Wiper fuse keeps blowing

[groundpounder]

Hello, I have finally had my first problem with my truck that I can't fix. I was useing my wipers and when I shut the truck off then started it up again the wipers wouldn't work. I checked the fuse and it was blown. Put a new one in and it blew as soon as I stuck it in. Tried several more with the same results. Where should I begin?? I refuse to go to the dealer. Also when I removed my fuse cover, the bracket that the fuse block is mounted to has surface rust on it. I don't have any water leaks and all other equipment in my truck works perfect. HELP!!!!!

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99 Dodge 4x4 Quad Diesel NV241HD auto. K&N, 4" JRE, 5" chrome tip, matched 275 Bosch injectors, 2. 5" Skyjacker leveling kit, Silencer ring MIA. (more to come)

 

[illflem]

Wonder if the wipers were frozen to the windshield and trying to start them damaged the motor before the before the fuse blew,which is also saying that the fuse was too large.

 

[groundpounder]

Factory fuse. Even when wipers are in the off position, fuse still blows. If motor was bad, would that cause a dead short?

 

[illflem]

It could,but if you are blowing the fuse with the switch turned off the problem has to be before the switch,unless the switch is bad,which isn't likely. I don't have the wiring diagram for a '99 but it seems like the wiper circuit wire is grounding out some where between the fuse box and the steering wheel. Take off the knee bolster and inspect the wiring to the steering wheel from the fuse for damage,if you can't find any,have someone insert a new fuse while you are looking in that area,you may be able to see a spark before the fuse blows. If you still don't find a problem try unpluging the wiper motor and see if the fuse still blows,if it doesn't motor is the problem. If it does blow the problem has to be with the switch, wiring or wiper control module. Finding electrical problems is just a matter of isolating the componets till you find the bad part. Let us know what you find.


[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 02-23-2001). ]

 

[Bigramguy]

Here's a very easy way to find a short,without burning up a load of fuses. Use an old headlamp (sealed beam),and make two wire with female spades on one end and a cut down (very narrow) male spade on the other. Put the female onto the sealed beam,and put the male ends where the fuse plugs in,one on each side,just make sure they don't touch. Turn IGN on,and if you have a short the headlamp will be REALLY bright. Now start wiggling wires or disconnecting things,until the lamp goes out,or get dim. The more of a short or ground you have the brighter the lamp gets. On a normal circuit the headlamp will just barely light.



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1997 2500 CC 4X4,Auto

 

[rickhans]

The wiper switch can be turned off but power will still be supplied to the wiper motor when the ignition switch is turned on if at the time the ignition was turned off the wiper motor had not completed its cycle.

I have not had a Dodge wiper assembly open but have fixed several over the years mostly on GM. Until the rotation is completed the secondary switch (may not be proper technical term) remains closed supplying voltage to the motor. If this is the case with yours, if the motor fried due to frozen blades, it has not completed its cycle and may be trying to.

You should be able to check that with a volt meter. If so, you may be able to take the cover off and release the blades and manually turn the motor with a wrench to complete the cycle and shut it off.

Again, I am going on GM experience but would expect the electronic logic to be similar.