Windshield Wiper Power Failure

[Bill1974]

I have an 09 Hybrid and a couple weeks ago I noticed when I went to turn my wipers on, nothing would happen and then I would turn them off and back on and all would be fine. Fast forward to tonight, incredibly bad rain storm, driving along fine, wipers working perfectly. I stop the car, power it off. Minutes later, I start the car, turn the wipers on, no nothing. Zero movement on any setting. I am able to run the washer fluid but that is it. I let the car sit for about 30 minutes, they worked again. Had to stop for gas on the way home. Powered off the car, on restart, no wipers again.

Thankfully, the rain stopped and I was able to drive home, without wipers working, except for the couple of times along the way I turned them on, and left them on until some motion of the wipers happened. I only got about 3 or 4 swipes and that was it.

I would only be guessing but wouldn't it seem like a wiper motor issue and not just a fuse issue given the fact that the fluid would shoot out but no wiper motion. Any feedback would be great.

I do plan on calling the dealer first thing Monday.

[ukrkoz]

isn't it interesting how sheat happens friday or saturday night, when it's all closed....
you are still under 35 000 bumper to bumper, right?
in-between, Rain-X the heck out of windshield. will get you by for the time being.

[Bill1974]

When I bought it used, I was given a 6 month/6000 miles bumper to bumper and then after that, I have a 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty. I am still covered until the bumper to bumper, thankfully.

I did plan on doing the Rain-x. No rain tomorrow so....

[WhiteSands]

I have seen what I call a resistive fuse cause simiar problems. This would be a very rare occurrence. Is caused when a fuse has a factory defect. Usually the metal is resistive on one side of the internal fuse. Vibration and cooling off may restore the fuse to where it will work for a while.

I used to own a 1994 Corolla. I needed to sell it but the FM part of the radio would kick on and off, usually off. It would work for a while then go dead. The am worked fine. It took me over a week, I decided to check the fuses but one looked suspect. This radio had 2 fuses to power it. I replaced the suspect fuse and it then worked ok.

Another I found.My brake lights blowing the fuse. This was on one my early cars I owned. I thought it might be a wiring short to ground or maybe the switch somehow was grounding out when I hit the brakes.

As a last resort after lots of testing using a ohm meter with the lights turned off. I replaced both tail light bulbs That fixed it, and no more blown fuses.

I looked carefully at the old bulbs and in one you could see a weak filament dropped down in a near U shape. Evidently when I hit the brakes that U would heat and grow then touch the grounded side of the other filament across and blow it, thus blowing the fuse.

[Bill1974]

They replaced with switch and I am up and running.