Windshield wipers frozen

[TheZodiac]

Hi all,

My name's Todd and I own a Ford Bronco II, made in 1988. Right now it's snowing pretty hard and it's very cold where I live (Pennsylvania). I usually leave my car out in the street and at the moment, my windshield wipers are frozen and won't work. I tried letting the car warm up and letting the windshield get warm with the defroster on, but my wipers just moved a little bit and won't move at all.

I turn it on and all I hear is a little click that usually happens when the wipers would move, but they just sit still. I tried warming the car up in my garage and dumped warm water over the section where my wiper motors are (not on the motors of course). Still no success. My wipers are frozen in that position and won't move at all. I can't move them at all and they won't budge.

I think the wiper motor's broken or the gears are stripped. Does anyone know if this is the problem? And if so, how long would it usually take to get the wipers fixed? I need my car for work this week.

Thanks,
Todd

[overthetop]

sounds like you stripped something. Try lifting the wipers off the winshield before you turn them on...always make sure they are not stuck down. That probably still won't work now that they are stripped.

[Flyingjackal456]

never use the wipers to clear the windshield of an overnight snow, take the minute to grab a broom, or plastic ice scraper and break away the big stuff.

Try overthetop's suggeston, then check fuses (read manual to figure out which one). If it still doesn't work and the fuses were good, then read on...

You can actually replace the wiper motor yourself, but it'll take maybe 2 hours to do once you order and receive the wiper motor assembly.

Courtesy of Autozone and Alldata:
Instructions

[overthetop]

Can't see it being a 2 hour job.....mine took 5 min in the parking lot of pick'n pull. Make sure you track down the problem before you replace anything.