Rear windshield wiper does not move even though I can hear motor working

If upon turning the switch, you hear either a buzzing or a noise coming from the wiper area but no movement of the windshield wipers, then it becomes likely that there is a mechanical problem. In front wiper systems, there are two moving parts, the wiper motor and the wiper transmission. In rear wiper systems with a single wiper, there’s a single moving part, the wiper motor.

If you hear a buzz, it could be a motor straining to move a jammed wiper transmission or a locked motor gear. If you hear a grind coming from the wiper area, it could be a stripped gear in either the motor, the transmission or where the wiper arm splines to the wiper motor in the rear. Don’t let the term transmission fill you with dread; it’s simply a term for a multi-lever set of arms and hinges that turn the circular motion of the wiper motor into the side to side motion of the wiper arms. It is also possible that the spline on the post of the front wiper arms is stripped.

Generally speaking, you can reach the motor and transmission by removing the wiper arms, all the screws that hold the cowl beneath the wiper arms and the weather stripping. Once exposed, you should be able to remove the motor from the transmission and check to see if the transmission is binding or if the motor is the culprit. Simply, replace the culprit, and reassemble.

If the problem is with the rear wiper system, getting to the wiper motor can be more difficult with far more trim to remove than with a front system. You may elect to consult your mechanic for help.

Possible wiper linkage has broken/seperated from wiper motor. The wiper cowling covering the linkage assembly will need to be removed to inspect/repair

Your owners manual will give you fuse location and identification for the rear wiper. Most likely a wiper motor problem though. Turn on rear wiper and grab rear wiper arm and see if it will move at all. If it does move a bit or starts working....the motor is the problem

check the nuts on the wiper arms and make sure they are tight. If the nuts are tight then a linkage on the wiper transmission probably came loose or broke. You'll have to pull some cowling off to access it.

Sounds like the windshield wiper motor needs to be replaced. The gear inside may be stripped so you'll hear it running but it won't do anything. I've had that happen with the rear wiper motor. Hope that helps.

If you hear a clicking sound, then you know you have power. Check to see if the motor arm is moving any at the wiper arm.The small cap that covers the wiper arm to motor can be pulled apart, to see if the nut is loose or if the gear housing is stripped on the wiper arm, or if the motor drive is stripped. These are say to check and are cost effective for you.

It sounds like the wiper motor has a bad gear. Replace the motor and it should solve your problem.

Hi, you wont be able to move the wipers manually as they will be locked by the motor. There is only two obvious reasons why the motor should fail again. The new motor was a poor quality replacement or there is an underlying problem on the car like the wiper motor mechanism has excessive play or is stiff/tight and over working the motor causing it to fail. you need to have a proper check over before swapping it again.

You broke the wiper transmission. Most of the time they are dealer only parts.

Check in your user's manual for your fuse location on the rear windshield wiper. These grand cherokee's have electronic actuators in every door. Inside these actuators they have very little motors and move everything via plastic. Very bad design flaw, as most of these actuators are 300-400 dollars to replace. You can find ones in salvage yards for 50 though. On your rear hatch, the door and the window are run by this actuator.