Variable speed wiper issue

[JHylton]

Just recently my '06 BHE, 172K miles, the variable speed windshield wiper does strange things on different settings. At second setting from full on, it will sometimes wipe 3 or 4 passes (like it is fully turned on), then it will go back to its timed interval wiper pass. It does this sporadically, but only on the more frequent setting. The lowest variable setting works fine. Any ideas ? Switch? Wiper motor? Is there a relay or timer somewhere in the wiper control circuit? Thanks all.

Oh one other thing while we are discussing wipers. Does anyone know of a wiper blade that does NOT make that awful dragging sound across the glass when it's not sufficiently wet? Both my '91.5 and this '06 make the worst noise when there is very little water on the glass. Both of these RAMS are the only vehicles I own or have owned that have these noisy wipers....Grrrr !!!

 

[slowmover]

Use 0000 (4-aught) steel wool & Dawn to go over windshield. Everclear to finish.

Or get some new glass. 100k is long enough.

Can’t help on control issue.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

I use PIAA blades on my home fleet, Clean windshields are the secret to blade performance.

I'm not as read up on interior and electronics so I'll be following; but I would look at the multifunction switch on the left hand side of the steering column. They're cheap enough, most likely easier to swap than the wiper motor not that they're very different in price in my search.

Its an aging Chrysler Product, just pray and splash some holy water over the hood that you don't have to chase down wires through a loom.

This is just a single account so don't put your chips on it as I've got other issues electrical being a minor one at the moment (over head console, gauge cluster, HVAC) but I've got 237K on my 03 OEM motor and switch, still functioning. Truck was registered last in Alaska before I got it in North Carolina so they were used.

 

[Yo Hoot]

My 04 variable speed wiper switch went through a stage like that but it mostly is back to normal. Truck is 17 years old with 191k. Bought it new.

 

[JHylton]

Use 0000 (4-aught) steel wool & Dawn to go over windshield. Everclear to finish.

Or get some new glass. 100k is long enough.

Can’t help on control issue.

Actually, there is a brand new (6 month old) windshield on this truck. The factory windshield developed a 15" long crack after a severe ice storm last February.

 

[Ozymandias]

It's all about age, every wiper older then a year is ready to start rattling over the windshield.
Sunburn...
At home i change the wipers twice a year because of it heavy use.

 

[DBCooper]

Most delayed wiper issues are either in the switch itself or in the wiper motor under the cowl. Both are easy to swap out. I had issues with funky intermittent settings being not so intermittent. I swapped the switch on the column, no change, swapped the wiper motor out with no change.

At about the same time my AC started acting up. While diagnosing that, I found that if I wiggled the AC relay in the PDC (fuse box) my AC would work. The circuitry in the PDC is known to corrode. While there are some that have taken it apart and resoldered some of the "permanent" relays, I felt replacement was the way to go.

A new PDC fixed both the AC issues and my funky wiper issues. Both have been fine for 4-5 years now.

 

[Robert5]

Most wiper scraping can be corrected by using a small crescent wrench to change the angle of the
wiper arm.

 

[Superdawg]

Years ago there was a write up on taking apart the multi-function switch and cleaning the electrical contacts. I did it years ago and it has worked since. Or, the alternative is to purchase a new multi-function switch. You may be able to find the instructions on an internet search.
good luck.

 

[Ozymandias]

Years ago there was a write up on taking apart the multi-function switch and cleaning the electrical contacts. I did it years ago and it has worked since. Or, the alternative is to purchase a new multi-function switch. You may be able to find the instructions on an internet search.
good luck.

Buy a new MFS, it's so cheap, not worth the hassle to play around with that plastic part.
That's what I did.

 

[Ozymandias]

Most wiper scraping can be corrected by using a small crescent wrench to change the angle of the
wiper arm.

If the wiper blade is worn out and stiff it may help. A good blade doesn't need that help.

 

[EDankievitch]

I had the wiper motor do what you described then if failed on one really heavy rainy day. I replaced it with an aftermarket one and was very loud and would just keep cycling regardless what setting it was on except for off. Ripped it out and installed a Mopar unit all troubles went away. That was on my 05.
My 2013 started turning on the wipers with out turning the switch on. It would even wipe when the truck was parked an no one in it engine off. It would double and triple wipe. That ended up being the multi functional switch.

 

[075.9Cummins]

I had the same issues with my multifunction switch that resolved after cleaning the contacts. It was an easy fix.

I found a detailed instruction with pics at How To: Multifunction Switch Remove/Clean/Install - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums. The first post had some problems with the pics so the entire write up with pics can be found by either following the updated link in the first post or scrolling down to post #57.