I have an intermittent problem with the rear wiper on my '00 Runner. When it is really cold out and I try to turn on the rear wiper, I will turn on the switch and the wiper won't work. If I turn it on and off several times it may start working. Sometimes when it does start to work it will sweep erratically ie. jump up and down about 2" from the parked position several times before doing a full sweep. I'm fairly sure that it is not the switch on the steering column.

Any experience with this problem and a possible solution? Others suggest that it may be a bad wiper motor while others say it may be a bad control module.

Thanks

 

How cold is cold? On my rear wiper for my 2nd gen if it is right cold out (minus 30 celsius), depending on the moisture/weather for days before, it sometimes freezes and does the exact same bounce. I coated the wiper assembly that comes in contact with the rest of the truck with some silicon spray. Hopefully it may be something as simple as it being frozen up a bit, and remember that things sometimes do not work as they should when it is really cold out.

 

Thanks for the feedback Godzilla. It happens even at -5 celcius and it isn't frozen where it contacts the rear door. Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

lately, if i switch it to intermittent, it wont go right on... i have to go to 'on' for it to go on, then back to int.

and thats only when its cold. sort of similar problem..

 

electricity travels slower when it's cold. I think you need some wire heaters from pimpmyride.com.

seriously though, I've never had that happen to mine. I wonder if there might be a little frost on the arm or something, or maybe the relay switch is cold and takes a little time to get moving.

 

I recently had a similiar problem after some heavy frost. Just before I got to work, I had the bright idea to lower and then raise the rear window a few times (stop-to-stop). The rear wiper worked fine after that.

 

last night it snowed a bit (dusting), and this morning it was about 22 degrees out. i got in, turned on my rear wiper to 'int' and........ NOTHING. switched to "on" and it finally moved. then went back to int to see what it would do. it worked perfectly.

22 degrees is cold, but come on.. not THAT cold.

 

Same symptoms as mine lee - LMK if you figure out whats gone wrong