'99 Explorer Sport Rear Wiper keeps failing

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- The Fog
  
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posted
17 years ago

Mon, May 1, 2006 1:23 AM

Every so often (6-8 months) the rear wiper on my 99 Explorer stops working. I can hear the relay going in the back and I can also what sounds like the motor engaging. While it was under warranty I had no problem asking the dealership to fix it. Now that it's not, I'm going to bother to figure out why it keeps happening. It seems like it's a bad design for it to repeat. I sort of think it has to do with some connection between the motor and the wiper arm becoming worn or loose. Is it possible (I wouldn't rule this out, personally) that slamming the rear door shut could do the damage? Does anybody have any thoughts or experience with this?

Thanks, Ambrose

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- Mikepier
  
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posted
17 years ago

Mon, May 1, 2006 3:12 AM

It's a known problem. Try moving the wiper with the switch on. It should come back to life. The motors develop a "dead" spot over time.

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- zoti
  
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posted
17 years ago

Mon, May 1, 2006 5:21 PM

Remove the rear wiper and spray a generous amount of WD40 into the mechanism. That solved the problem for me about 3 years ago and the wiper still works. Now if I could only get it to actually wipe the rear window and not just half of it...

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posted
17 years ago

Mon, May 1, 2006 7:50 PM

Thanks!I'll try that! I've had this notion that it's weather connected, thinking maybe weather gets inside and shorts the connection.

You know, I had that problem too. I think it's the type of wiper. Whenever I bought a new blade at an auto parts store, it never made solid contact with the glass, but the Ford ones always seemed to work fine, so now I just buy them from the parts dep't. at my dealership.