1993 Escort windshield wipers always ON/malfunctioning

eisenberg · 04-06-2009, 08:31 AM

1993 Ford escort wagon

About a month ago my windshield wipers started malfunctioning. They are always ON when the car is turned ON. Regaurdless of whether the windshield wiper switch is turned ON or interval setting. When I press down on the wiper switch lever on the column which makes the wipers go fast, that works fine. It is as if the switch on the column has gone bad. Is there a relay under the dash that may have gone bad rather than the switch on the column. When functioning normally I would hear a clicking noise coming from a relay under he dash as the wipers would move… could this relay have gone bad? I feel that the wiper motor is good since it drives the wipers just fine. I have been getting around this issue for a month by removing the wiper fuse when not raining. If it rains too hard for the slow interval I hold the wiper switch lever down as I drive.

I looked into what it would take to put a new switch on the column and it is a lot of work. If it turns out to be the switch is it possible for me to bypass the switch and use a dash mounted toggle switch from radio shack. I would think that I could run a hot wire off of the battery to the motor then to the toggle switch and ground.

BroncoJoe19 · 04-06-2009, 10:41 AM

There should be a relay, sorry I don't have specific documentation for your car. If you have an owner's manual it shuold be listed, or perhpas your fuse box has a diagram. The relay could also be under the hood, either as a standalone unit, or in a power distribution box.
Whatever... a stuck relay is certainly a posibility.

Pdvorak · 04-14-2009, 10:57 AM

I'm not familiar with a 93' escort but the other possible position is under the dash on the drivers side, this can be accessed from below in the pedal well or by removing the panel under your Steering column. The relay box will look like a tray or box with a jumble of wires coming out from it. Be sure to have a wiring schematic on hand to help you identify which relay controls your wipers. I found that having a Haynes manual is a help, (Wiring Schematic wise) although it really does not tell you where to find the relay box. Let me know if I'm to late posting this but if I'm not too late, I hope this helps.