What is a Wiper Motor?
The small electric motor and linkage that actually swings the wipers across the glass
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
The wiper motor is a compact electric motor, usually tucked under the scuttle panel at the base of the windscreen, that drives the wiper arms back and forth. It works alongside a metal linkage (sometimes called a wiper rack or transmission) that converts the motor's spinning motion into the sweeping arc you see on the glass. Most cars have one motor for the front wipers and a separate, smaller one for the rear screen if fitted.
"Think of the wiper motor like the motor in an electric toothbrush. The brush head does the visible work, but it's the small motor in the handle that drives the whole movement. If that motor weakens or fails, the brush either slows down, stops working properly, or stops altogether — exactly what happens to tired wipers."
How it works
When you flick the wiper stalk, a signal is sent to the motor (often via a control module). The motor spins a crank arm, which pushes and pulls the wiper linkage. That linkage is geared so it converts a continuous rotation into the limited side-to-side sweep of the arms. The motor has multiple speeds — intermittent, slow and fast — controlled by varying the voltage or pulsing the motor on and off. A park sensor inside the motor makes sure the wipers always return to the bottom of the screen when you switch them off, rather than stopping mid-sweep.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Wipers moving slowly even on the fastest setting
- ⚠Wipers stopping halfway up the screen instead of parking at the bottom
- ⚠Only one wiper moving while the other stays still
- ⚠Clicking, grinding or whirring noise from under the scuttle when wipers run
- ⚠Wipers completely dead, even though the fuse is fine
- ⚠Wipers working intermittently or only on certain speed settings
£140 to £420 fitted, depending on the car and whether the linkage needs replacing too
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.