speedair01 Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 Hello everyone... Been a long time since i posted in here. The Journey has treated us well. We bought it new in 2012. The wife doesn't drive it much. Its only got 63000 km on it new. The last yr we have spent some money on it...regular things that go eventually but this one is baffling and angers me. I have had dodges all my life and this is the first time i have ever had an issue with wipers. When its cold out (0 to -5 or colder) they just wont turn on in any speed. You can here a slight thump from the front when you do turn them on and it does it the first two times you turn the wipers on. Then no thump at all and still no wipers. The fluid squirts with no issues. If we warm the truck up for 20 min or more...they work with no problem...all speeds! I don't get it. Its not the relays as i have swapped them for new ones from the dealer. Anyone else have this issue before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 no problems with either of both my 2011 70 k or the replacement 2014 84 k, sounds like it might be a motor problem since it doesn't want to work when cold but warms up a bit then works or could be bushings in the motor, about the only thing i could think it could be.. good luck P.S. the fluid works off a different pump or motor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtomatoman Posted December 29, 2018 Report Share Posted December 29, 2018 Try a little de-icer or oil on the moving part of the wiper motor. Maybe it is as simple as moisture freezing the motor in place. I tried to look at my DJ, but I can't really see where the motor is because it's under the cowl. I think it's the center (passenger) wiper. Dunno. Something to try. This problem may take some diagnosis in cold weather by unhooking the wiper assembly to see if the cold motor turns or if something in the assembly is the problem. Good luck. Peace. Summer Solstice and 2late4u 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted December 29, 2018 Report Share Posted December 29, 2018 13 hours ago, redtomatoman said: Try a little de-icer or oil on the moving part of the wiper motor. Maybe it is as simple as moisture freezing the motor in place. I tried to look at my DJ, but I can't really see where the motor is because it's under the cowl. I think it's the center (passenger) wiper. Dunno. Something to try. This problem may take some diagnosis in cold weather by unhooking the wiper assembly to see if the cold motor turns or if something in the assembly is the problem. Good luck. Peace. good idea redtomatoman, didnt see he was from Canada possible could be froze up a bit, wonder when this was happening was it extremely cold or just a normal temp if that makes any sense...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedair01 Posted December 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2018 Thanks everyone. Its happening around 0 to minus 5 degrees C and colder so something is freezing. I will try the deicer idea and see what happens. Its warm today so its working but is suposed to dip down cold tomorrow again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedair01 Posted December 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 Wasnt able to locate the wiper motor visually yesterday so im assuming its inside the cover somewhere below the windsheild. I did notice it was wet inside the cover. Wouldnt think it should be so starting to wonder if some weather stripping or something is gone. The wife did have her front windsheild replaced last yr. Planning on taking the bottom part off today to see if i can see anything. its -8C thismorning so will see if she goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedair01 Posted December 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 Well rather surprised thismorning to find them working at -8C Couldnt locate the wiper motor yesterday. It was warm with drizzle and now everything is frozen. I did locate the wiper linkages below the blades where the joints pivot. I sprayed both wipers in 2 or 3 different spots on the pivot points with lock deicer while they were moving. I let them run for 20 min with the truck running in the driveway on high and then shut it all down. So will see what happens over the coming days and go from there i guess. I will post an update at the end of the week. Thanks for everyones input. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probak118 Posted December 31, 2018 Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 My 2012 has sat outside for 4 yrs now, no issues. The thought of freezing then letting the area warm up from the motor for it to work makes sense. Then you mentioned windshield replacement and this now occurring. I think your thought of possible water now leaking into an area it has not before makes sense. Is there a drain in the area that may now be plugged ? I know sometimes debris gets in that trough, maybe water is pooling now ? Then is freezes stopping the wipers operation until the motor can thaw the area ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedair01 Posted January 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 We haven't had an issue for the last 8 days until today. They seem to be stuck again. Im at work so cant check them but my wife is going to spray some deicer where i sprayed a week ago to see if that makes a difference in a few min. We had a bunch of rain the other day and now its back down below freezing so its definitely a water issue i would think. Will have to check on it when i get back home later to check the drain and see what we can figure out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhareFred Posted January 7, 2019 Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 Spray some WD40 on the same points. The lock decider is removing all the lubrications from those areas. Lock decider is usually high in alcohol.... 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted January 7, 2019 Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, OhareFred said: Spray some WD40 on the same points. The lock decider is removing all the lubrications from those areas. Lock decider is usually high in alcohol.... have never used it on wiper joints, but i use a white silicone lubricants spray on my door hinges and hoods and such OhareFred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelby_nut Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 Did you every figure it out? Mine are doing the same thing. And now, when they do turn on, I only have top speed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 check to see if at the wiper motor you are getting juice to it when trying the different speeds, probally your switch or the motor itself, if no voltage at the lower settings id say its your switch, if getting power on all settings then i would assume its the motor Summer Solstice and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Milne Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 My 2013 dodge journey and in freezing weather overnight, the wipers will not work. Dealer has no explanation. Also dealer says not much point in looking at vehicle except when wipers are frozen!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Milne Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 Dealer has confirmed it was a small issue of water in motor, now taken care of and sealed. Anyone else had this issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhareFred Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 I’ve never heard of it, but each car is different jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 nope jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 19 hours ago, Ian Milne said: Dealer has confirmed it was a small issue of water in motor, now taken care of and sealed. Anyone else had this issue? First I've heard of it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLavallee Posted December 19, 2022 Report Share Posted December 19, 2022 I know this is an old thread, But... my 2011 DJ has same problem.. replaced fuses relays And the motor. It just dont wNna work Cold.. I am stumped and am hoping its Not multi switch or clock spring. But it works fine when warmed up???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Welcome to the site. People seem to never post back their final solution for fix. Confirm there is 12 volts at plug leading to motor when it’s not working. If 12 volts at high speed, unbolt motor and try moving linkages with it removed, should move easily. If not, free up linkage assembly or replace it. Might be a partly plugged drain in cowl assembly allowing moisture to build up and freeze the linkages. Hair dryer to melt and dry things out. Clean out the drain port at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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