Wipers Stopped Working (snow build up)

[RTBoston]

I've seen mention of this one another board and it has happened to me twice now. Thought I would see if anyone else dealt with this.
It snowed in Boston last night. Not a ton, but enough that I needed the wipers to clear the snow off the windshield this morning. That wiper movement pushed some snow into the space where the wipers sit and it appears that any impact to the wipers getting back to their original location shuts them down (maybe as a protection).
The issue is that they don't reset in any short amount of time.
For example, they stopped working 2 minutes from home and didn't reset before I got to work (25 minutes later).
No matter what I did for control, it never came back.

Guessing I'll have to call the dealership, but curious if anyone else dealt with this.

Thanks all-

 

[3sons66]

I've seen mention of this one another board and it has happened to me twice now. Thought I would see if anyone else dealt with this.
It snowed in Boston last night. Not a ton, but enough that I needed the wipers to clear the snow off the windshield this morning. That wiper movement pushed some snow into the space where the wipers sit and it appears that any impact to the wipers getting back to their original location shuts them down (maybe as a protection).
The issue is that they don't reset in any short amount of time.
For example, they stopped working 2 minutes from home and didn't reset before I got to work (25 minutes later).
No matter what I did for control, it never came back.

Guessing I'll have to call the dealership, but curious if anyone else dealt with this.

Thanks all-

Yooooo! My wifes LIMITED is doing this too. Please post if you find a solution. ONLY happens with snow.

 

[RTBoston]

Yooooo! My wifes LIMITED is doing this too. Please post if you find a solution. ONLY happens with snow.

Will do.

 

[RTBoston]

Got a sensor call today from the dealership. Told them to add this to the list. I'll let people know what they find.

 

[RTBoston]

Tech "could not duplicate the issue." For the life of me I couldn't understand why, it was sunny and warm.
Tech notes: "If the path of the wipers is blocked they will stop working as a safety mechanism."
I'll be making another video of the issue because I've never had wipers stop working with the small amount of snow I had. Scary to imagine what would happen if the snow built up on a long drive.

 

[3sons66]

3” of snow last night. Not until the snow was completely cleared from the “wiper well” where the windshield meets the firewall and the wipers sit did they FINALLY start working. Wonder if there is a sensor in that area I can unplug??

 

[RTBoston]

We probably need to document the issue with video. Guessing there aren't enough Palisades on the road and less in New England.

 

[TK-421]

Had this happen to me in a blizzard this evening.terribly unsafe. I’ve never had a car do this before. Could only get them working again when I got back to my garage and dug every last piece of snow and ice out of the window well wheee the wipers sit.

 

[Larryg]

this happened to me in NJ last snow and caught me so by surprised I didn't know what to do. And was reluctant to post as I didn't think anyone else had this issue so hoping it was a one time thing. I had cleaned the entire car including the windshield, but after driving a bit, had to run the wipers to remove spray and they wouldn't move. Quite honestly, this is a serious and even dangerous condition and possibly a design defect. In all my years of driving have never had a car do this and never had to clean out the well below the wipers. Not sure what action we can all take and obviously can't be duplicated until the next snow and guess you have to drive into the dealer to show them.

 

[RTBoston]

Haven’t had enough snow this year to document. Record it and let’s start sharing.

 

[Zenar]

wow this is terrible!!!

 

[Mickey]

So when the wipers stop working are they in the close-to-parked-position near the bottom of the windshield? Can they be put in the higher-up position by shutting off the engine and then raising and holding the wiper control arm that is handy for clearing that bottom of windshield cavity?

 

[TK-421]

So when the wipers stop working are they in the close-to-parked-position near the bottom of the windshield? Can they be put in the higher-up position by shutting off the engine and then raising and holding the wiper control arm that is handy for clearing that bottom of windshield cavity?

I didn’t try that when mine locked up, but they can fairly easily be manually be moved to the upright position by force. And yes, mine locked up about an inch or two above their lower position.

 

[Mickey]

I didn’t try that when mine locked up, but they can fairly easily be manually be moved to the upright position by force. And yes, mine locked up about an inch or two above their lower position.

Thanks

 

[Tcan]

I just experienced the same thing driving while it was wet snow. So dangerous.

 

[RTBoston]

It would be helpful if people highlight when the issue happens. If it's simply not enough snow being cleared (which was my experience), I'll deal with it. If it happens while driving during a strong snow storm I have real issues with the problem.

Thanks in advance all-

 

[Larryg]

If my post wasn't clear, let me try again. Cleared the car including the windshield. I have never in all my years of driving had to clear snow below the wipers in the well. The snow had stopped, after driving a while had to run the wipers to clear off the road spray from other cars. That is when they didn't work. Had to pull over, clean out the well and they worked. Never hear of such a thing, in all my years of driving, having leased high end suvs for over 30 years, have never encountered anything like this.

 

[Craig44485]

I too am having this issue, it has happened twice during the past 2 snow storms in NE Ohio. I had t stop several times and clear out the well. Was wondering if winter wiper blades may be in order but if others are having the same issue then maybe it is a sensor issue.

 

[RTBoston]

If I simply have to clear out all of the snow from the well (below the blades), I'll suck it up. Do I think it's OK and will I continue to press? Yes.
However.... if after doing that and I'm driving and the problem occurs, then I have a serious issue. I'm not prepared to pull over on a road to remove snow from the window well. That will get someone killed.

I too am having this issue, it has happened twice during the past 2 snow storms in NE Ohio. I had t stop several times and clear out the well. Was wondering if winter wiper blades may be in order but if others are having the same issue then maybe it is a sensor issue.

Craig... to confirm, you cleared out all the snow before starting your drive?

Thanks for keeping this thread alive folks.

 

[Craig44485]

If I simply have to clear out all of the snow from the well (below the blades), I'll suck it up. Do I think it's OK and will I continue to press? Yes.
However.... if after doing that and I'm driving and the problem occurs, then I have a serious issue. I'm not prepared to pull over on a road to remove snow from the window well. That will get someone killed.



Craig... to confirm, you cleared out all the snow before starting your drive?

Thanks for keeping this thread alive folks.

Yes, I’ve cleaned the windshield and the well before starting to drive. The wetter and heavier the snow the quicker it seems to build up. The defroster works to a point until the ice and snow then Reese’s onto the windshield wiper arm/ bracket and also needs to be cleaned off.