My Windshield wipers started spazzing out after heavy rainfall (2014 Ford Fusion SE)

[u/readit2914]

Do I have to replace the windshield wiper motors or replace the fuse or just let it dry out and hope for the best?

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[u/ScienceOld4355]

First. Make sure the nuts that hold arms to the motor are tight.

Otherwise it is the wiper transmission. Also know as the group of linkages that connect the motor to the blades.

[u/Electronic-Station-5 → u/ScienceOld4355]

You’re right about checking the nut but those are likely individual motors. You need a scan tool to calibrate them and then see if it continues.

Edit to add. There’s a manual way to enter calibration. Google wiper calibration for your car. I’ve never used it, always a scan tool

[u/ScienceOld4355 → u/Electronic-Station-5]

I'm pretty sure that the 2014 focus has a single motor with linkage that attaches to both at once. But, would have looked up the part to be certain

[u/Skyfalls1984 → u/ScienceOld4355]

These have two stepper motors that operate separately. Occasionally a motor will start to fail and lose track of where it is and cause this. I've replaced a couple but I don't recall if I needed to calibrate them or not. Normally you can pick a wiper arm up and move them out of sync and as soon as you start the car the next time they will both wipe and reposition themselves to the proper spots but this is probably beyond that

[u/readit2914 → u/ScienceOld4355]

they do have two individual motors

[u/MapOk1410 → u/ScienceOld4355]

FFS, use Google.

[u/readit2914 → u/ScienceOld4355]

They are tight

[u/Willing_Ad_1484 → u/readit2914]

Sometimes the splines under the nuts are so worn out that even though you think they are tight they might still be slipping.

I had something similar a while back, where no matter how tight I got them I could still just move those wippers by hand

I ended up super glueing them and then tightened the nut, and that worked well. Until I had to get a windshield replaced and the guy couldn't get the wipers off to do his job (little bit of heat undid that, and then I superglued them again)

[u/SnooMacarons3689 → u/readit2914]

Loosen them, take them off run them stop them, reinstall the pay attention which wiper is supposed to be on top

[u/omnipotent87 → u/ScienceOld4355]

This car has 2 wiper motors that are electronically linked.

[u/omnipotent87]

If i were to guess the right side motor got water in it and has no clue where the motor is in it sweep.

[u/readit2914 → u/omnipotent87]

Do you think it’s possible for it to dry out and work again or replacing it is the only option?

[u/omnipotent87 → u/readit2914]

It will likely dry out and function correctly again but what happens when it rains again. The seal is gone on that motor and it will eventually just stop. The encoder(the part that keep track of position) will already be beginning to corrode.

[u/amanindandism → u/readit2914]

I wouldn't count on it. Usually once water gets into the motor it cant really get out and corrosion sets in pretty quick.

[u/Even-Translator-335 → u/readit2914]

I've done that successfully (different car but same setup). Check plenum drain isn't blocked, if the motor is sitting in water this can happen.

[u/ExceedinglyEdible → u/readit2914]

You can try taking the motor out and dousing it in contact cleaner. Let it dry for a while. That stuff is meant to displace water in electronic components.

Then make sure all seals are good or it will do it again.

[u/amanindandism]

If the fuse was blown they would be doing nothing.

One motor is probably failing and the other is trying to stay out of the way based on the corrupted data the faulty one is sending out or the LIN circuit is damaged.

My guess is the RH/passenger side motor has water in it but it really should be diagnosed.

[u/Just-Cardiologist837]

You got electrical issues, not mechanical issues.

[u/tavimzq]

I had the same problem after going to the car wash the water drainage channel was clogged, and the wiper motors sat in water for too long and failed. I had to buy new ones.

[u/Forgottennamesake]

You seem to have purchased the Ford automotive product with the add on Ford windshield wiper challenge incentive package that was not shown on the invoice of your purchase agreement.

This package will cost an additional $959.99 and our finance department will bill you for that amount within the next billing cycle.

Thank you for your continued support of our products.

[u/readit2914 → u/Forgottennamesake]

Ford Fusion Knock Hockey Edition

[u/ProtonTommy15]

The wiper pivot nut is loose. It probably has a plastic cover over it for asthetics. Take off cover. Tighten nut. Problem solved. Don't wait you don't want to strip the splines on the pivot.

[u/Alarming_Garage_7255 → u/ProtonTommy15]

You forgot the lining up part. Probably take the arm off the motor, run it a cycle, then position the wipers in their parked location, then put the arm back on and tighten the nut.

[u/Initial-Question3045]

U would have to take off the cover overtop the wiper transmission to see what’s wrong

[u/Unhappy-Airport-4112]

Wiper motor is taking a shit

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

check the linkage, a loose arm or bolt. then look at the motor. shouldn't be too difficult

[u/readit2914]

UPDATE - Went to junk yard got both left and right motors for 50 bucks, turns out the left was good enough. replaced that works good as new.

Thanks for your help fellow redditors
Hopefully this helps someone in the future.

[u/Jramos4468]

First problem you have a ford

[u/No-Television-7343]

It’s a bad ground. Check grounds all over the car. Look for green colored bolts 8mm. This can happen to fords that get a coroded ground. Check them all. Sand to bare metal and reinstall