Windshield wiper issue fixed thanks to @Ford Motor Company

[Knittel]

They didn't confirm what they did? You're sure it's fixed?

No confirmation. It may have fixed itself or been a fluke. But didn’t operate all like they had the first time.

The wiper motor isn’t programmable at all, so it definitely wasn’t an OTA update.

The motor may not be but the drop detection algorithm could be. Or the resistance settings.

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[35tires]

My Bronco has been in the shop for two months waiting for new parts for this same issue. If that's the real fix I'm furious... Two months without my Bronco after I had it two weeks.


Thanks @Ford

 

[Ground_zero298]

I dropped down to 15” wiper blades. Haven’t had a issue since.

Last ride out we went through a wet snow storm. 4 of us. 2 had intermittent slow done. Mine ran fine.

 

[RHeinz]

The wiper motor isn’t programmable at all, so it definitely wasn’t an OTA update.

The motor might not be programmable, but the electronics driving it could be.

 

[Biz]

Can't add anything to the wiper discussion, but also had an '87 Escort GT!!! Bought new in '88 as a "leftover".

After changing a water pump in January on my '79 Bronco in the driveway in upstate NY I had enough with the Bronco, traded it in on the Escort.

Wipers worked great but the seat belts were ridiculous..
If you know you know.

 

[JohnnyBronco]

What did they do?

They received his VIN. Apparently all it takes is telling Ford what vehicles they produced

 

[Ducati1098]

The motor may not be but the drop detection algorithm could be. Or the resistance settings.

The motor might not be programmable, but the electronics driving it could be.

Nope. According to the workshop manual, all the logic is built into the wiper motor. So an OTA update couldn’t affect operation.
There is no other programmable module controlling how it functions.

 

[cbrenthus]

I dropped down to 15” wiper blades. Haven’t had a issue since.

Last ride out we went through a wet snow storm. 4 of us. 2 had intermittent slow done. Mine ran fine.

I have hypothesized in the mega thread on this issue that the underlying issue is not the motor, but the resistance of the blade on the glass. My theory is that the wiper arm spring is too stiff and pushing the blade down too hard on the window, causing too much friction, and the motor is doing what it should. Try lifting the blades up and you'll see how heavy they are, and I left my blades lifted up for 24 hours to try to stretch the springs and the next day they actually worked. I want to try a few more rain drives before I post a new thread about it, but I bet smaller blades will have the same affect

The motor might not be programmable, but the electronics driving it could be.

One possible way to fix this issue would be to shut the wiper off and back on again during the sweep, maybe ever 20 sweeps - every time I change the setting and back again it seems to reset it and it works for 25 more sweeps. You'd lose the overload protection though

Wipers worked great but the seat belts were ridiculous..
If you know you know.

I think I remember those having the horrible auto seatbelts that became a thing in the 80s

 

[CapeCodCash]

I had my first rainstorm in my new Bronco. And I had the slow wiper issue too. It started downpouring. I turned them on to full regular (not full high, not intermittent). About 2 minutes later, the wipers start slowing down. On their own. And it's still raining hard! I watched them slow down to almost a complete stop! I was still driving, so I turned them off, and back on again. 2 minutes later, same thing! Really?? Am I to believe they are designed that way? What a disappointment. I'm like..........NOW what It's bad enough I'm already waiting for a new transmission for my new Bronco......now this? I don't know what to think.

 

[Felix808]

Wipers worked great but the seat belts were ridiculous..
If you know you know.

Yep, the ones that would try to hang / strangle you

 

[Roger123]

Wipers worked great but the seat belts were ridiculous..
If you know you know.

Don’t ever open the door with the sun visor by the side window!

 

[gaaangs]

Yo @Ford my wipers are fucked too - lemme get that update...

 

[JohnnyBronco]

Went back to the parts bin and pulled out a wiper motor from an 80’s Escort. They realized there was no need to redesign something that has worked forever.

Better than going back to the bin for vacuum operated wipers from a 60's Falcon which slowed down when you stepped on the go pedal

Course none of you are old enough to have experienced that phenomenon

 

[E. J]

Has anyone checked (or know if dealer techs are) the linkage joints for proper movement? Like being overly tightened. Could be a contributor to the problem.

drawing source

 

[Roger123]

Better than going back to the bin for vacuum operated wipers from a 60's Falcon which slowed down when you stepped on the go pedal

Course none of you are old enough to have experienced that phenomenon

My ‘67 Bronco had vacuum wipers…….and I lived in Northern MI where it snowed a “bit”, yea those wipers were awesome.

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