Windshield Wipers won't work

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Nov 15, 2008 | 11:49 PM
  #1  
The windshield wipers in my jeep stopped working a few days ago, when I turn them on or try to spray the windsheild nothing happens. I'm thinking it's a fuse, but I looked in the owners manuel and the diagram and list of fuse locatins was completely different, the fuse panel looked like a different one than the one in the manuel. I tried searching online for a different diagram but didn't find anything. It's a 96 Cherokee country. Any help would be appreciated, I need to get it fixed before it rains.
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Nov 16, 2008 | 01:29 AM
  #2  
Can you move your wipers by hand? I heard someone had this problem and it's something about a gear being stripped. Note, I'm not talking about play, I'm talking full motion here.

Do you hear a whining sound? Your wiper motor could be burnt out.

In my jeep, I had this problem, it was a bad connection in the column after I had the steering wheel tightened. If it is a fuse, my owner's manual says it's fuse 14, 5.5 amps. I know jeeps are pretty modular year by year (I just ripped parts out from across about 7 years of cherokees in a salvage yard.) so it should be fairly close to that one. If that's not it...and this is pretty gritty...you'll have to take out every fuse and check it, but I'd check all the 5.5a fuses first, since that's what the fuse is rated at.
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Nov 16, 2008 | 01:40 AM
  #3  
Found one for a '97 HTH. Check here CLICKY
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Nov 17, 2008 | 01:36 AM
  #4  
Well was this helpful?
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Nov 17, 2008 | 10:32 AM
  #5  
I had a 93 sport and the wipers went out...finally fixed it and it was a wiper relay box. It's attached to the plasic piece under the steering column with velcro, I also have one in my 95 but possibly could your problem.
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Nov 17, 2008 | 10:55 AM
  #6  
the wipers run off a circuit breaker under the interior fuse panel, it would stop working then reset itself about an hour later. it's supposed to reset it simultaneously. so if it ends up temporarily working again, i vote circuit breaker.
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Nov 18, 2008 | 12:19 AM
  #7  
Got them fixed, thanks guys. Turns out that all that happened was the 5.5 amp fuse for the wipers got bent down (i guess i kicked it or something) so I pulled it out, bent it back into shape and put it back in and its fine. I should probably replace the fuse though. Where would you recommend getting new fuses? would kragen or autozone have them?
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Nov 18, 2008 | 12:29 AM
  #8  
yes and yes, they'll cost like $5 at most for a set. I'd recommend keeping some in your jeep anyway, just in case.
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Nov 18, 2008 | 08:55 PM
  #9  
Quote: yes and yes, they'll cost like $5 at most for a set. I'd recommend keeping some in your jeep anyway, just in case.
Thanks. The previous owner left a set of 20 amp fuses in the glove box, so I'll be adding to that collection soon.
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Nov 19, 2008 | 04:04 PM
  #10  
Any fuse you have, I'd recommend keeping 2 spares in your care, JIC.
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Mar 15, 2012 | 06:43 PM
  #11  
I am having a kind of similar problem. My windshield wipers will work perfectly fine for a while, and then randomly just stop moving, even if in mid-stroke. If I give the left, underside of the dash a good smack, they start up again. Is this a ground thing, relay thing, motor thing?

PS: I am unsure about the forum etiquette here. Do I bring a thread with a similar problem back from the dead, or start a new one?
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Apr 9, 2012 | 02:07 PM
  #12  
I've got a similar problem but with a twist. A circuit breaker apparently broke off at the tabs and fell out from under the dash over the weekend and my wipers have stopped working as well. I checked the local parts stores and no one carries one. If I'm reading it right mine is a 4.8 amp breaker but after seeing the 5.5 amp rating above I wonder. Where can I find this particular part or do I need to make a trip to the dealer?
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Apr 3, 2013 | 07:16 AM
  #13  
Quote: I am having a kind of similar problem. My windshield wipers will work perfectly fine for a while, and then randomly just stop moving, even if in mid-stroke. If I give the left, underside of the dash a good smack, they start up again. Is this a ground thing, relay thing, motor thing?

PS: I am unsure about the forum etiquette here. Do I bring a thread with a similar problem back from the dead, or start a new one?
Same thing is happeneing to mine. Any info from anyone?
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Apr 3, 2013 | 02:40 PM
  #14  
Was just messin with my wipers and I guess I need a new breaker. It wasn't doin anything. So I closed the loop on it and the work, but it has off, low, and high. The intermentent part aint working. That would only work every now and then before they stopped completely today. Ant clues on how to get my wipers working normal would be great.
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Jan 4, 2014 | 10:57 AM
  #15  
This thread is dead, but I have a similar issue

Front wipers just stopped working as well as the front washer fluid pump. The rear equipment works as it should. Already replaced the breaker.

96 Cherokee Classic. Any ideas? Supposed to get a huge snow storm today and temps are expected to drop to -50 Monday, and I have to work.

--Update--

I found a 2 Amp fuse under my dash that was blown, replaced it with a 5 Amp and now everything works as it should. Unusual, but a happy find. Hope this can help someone else
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