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Wipers suddenly stop working

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Ritzy4runner, Jan 6, 2022.

  1. Ritzy4runner

    Ritzy4runner Junior Member

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    Been having an issue of late. Seems when I select any setting except high speed, the wipers will stop operating. It started with wipers on intermittent and they would just stop functioning. Turning them off did nothing to allow them to operate. Selecting normal speed did nothing unless I then selected high speed and then returned them to intermittent and they functioned again. Recently while the wipers were in normal speed, they began to bog down and then stopped in mid sweep. Again turning them off did nothing until high speed selected and then they would return to normal operation. But now it has degraded even further. They will stop almost immediately after selecting high speed. It takes some doing but I can get them to resume operation after several attempts cycli9ng them to high speed, but not always successful. Stopping in odd locations in the sweep cycle. I do not know what is causing this, is it in the switch or the wiper motor. Totally have no idea what is causing this. 2013 Prius 3? with the solar roof option, 165,000 miles
     
    #1 Ritzy4runner, Jan 6, 2022
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Sounds like it's a problem with the stalk mounted switch. You could try cleaning the contacts, but it would probably be better just to replace the switch.

    FYI, it seems your wipers have been problematic for a while, and didn't stop working suddenly.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #2 xliderider, Jan 6, 2022
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    #3 xliderider, Jan 6, 2022
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    On the other hand it seems that the speed control is located on the motor unit. Changing the motor unit might solve your problems, but if it is the switch, then you will have replaced the motor uneccessarily.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #4 xliderider, Jan 7, 2022
  5. Ritzy4runner

    Ritzy4runner Junior Member

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    Thanks for the reply. Not sure about how to go about cleaning the column switch. Does the column switch control the wipers power to the motor? When is operating it will slow down and then eventually stop in mid-sweep when in normal speed selection. When in intermittent, the failure will result in just not even moving unless I go to high speed and then return, then it will resume at its selected delay but after a while it will stop again and would get progressively worse the more I used it. As for normal speed, it will operate normally for a period of tike but then will again begin to bog down resulting in failure to complete a cycle.
     
    #5 Ritzy4runner, Jan 10, 2022
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds like you need a mechanic
     
    #6 bisco, Jan 10, 2022
  7. Ondeway

    Ondeway New Member

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    I had the exact same issue on my 2010. Changed the wiper motor and all works as it should now. We pulled a wiper motor from a 2011 at the junk yard. My husband and I were undecided about whether it was the switch or the motor. When I explained how it was behaving and that the wipers would bog down and come to a stop in the upright position midsweep, he finally believed me that it was the motor and not the switch. Now all is well. I took the old motor apart and sure enough one of the three brushes was worn down to a nub. It was the one that controlled the intermittent and low speed.
     
    #7 Ondeway, Feb 12, 2022
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Glad it was a simple fix!
    Those brushes do wear down. Just like the ones in the window regulator motors.
    I've replaced the brushes in they and cleaned the commutor successfully several times.

    Usually the rear windows will not function since they are the ones opened/closed the least.
    Which can be fixed by removing the motor and cleaning the brushes and commutor.
    Most motor's are inexpensive and people just replace them because they don't want to have to
    take everything apart, again... But you can save the motor and clean it for next time.

     
    #8 ASRDogman, Feb 13, 2022
  9. Ritzy4runner

    Ritzy4runner Junior Member

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    Well it appears that the issue was in fact the wiper motor. Local auto wrecking yard pulled the wiper motor off a 2011 and I installed it. Took about 30 minutes and I have not had issues since. Thanks for the inputs and hopefully this will also assist others looking to repair their own wiper issues. Swapping out the wiper motor was easy and a lot cheaper than replacing the column switch
     
    #9 Ritzy4runner, Feb 23, 2022
    nicoj36 likes this.
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Cleaning the contacts would have been no cost.
    Replacing the brushes would have been a few dollars...

    But at least you the wipers are working!
    Did you keep the motor so you can rebuild it? So when the junkyark one fails you'll
    have to newish one to replace it with?

     
    #10 ASRDogman, Feb 23, 2022
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