Intermittent Problem With Front Wipers (Rav4 3)

[grasshopper]

A couple of weeks ago my front wipers wouldnt work for a couple of minutes and I thought maybe it was ECU related - you never know. This morning I deiced the front windscreen and was about to go to dentist and the front wipers wernt working, the rear was OK. I pulled the arm to try the jetwash and I could hear the pump but no screenwash so put it down to maybe being frozen, as I was running late I cleaned the windscreen and drove off as it was dry anyway. Then 10 minutes later I tried the front wipers and they were working and have been ever since.

Any ideas? I dont think it was ice as I deiced the windscreen.

Anybody else had this?

Cheers...Mark.

[Davrav]

Any possibility the wipers were frozen to the screen Mark? It has been known...............

[grasshopper]

Nope I lifted them up and tried that as well - I gave them a shake and they seemed to be free. Bit odd this isnt it!

[BrianDux]

This happened to me this morning with my 2008 Rav4. Temperature was 4degC. 30mins later when temp was 5degc they were OK. It has happened to me once before in cold weather. I am surprised nobody has posted a solution.

[Davrav]

Are the wiper arms tight on the drive splines?

[Big Kev]

Are the wiper arms tight on the drive splines?

wiper motor brushes worn and no contact intermittently .....?

[gjnorthall]

Usually if the blades / linkage is frozen - you'll see some attempt at movement if you watch the blades / linkage. Otherwise - Kev's on the money - it's usually the motor brushes. A few bumps down the road or a bit extra voltage after you've been driving a bit and they start working. These 3 brush motors are almost identical on all Jap cars and often if you turn the switch to the high speed setting - the motor will start working (the high setting puts the +ve feed on to the 3rd brush). The problem is weak brush springs which in some cases causes the brushes and commutator to burn. Often cleaning the brushes / commutator and putting a bit more tension on the brush holders solves the problem completely.

[voyager t180]

Bloomin' dentists eh.

Always a big bill ;-)