Wiper motor runs, wipers don.t work

If upon turning the switch, you hear either a buzzing or a noise coming from the wiper area but no movement of the windshield wipers, then it becomes likely that there is a mechanical problem. In front wiper systems, there are two moving parts, the wiper motor and the wiper transmission. In rear wiper systems with a single wiper, there’s a single moving part, the wiper motor.

If you hear a buzz, it could be a motor straining to move a jammed wiper transmission or a locked motor gear. If you hear a grind coming from the wiper area, it could be a stripped gear in either the motor, the transmission or where the wiper arm splines to the wiper motor in the rear. Don’t let the term transmission fill you with dread; it’s simply a term for a multi-lever set of arms and hinges that turn the circular motion of the wiper motor into the side to side motion of the wiper arms. It is also possible that the spline on the post of the front wiper arms is stripped.

Generally speaking, you can reach the motor and transmission by removing the wiper arms, all the screws that hold the cowl beneath the wiper arms and the weather stripping. Once exposed, you should be able to remove the motor from the transmission and check to see if the transmission is binding or if the motor is the culprit. Simply, replace the culprit, and reassemble.

If the problem is with the rear wiper system, getting to the wiper motor can be more difficult with far more trim to remove than with a front system. You may elect to consult your mechanic for help.

How do you know motor is fine, you jumped a wire across from battery to motor? if what you say is correct then it has to be the wiper control switch, if when u jump wire across and motor turns but not wipers the the attachment from motor to wiper assembly is stripped, disassemble and find if it's shaft or plate that's stripped happens when people don't clean windows off from snow ice and just turn wipers on.

blown fuse, faulty wiper motor or faulty wiper switch. Possible you got a bad new wiper motor if you replaced everything in the order you wrote it in.

hi there
this is pretty typicalof rear wipers check fuse first to make sure it is good if that doesnt work it is probably the motor which goes out and you can pick one up at your local auto parts store hope this will help you and have a great day

The wiper motor is located in the wiper module under the front cowl cover. You can get one at pretty much any parts retailer that you choose. (AutoZone, CarQuest, Napa, O'Reilly's, Etc.) Your question also brings me to the conclusion that you don't even know for sure that you need a wiper motor. If you do not know where it is, there is no way possible that you could have properly diagnosed the reason that your wipers are not working. How do you know that the problem is not being caused by your multifunction switch or wiper relay? Replacing parts without diagnosing the system can be EXPENSIVE!!!

Please also review this article:

What Else Could Be Wrong?

might be a relay, here is a thread that will assist you, Tim:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263500

a screw is missing from the part u attatch the whper to

HI. This is a possible motor issue. To confirm, use this procedure. it will help isolate the actual issue at hand.

1.Make sure the battery has a strong charge and is in good condition. Use a voltmeter to get a reading if necessary.

2.Connect a jumper wire between ground and the wiper motor. Turn the key on but don’t start the engine. Turn the wiper switch on. If the motor works, check for a corroded or loose ground connection.

3.Turn on the car key but don’t start the engine. Turn on the wipers. Check for voltage at the wiper motor with your voltmeter. If you get a good voltage reading, turn the key off and disconnect the motor from the wiper linkage.

4.Move the wiper arms by hand. If they are stuck, you have found the problem. If the wiper arms move freely by hand, go to step 5. If voltage is not reaching the motor go to step 6.

5.Remove the wiper motor by disconnecting the plug and removing the bolts using a wrench or ratchet. Use a pair of jumper wires to connect the wiper motor directly to the battery. If the motor does not work, replace it.

6.Turn on the key but don’t start the engine. Get a voltage reading across the wiper switch. If there is voltage, use a jumper wire to bypass the switch, if the motor works now, replace the switch, otherwise go to step 7. If there is no voltage at the switch, go to step 8.

7.Check for continuity at the wire between the switch and the motor. The wire could be loose or disconnected.


8.Check the wire coming from the fuse panel to the wiper switch. It could be disconnected or loose.

1. check the fuse to the rear wiper motor
2. check for power to rear wiper motor at the motor (power wire going in to the wiper motor with rear wiper switch on)
If you have good fuses & have power going in to the rear wiper motor...
3. Pull old rear wiper motor and install a new rear wiper motor.
Thank you please drive thru......

THEN THERE IS BUT ONE EXPLANATION, THE WIPER TRANS IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR DRIVE HEAD.