Thread: HELP! Wiper fuse keeps blowing

Randomly after a heavy thunderstorm my wipers stopped working, the fuse blew. I replaced the fuse but when ignition is in the ON position and I turn on the wiper switch, the fuse pops right away.

-I disconnected the harness at the wiper motor and the fuse still pops.
-I disconnected the harness at the wiper switch and the fuse still pops when ignition is ON.
-The fuse doesn't pop if the ignition is ON but the wiper switch off (seems like the issue is not the switch)

What the heck is the next step? The problem is either between the wire to the fuse or the fuse to the wiper motor. How do I figure out where without having to take apart the entire dash?

what kind of car is this? If its a b14 its probably the wiper intermittent box under the dash. Common issue with them.

B13 its probably the resistor box in the passenger side fender well.

Need more info

whoops forgot that part. it's a 2000 sentra 2.0

Cant recall if they still used that same intermittent box. It would probably be up under the passenger side of the dash behind the glove box and kinda up tucked by the a/c unit. It says intermittent on it. If you find the box. Unplug it and put a new fuse in and see if your low and high settings still work on your wipers. The circuit runs through that stupid box first but also keeps the high low settings seperate. That is if its the same as the b14 which id imagine it is. Id check that first before hunting through wiring.

Ashton, I looked at the FSM and it basically says

Power supplied from ignition----->20amp fuse (which keeps popping)----->then it branches off to the wiper motor and to the wiper switch.

It doesn't say anything about intermittent box, I believe that's controlled by the switch.

Does your car have an intermittent setting for the wipers? If so then its gonna have a box for it. Its not controlled by the switch unless on the b15 they built it into it but its a pretty decent size box.

Also, so let me get this straight.

If you have everything connected, new fuse in, and you go to turn the wipers on it blows the fuse. Doesnt blow until you turn it on.

Then if you unplug the wiper switch, new fuse in, as soon as you turn the key on it blows the fuse?

Seems kind of weird if thats the case. Ill look through the b15 wiring diagram for the circuit and see whats up.

Ok after looking at the wiring diagram the intermittent relay is built into the combination switch for the wipers.

I need you to clarify the questions I asked.

If the fuse is blowing with the combination switch unplugged then its more than likely a short in the motor. If its blowing with the combination switch plugged in when you turn the wipers on as well its still probably a short in the motor causing it.

Now if its not blowing with the combination switch unplugged and is blowing it with it plugged in then you have a bad intermittent box in the combination switch which has a built in amplifier for the intermittent signal and also a timed pulse for it.

Just need you to clarify the details a bit on whats happening. After that its gonna be one or the other. My bet is on the combination switch/intermittent wiper amp. Again they are notorious for going out on b14's so i wouldnt doubt if its the same with the b15's as well even though its a different unit they are still more than likely built to the same working design.

hey bro thanks for the help, I figured out the issue. It was kinda annoying lol, it turned out that the wire for the washer fluid motor was short circuiting against the intercooler piping. I guess the wire rubbed against it or something and kept tripping the fuse. I fixed that issue and threw in a new fuse and I have wipers again!