Windshield Wipers

Tiny
JNOVAK
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic, recently I been having problems with my wipers. Within the last day or 2 when I turn the car on with the key, the wipers will not turn off. I replaced the Dual Lever Multi function Switch Assembly and I am still encountering the same problem. What could it be?
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Friday, February 20th, 2009 AT 8:39 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JNOVACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 723 POSTS
Unplug the multifuntion switch and test wires with volt ohm meter check for continuity with the meter in test position and the switch in off if you get a beeping sound then you are still getting power through the switch and the switch is bad if not then switch is good then you will have to go to the motor and do the same if you get the beep then there is a sort in the wiring and you will have to trace the wireingback to the switch and if no sound then there is a short in the motor
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Saturday, February 21st, 2009 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
ENDRAKAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,000 MILES
I have a 2002 Chevy Malibu. The windshield wipers only work on the high setting. The intermittent wipers don't work at all. When I turn them off, they stop in whatever position they happen to be in. Any ideas on what I'm going to need to replace/repair? Thanks for your help!
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
You'll need to do some electrical testing, fair chance of a switch or wiper module that is on top of the wiper motor.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DURAMAXDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Electrical problem
2004 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

my windshield wipers quit on my 04 malibu, fuse is good. Any ideas on where motor is or what I can do?
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
At the base of your windshield (outside) there's a black plastic panel called a "Cowl". Remove that and you'll see you wiper motor.

First check the wiring and connectors. Then remove the motor and take it to a parts shop and have it tested. If you are so inclined, you could test it yourself by taking two wires and hooking the motor directly to battery voltage.

Make sure you connect ground to ground, and power to power. If you aren't sure, don't try.

If your motor is bad, replace it. If it checks out good, then it's in your switch/wiring. And you'll have to track that down.

If I've helped you, please take the time to vote for me as my reputation pays my bills. Thanx, Ernest.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PONS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Two days ago, my wipers would go from down to 50% up and then wipe from about 40% up to 60% up, and that was it. I could push them back down when I turned off the wipers. When I turned them back on, the same thing would happen.

This morning before driving, I could hear the wiper motor turning but the wipers wouldn't move. Then the motor sound stopped and didn't come back on. On the drive to work, the wipers shifted a couple inches from the down position like they were about to work, but they never came up beyond that. When I got out, I turned on the wipers and tried to move gently them by hand, but they didn't move. After a minute of lightly jiggling the wipers, they moved on their own for half a wipe and then froze in place again.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PONS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I decided to open up my car and see if I could tell what was wrong, since winter in the Midwest is the wrong time and place to go without wipers.

After removing the plastic cowl covering the wiper motor, I discovered that the metal bracket of the motor had broken, so it wasn’t mounted to the car anymore. Also, there was a bar the motor should have been bolted to. But one of the tapped holes on the motor itself had broken in half, and the bolt was lying on the shelf below the motor. And the other bolt holding that bar to the motor had been sheared in half. (I bought a new bolt and a lock washer at the hardware store.) So the entire motor was basically lying on that shelf.

It took me a couple hours to replace the motor with a remanufactured one, mostly because it was so cold outside and I had to play detective to figure out exactly how the motor was supposed to mount to the car. It’s hard to replace something you’ve never seen before when it’s not in the correct position to begin with. My Chilton’s book had pictures of a different motor than the one in my car, so it wasn’t much help. After putting the wiper assembly together and taking it apart a few times, I finally figured out how to install it correctly. It works great now.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAPTAINJIM
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Other Category problem
1999 Chevy Malibu V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 80000 miles

Today it was snowing and when I turned my wipers on and off, the driver side blade was in the normal down position and the passenger side blade was about a third of the way up. They both still work, but the passenger side blade does not wipe the entire area it did before.

What do I need to correct the problem?
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
At the bottom of the blade a plastic cover you can remove to find a nut
loosen it adjust to where need to be
Good luck
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SANDYLED
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Recently, after an ice storm, I am not sure if this contributed to the problem (in which the car was parked), the next time I went to use my wipers they would only work on high. Do you have a sense on how big a repair this is. I would like to be able to work the intermittent control as being on high only is irritating.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LSAUTO
  • MECHANIC
  • 61 POSTS
It is going too depend on wheather or not u have too replace the wiper motor or the switch in the stering coulm, I would first check the wiper pulse board for a short chevy cars and trucks all have a problem with this part hope this helps lsauto
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 12:51 PM (Merged)

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