Windshield Wiper Won't Turn Off

[Bosn Mate]

The boat has been put away for the winter. The other night, I heard a noise and discovered that the middle windshield wiper was on but...……….the switch was off. The only way I could get it off was to turn off the house battery switch; I have a shore-tie connection between the boat and house and leave house batteries on for the cabin lights.

Any ideas on what is causing this?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Not sure what the correct answer is but I’d suggest pushing the black rubber button above or below the wiper switch to reset the wiper system. Additionally I’d pull the spade fuses for the wipers, sump and bulge pumps, as a precaution. There has been posts on Tugnuts about both mysteriously coming on. If the boat is in storage why take the risk.

Jim

 

[knotflying]

There are actually two circuits to the wiper. The regular switch and then the park circuit. Notice how the wiper always returns to the top? Chances are that the contact in the motor is malfunctioning. There is a cam on the shaft and after you turn off the switch the contact stays connected until the cam opens it and hence the motor turns off in the up position. The contact blade most likely has moved and is no longer aligned with the cam and it is remaining in the on connection. You will have to remove the motor and open it up and adjust the contact with the cam. Either that or the contact has broken. If you can't get to it now you can always pull the fuse for the park circuit. Unfortunately then when you turn off any of your wipers they will shut down at whatever position they may be in.

 

[Bosn Mate]

Jim/Mike:

Thanks for the advice!

Working with Kenny Marrs, I disconnected the middle wiper switch and substituted it with a known good one - still had the problem. Then I disconnected the wiper park wire and the wiper motor shut off. So, as Mike explained, it is probably the motor itself.

Mike

 

[Connerkip]

Mine was acting erratically. There was a factory wiring problem with two speed wipers for a few years. I'm not sure your motor is bad. I'll send you my email address via PM and I'll be able to share more info. So you can check.

Vessels Affected:
All Ranger Tug 25, 27, 29, and 31 models, and Cutwater Boat 26, 28, and 30 models equipped with the above-mentioned wiring, starting with hull numbers that were produced between 2011 and ending with hull numbers as noted below:
Cutwater 30: 3006-415 Cutwater 28: 2808-415 Cutwater 26: 2608-415 Ranger 31: 3115-415

 

[Chriscz128]

I am planning on replacing my starboard wiper motor on a 2014 Cutwater 28. The starboard side is not working and the port side is acting strange. Sometimes the starboard wiper switch appears to operate the port wiper. I plan on digging in to the diagnostics this weekend.
Kip indicated in this thread that there was a wiring issues in some boats. What was the solution to that issue?
Any advice appreciated.

Chris

 

[KKRCRACE]

I have a C 24 and it did the exact same thing. Put a new switch in and problem solved. I called Cutwater and they said that they were not aware of the switches going bad.I carry a spare one in the boat now.
KKRCRACE