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Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:00 pm

Took our 1973 Thing out today for a Sunday drive with the family in sunny So Cal (90 outside and beautiful) and after we got home I noticed the wiper mother was Hot. Let the car set in the garage and checked it a few hours later it was still very hot... Checked the switch and it was on. The motor was not running but it got hot. Bad motor? Did I burn it up? Thanks.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:36 am

Most likely, your motor is trying to return to park but the armature is stuck against the magnet. If my absentee diagnosis is correct you will need to have someone rebuild your wiper motor who has the parts and knowledge how to do it. There are a number of us out here who do this job regularly. Sometimes a thorough cleaning, grease and the wiper motor is good for another round. But more often parts are required to get the wiper motor as new again. In that case, it is sometimes best to allow one of us Thing wiper motor folks to rework your wiper motor. Feel free to contact me at kubelmann@att.net if you would more assistance with this matter. If you leave this situation as it is, you will at best blow a fuse or perhaps other electrical issues will arise. The wiper motor has a constantly "on" positive electrical lead that will continue to draw juice until the wiper motor blows the fuse of burns something. Remember this is a diagnosis in the blind based on the stuff you posted. But I have seen this exact situation on more than one Thing and my guess about your issue is what it usually turns out to be. K-mann

Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:39 pm

Thanks for the info... I have not used the motor since I got the car because I need the rest of the parts. Talked to the shop that works on my car and he said he has a guy that can repair the motor. I see how much $ they are to replace! Plan to get the parts end of the month. Eric

Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:58 pm

pull the plug on the wiper switch on the steering column.
You should have someone who has experience with that specific motor work on it.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:27 pm

That is exactly what happened to mine, Kubellman. I was able to rebuild mine with another parts motor and it works great now. Anthony

Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:56 am

Repairing these wiper motors can be a tricky business. Sometimes you can take them apart, clean, grease and adjust them and they will work. Other times they have missing or broken parts that keep them from working. That is when the repair does require someone who repairs them on a regular basis and has the parts inventory to make them work properly. Collecting Thing wiper motor repair parts is an expensive hobby.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:57 pm

Yeah it sure is, lucky I had a nice cache of old motors that have been shelved for this purpose, along with other parts waiting for their day.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:00 pm

Perfect. I really enjoy making stuff work.

Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:14 pm

My wiper motor went from getting hot and not working at all to purring like a kitten in about 30 min. Pulled the cover off removed the armateur cleaned everything with scotchbrite, aligned it, assembled squirt it with wd 40. now it works like a dream. I was very happy, i cant believe how much people want for new and rebuilt units, way too expensive. Theres not too much to them. Do it yourself. and i live in sunny so cal and it was great to have wipers while it was pouring down today.