Subaru Outback windshield Wipers issue ?
 

My 2011 Subaru Outback has only 45k miles on it and having it's first issue. :(

Yesterday my Subi started exhibiting some really bizzaro behavior.
Ouf o f the blue my windshield wipers starting coming on all by themselves !

Wipers don't stay on all the time, but come on randomly, anywhere from a few minutes interval between 'swipes' to intervals of 30 min. ? They never stay on 'permanent'.

When I activate the wipers manually, they operate normal !
Any idea what's going on here?

Obviously, if it was a bad fuse, they wouldn't operate at all.
Thinking maybe a 'short' in the system ?

Can a dealer run diagnostics to test for something like this?

Thoughts ?

I suspect that the switch that controls the use of the wipers is on its way out.

Are you handy?

There may be a YouTube tutorial.

I recall having a similar problem on a Ford a few years back -- it was the windshield wiper switch. Fairly simple fix, I believe, but it was a company car so I don't know the details or the cost.

Thanks for both responses, greatly appreciated !

Looked on YouTube and does look like an easy fix, but on vacation this week, going to spend time on the boat. Besides, just got back from a 1 wk Corporate trip and need the time to de-compress !

Not going to take time away from Vac.to do fix, car will go to my local mechanic who knows foreign cars very well.

Looking at YouTube video, looks like about a 30 min fix, definitely under 1 hour.
I think the part itself may cost more than the labor ? TBD

Thanks.
BD

Made appt to have car diagnosed by Belknap Subaru.
When I arrived at appt and Service dept said they couldn't actually perform a test on the wiper switch module, but may somehow be able to check Ohms going to switch? They said that test would be difficult.

OK, backup a couple hours..... I had driven the car over an hour before going to Belknap appt, and wipers didn't automatically go on by themselves as they had been for the last week. Working normally, go figure ! I tried turning wipers on/off, but couldn't get them to fail. So I show up to appt telling Belknap about the wiper issue, and everything seems normal now???

FYI, there was a factory recall on the wiper motor, and apparently that was previously replaced under warranty. I purchased car in 2013 as a 24 mo lease -off car with 27k miles.... Belknap Subaru did lookup all factory Recalls but found nothing about 'wiper switch'. However, there was a Subaru 'Service Bulletin' relating to wiper switch failure, but it wasn't a 'factory recall'. So let me see if I understand this, there is NO Recall relating to the switch that controls the wiper motor, but there IS a Recall for the wiper motor, makes no sense ??? The Service Bulletin for wiper Switch does not cover replacement under warranty or otherwise.

So now my dilemma..... roll the dice and wait for the wipers to fail again, to go on/off at will, or worse.... not at all ! Would be my luck, wipers would fail to work during a rainstorm......

Subaru tech had seen this wiper switch issue before on other Subies'.
Thinking logically the wiper switch is the brain, and tells the wiper motor when to come on/off. so the issue has to be the switch !

That said, having the dealer order the wiper switch, and install. Crossing fingers this will resolve the issue, still TBD........

Most likely the wiper switch.

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/...osition-2.html

Intermittent electrical issues are very hard to diagnose.

Replace the switch.

Had Belknap Subaru replace wiper switch. They did a great job took 30 mins. and washed car before they gave it back to me :) All around great experience ! Customer service is not dead in America !

Wipers working fine again.

They washed and vacuumed my car when I had it serviced there.

My Springer Spaniel is quite generous with her fur.

I suppose the person cleaning cars quit after doing mine. :eek:

It's good to hear it was nothing more serious.

It seems that these cars have their similar (but minor) issues. I anticipate my wipers going rogue next.

A friend of mine told me today about his MB in FL losing its a/c in 98* heat wth some "seasoned" citizens aboard. The dealer quoted $14,100 for the repair. His car is a 2011 hybrid with 32,000 miles on it. He convinced the MB factory customer relations guy to warranty the repair.

$14,100 is about half the price of my Forester.

I'll take the occasional Subaru switch replacement thank you.