Wiper Motor Failure

[beaker]

Normally I keep my wipers set to 'off' but I must have left them on auto. Came out on a 20 degree morning and during the hello wipe the driver side wiper motor got stuck. Normally that is no big deal - it just won't work until you physically loosen the blade if it is frozen.

Did that and now the motor is more or less not working. The passenger side will wipe normally but the driver side only sends the blade up like an inch and then back.

Hard and soft reset, no change.

Service requested but is there any further DiY troubleshooting I can do?

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Came out on a 20 degree morning

20° F is below freezing. The obvious question, was it frozen when you tried to use it? which caused the failure? Defrost windshield on the heated setting, to activate heating element in the windshield, where wiper blades rest, before you attempt to move them. You probably forced the wiper arm loose from its spindle and or ruined the splines on the spindle. It's a mechanical failure. Neither software resets will do anything for it. This isn't a wiper design that is proprietary to Rivian. Same abuse and failure could have been done to any car. Now that the deed is done, service ticket.

 

[iforbes]

Did you check the nut holding the wiper arm down? Easy fix would be to tighten it if loose. Hopefully it’s that simple!

 

[beaker]

20° F is below freezing. The obvious question, was it frozen when you tried to use it? which caused the failure? Defrost wind shield on the heated setting, to activate heating element in the windshield, where wiper blades rest, before you attempt to move them. You probably forced the wiper arm loose from its spindle and or ruined the splines on the spindle. It's a mechanical failure. Neither software resets will do anything for it. This isn't a wiper design that is proprietary to Rivian. Same abuse and failure could have been done to any car. Now that the deed is done, service ticket.

Yeah, this is why the hello wipe is the dumbest design in history.

 

[iforbes]

Yeah, this is why the hello wipe is the dumbest design in history.

To be clear, it is not a “hello wipe”, rather the sensor is detecting moisture. To be fair, often dust or pollen confuses the sensor.

if it was a “hello wipe” it would happen to everyone every single time and that just simply does not happen.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yeah, this is why the hello wipe is the dumbest design in history.

To be clear, it is not a “hello wipe”, rather the sensor is detecting moisture. To be fair, often dust or pollen confuses the sensor.

if it was a “hello wipe” it would happen to everyone every single time and that just simply does not happen.

Yup. There is no such feature, it's internet hearsay (BS). If there was, it would consistently do a wipe every single time. And it doesn't. Instead it has to do with what the rain sensor sees and falsely interpreting it as rain drops—be it light glare or dust.

YouTube search "how to fix loose wiper arm" and you'll see examples on other vehicles. But since Rivian SC is the only source for replacement parts, you'll need to get in touch with them anyway. Submit the service ticket. If you are close enough to one, you could try your luck as a walk-in.

 

[beaker]

To be clear, it is not a “hello wipe”, rather the sensor is detecting moisture. To be fair, often dust or pollen confuses the sensor.

if it was a “hello wipe” it would happen to everyone every single time and that just simply does not happen.

My R1T has done it every time for 2 years unless I remember to turn the auto wipers off. My non Rivian car with auto wipers does not do it and it’s set to auto all the time.

So whether it’s a hello wipe or a failure to disallow an autowipe on wake, it’s a design choice by Rivian and is costing them service time., to be clear.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

My R1T has done it every time for 2 years unless I remember to turn the auto wipers off. My non Rivian car with auto wipers does not do it.

So whether it’s a hello wipe or a failure to disallow an autowipe on wake, it’s a design choice by Rivian and is costing them service time.

THERE. IS. NO. SUCH. FEATURE.

 

[beaker]

THERE. IS. NO. SUCH. FEATURE.

You can call it a bug if you want. Most features are.

 

[iforbes]

Or a bad module/sensor/etc. just because it happens to you all the time does not mean it happens to everyone.

I suggest you open a ticket.

Did the tighten-the-nut trick work?

 

[SwampNut]

any further DiY troubleshooting I can do?

These guys can help you solve the root problem: https://www.uhaul.com/

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