When you are traveling down the freeway at high speeds making sure that the world’s supply chain runs on time, you don’t have room for any blind spots. A faulty windshield wiper at the worst possible time can really slow you down— or seriously jeopardize the safety of you and everyone else on the road.
As a king of the road, you need to know how to prevent these problems before they occur to keep you and your big rig constantly firing on all cylinders. Here are some warning signs to watch out for that let you know it’s time to replace the wiper motor for your heavy duty vehicle.
Wiper Blades Do Not Move
While it may be a little obvious, standstill wiper blades are a pretty good sign that you have a big problem. While there are a number of other mechanical and electrical issues that could cause this problem, wiper blades that refuse to move are a good indication that you should take a look at your motor. A good listen should help to further diagnose if the motor is the source of the problem.
Wiper Blades Stop Randomly
Your wiper blade motor is designed to rhythmically clean your windshield of water and debris, but if that rhythm is interrupted or out of sync, it is likely that your wiper motor is getting ready to leave you high and dry (or more likely wet). Deeper diagnosis and the presence of other symptoms will help rule out an electrical issue.
Wiper Blade Speed Issues
Everyone knows the frustration of not being able to settle on the perfect windshield wiper speed, but what if your wipers themselves can’t pick a speed? If your windshield wipers are moving slower than normal, or if they only move at only one speed, then it may be time to start searching for aftermarket wiper motors. Be sure to analyze all symptoms to rule out other issues.
Wiper Blade Parking Issues
A good wiper blade motor should park your wipers at the base of the windshield, giving you a clear view of the road. If you are plagued by a wiper assembly that occasionally leaves the blades in awkward and obstructive positions, a new aftermarket wiper motor could be what you need.
That Dreaded Humming Noise
As with most motors, a weird sound coming from your wiper motor is usually a pretty sure sign that something is wrong. A telltale humming noise occurring when your wiper motor is on should alert you of an interior problem in the motor, and it should help you troubleshoot any of the other possible symptoms above.
My Motor Is Busted, Now What?
If you are confident that your motor is about to leave you out in the rain, then it’s time to make sure your ride is outfitted with the best aftermarket windshield wiper motor available to make sure this never happens again. The many wiper blade motors from Sprague Devices available on AftermarketTruckParts.com can all be easily installed— no need to visit the shop and lose valuable road time.
