers but as soon as the control arm is released, the wipers are supposed to "park"). This has continued ever since. Now, I start my car and wait for the wipers to cycle - about 2-1/2 to 3 times; they stop randomly somewhere on the windshield; I push down on the wiper control arm and hold it until the wipers near the bottom of the windshield; I release the control arm as the wipers reach the bottom of their "sweep" and they stop at that position and stay there until I use the control arm to move them again. When I shut off the ignition and later restart the car, the entire process repeats.
I also don't have "intermittent wiper" function anymore, either. When I move the wiper control arm upwards to the 1st position, instead of working intermittently - the wipers operate continuously in "slow" speed. If I move the wiper control arm up to the 2nd position, the wipers continue to operate continuously in the "slow" speed. When I move the wiper control arm up to the 3rd position, the wipers operate in "high" speed.
I purchased a replacement wiper control arm from an online parts supplier. It had been advertised as "made in USA" but arrived with a "made in China" sticker. I connected it in place of the OEM control arm but nothing changed. The wipers still acted in the same goofy manner.
The replacement arm had arrived loose in a box (not in a sealed plastic bag like other parts I've purchased) and it had scuff marks on the plastic, suggesting that it had been used and returned to the supplier. I sent it back.
I hope someone can tell me whether the wiper control arm is supposed to control "parking" of the wipers and if it also controls the timing of the intermittent interval? Should I reorder a new wiper control arm?
OR... are the parking and intermittent controls a function of the wiper motor?
OR... are there other sensors/controls I should be checking?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you...