Dreaded Mazda/Ford wipers spontaneously turning on...

[1999Mazda Central Florida]

Regarding 1999 Mazda/Ford or approximate years around that time:
I've heard this was a well known Ford-ism: the dreaded phantom wiper intermittently-spontaneously turning on.
I saw a Youtube vid that showed how to clean the connectors (built into the handle,) but that did not work. I then
replaced the wiper control switch (easy to do,) but after a few months it started back up...gradually at first and
spontaneous wipe here and there, now does it as bad as it did before the new module. I suspect that the original OEM
Ford directional-wiper control switch/module would be better than an aftermarket one. Any ideas on OEM vs. aftermarket
on this particular item?

 

[RonD]

Ford requires Quality Control on all OEM parts which is why they cost more, sometimes alot more, so very rare to get a new motorcraft part that fails.

3rd party doesn't test parts, labor is expensive, yes even overseas, so they box and ship parts and warranty them
You should still have warranty on the 3rd party multi-function switch so exchange it, they won't all be bad you just need to go thru a few to get a good one

But yes, any Motorcraft part will be more reliable out of the box than any 3rd party part, if thats what you are asking


And just FYI, the multi-function switch is connected to the GEM module NOT to the wipers
The GEM Module controls the wiper functions
It is most likely a switch problem, not GEM
But after switch is out turn on the key and move wiring harness around, see if wipers start, a short in 2 wires could "tell" GEM to start wipers

 

[delaware74b]

On my '04, there was a TSB for wiper park switch issue. I had the issue of wipers start running while going down the road. Truck was still under warranty and they replaced the wiper motor. There was a revision to the park switch located inside the wiper motor around May '04 that addresses the problem. I looked on rockauto and this motor is the same for 98-07 Rangers/B-series.

 

[19Walt93]

I was a Ford service manager from 1982 to 2017 and I don't remember any wiper self activation complaints on Rangers but I would absolutely agree that OEM parts are far better than the vast majority of aftermarket parts. Buying the cheap parts is apt to cost you the time to replace them a second time and I don't need the practice.