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Acura RDX: Why Don't My Windshield Wipers Work?

Read on and we'll help you discover the most likely causes of windshield wiper failure and how to fix them.

By Jared Hammond - April 27, 2016

This article applies to the Acura RDX (2007-2016).

There are some things that are just expected to work when you need them, and your windshield wipers are one of them. When a problem crops up with the windshield wipers, like when you get stuck in a sudden downpour, no one ever wants to be in a position where their windshield gets so covered in rain, snow, or dust that you have to pull over. So keep reading to learn more about fixing your windshield wipers.

Even if they are working, the rubber blades should be replaced about every 6 months
Figure 1. Even if they are working, the rubber blades should be replaced about every six months.
Acura RDX: Why Don't My Windshield Wipers Work?

Materials Needed

  • Plastic trim tool
  • Multimeter

Step 1 – Are the wipers hitting the A-pillar or the cowl?

Wipers that no longer travel the correct path back and forth can be caused by a few different things.

  • Make sure the wiper arms aren't bent, which can happen if you use automated car washes.
  • Next, make sure the wiper arms are oriented correctly on their splined mounts.
  • Remove the cap, the 14mm nut, and the arm itself, and try rotating it one tooth on the shaft.
Take off each wiper arm and see if it is mounted out of adjustment
Figure 2. Take off each wiper arm and see if it is mounted out of adjustment.

If that doesn't work, then you'll need the arms off anyway to remove the cowl, so you can take a look at the wiper mechanism.

  • Remove the wiper arms, then gently pry up to release the clips along the cowl.
  • Check the mounting bolts on the motor and the linkage, then make sure that's not loose.
  • Check the linkage and the plastic bushings attached to them, which get worn down over a period of use.
  • The only way to replace the bushing is to replace the rod and the dust seals. Fortunately, these are not too expensive to replace.
  • Remove the cowl to inspect the wiper mechanism
    Figure 3. Remove the cowl to inspect the wiper mechanism.
  • Replace the rods and bushings to fix wiper movement problems
    Figure 4. Replace the rods and bushings to fix wiper movement problems.

Step 2 – Is your wiper motor not working at all?

It could be because it's not receiving power, or the motor could have burned out. First check the fuse box under the driver's side dash and find the fuse for the windshield wipers. Use a multimeter to test the fuse for continuity between both sides. You can also tun the car on, turn the wiper switch on, and test for power going to the fuse itself. If the fuse has power, continue with the multimeter and test the wires connected to the motor itself, which should be getting at least 12 volts when the switch is on. If the motor has power but still doesn't work, it is likely a problem with the motor itself, but you might want to try disconnecting the wiper arms and see if the motor works then. It is possible for the arms to become jammed or rusted and not work.

If it's an electrical problem, then you should first inspect the electrical connectors going to the motor, since it's sometimes possible for a connector to come loose or get corroded. If it's not that, then check the rest of the wiring to see where it could have possibly gone wrong.

Typical Acura wiper motor and drive
Figure 5. Typical Acura wiper motor and drive.

Step 3 – Are your automatic wipers not working?

First make sure that your vehicle is actually equipped with the automatic wiper feature, which you'll know because the wiper control switch will have an automatic option. You can test the automatic function by switching the wipers to automatic and then spraying the windshield with water. If the wipers don't move on their own, then there is likely something wrong with your rain sensor, which is located on the back of your rear-view mirror facing the windshield.

Check the rain sensor for automatic wiper problems
Figure 6. Check the rain sensor for automatic wiper problems.

Step 4 – Is the windshield washer not working?

There are a few different things that you can check.

  • Is there fluid in the reservoir? Make sure you're not out of washer fluid before checking anything else.
  • Is it a burned out fuse? Check the fuse box in the driver's side kick panel for the windshield washer motor fuse, and check the fuse with a multimeter. If it registers a large amount of resistance, then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced.
  • Is it frozen lines? If conditions are cold enough the washer fluid will freeze in the lines. You'll need to bring the car into a heated garage or heat the lines using a hair dryer.
  • Is it the washer pump? Have an assistant turn on the washer, while you listen for the pump to run. If it does run and there is fluid in the reservoir, it most likely is just bad.

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