Wiper Problem

So some times while driving the wipers may or may not work. This was a problem on my old Jeep but I never fixed it.

Monday I went to one of those touch free car wash places and when I was leaving the wipers wouldn't work at all. Since then the Jeep has sat in the garage and I haven't tried to run the wipers.

What are some thoughts on the cause of this problem?

I was thinking that I probably need a new wiper motor but I am not sure of $ or difficulty to replace.

Is this a common problem?

Thanks!

Well after we got home yesterday from JFJ and I could barely see out of the windshield I decided that there was no way I would put off the inevitable any more. I took the cowl off. Someone had jammed an old drill bit in there. Cody told me that was to shimmy the motor and fixed it in the past. Well I tried moving the motor around that that didn't help; it was solid so I doubted that would do anything. But when I used a wrench to move the wiper arm then turn on the wipers the motor would sometimes start to move. The wires look very good and the connection was clean and solid. So I think that means the motor is bad. Yes? Ohh one other thing, we took the wiper assembly out and when I tilted it off to the side water came pouring out. I was thinking even if I let it dry out it's probably not going to work 100%. After yesterdays adventure not having wipers is not really an option.

Does anyone have any other ideas? I looked up pricing on the web for motors they are below. I am going to call Shuster's Auto Salvage in a few hours to see if they have one and how much it'll cost. But I am thinking that if a used one costs anything more then $30 then I might as well get the new unit from Autozone.

Auto Zone
Unit: $83.99
Core: $40.00
Total: $123.99

Napa
Price: $90.99
Core: $27.50
Total: $118.49

The junk yard wasn't open today. I called Autozone and they had one in stock. It cost me $84 but it works like a champ. I now have working wipers!!! With a motor that has a lifetime warranty. That is if I don't take it off road. That'll be our secret!

Quote from Slimer

Now you need to find out why water got in there in the first place.

I think it came in around the spot where the wires go into the motor casing. Either that or there is a seal that doesn't seem to be sealed all that well. That could be it. But since there was a core charge I'll just be returning the old one to Autozone.

The new one is painted with some pretty think paint that looks to have sealed everything up so we should be fine. If not they have the warranty so I'll just take it back.