PoriferaPhylum

I have a 1999 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro in which the windshield wiper fuse keeps blowing. It is a 25 white fuse that the owners manual stated is the proper figment. I purchased a brand new windshield wiper motor, the entire wiper transmission, & the appropriate fuses. I have also had a mechanic look over the entire vehicle to make sure there isn’t a ground or electrical wire issue. The mechanic stated that all the wires tested perfectly fine and that there is no short of any kind. Once I put the new wiper transmission in, it started working just fine, but then after about 15 seconds, the fuse blew. I turned the car off and put another fuse in. As soon as I started my car with the new fuse in, it blew right away without me turning on the wipers. I am completely lost in what to do at this point.

If anyone has any experience with this please share your knowledge, tips, & tricks so that I can get this to finally work. Thank you very much in advance for all of your time & help.

Cybersombosis

I have a suspicion that it is the wiper stalk. Dust gets in them and when it mixes with the grease, it becomes conductive. I have rebuilt them in my past VAG cars and I’ve witnessed smoke coming from the stalk from it arcing. You can either rebuild or buy a new one but if you are cheap like me, I’d attempt the free version first. Regardless if you want to rebuild it or replace it, the steering wheel will need to be removed so make sure to mark it. I put a piece of tape across the void between the wheel and the cowling and cut the tape with a blade. Then just match it up when reinstalling.

If you are handy with a digital multimeter you can test the circuit. Set your meter to ohms. Put one lead of your meter on the negative terminal on the battery since it is nice and close and stick the other end into the brown/ground terminal of the wiper plug. You should get a reaction on your meter telling you there is continuity to ground. The next step with the fuse removed, is take the lead and stick it in the other terminal and see if you get a reaction. It should not react as it should be an open circuit. If you get a response, you have a short to ground between the plug and fuse panel. Now switch your stalk to the on position and see if you get a reaction. If you do, then something in your stalk is shorting to ground.

Do these tests and get back to us.

The Stig

I agree with Cyber! You can try rebuilding it yourself to fix the issue. If you're paying a mechanic to install, then need to replace the wiper stalk with a new or salvage part.

Droscheautomobil

My car is a 2000 A4 B5 Avant, and I have the exact same problem, the 25A fuse is blows in the same instant I turn on the wipers.

I have changed the wiper motor and the linkage or whats it called, but it has not helped. Both brand new, not salvaged parts.

Can it be something with the new motor? It was bought from a VAG aftermarket parts "specialist" here in Norway, so it shouldn't be the motor.

Only thing I can think about is a short circuit somewhere, but how likely is that?

All thoughts are appreciated, as I need to get my car road legal again, and buying a different car now, a year into covid is really not an option. (Our politicians have basically held Oslo in a full lockdown the last year, and it feels like I am in the zombie apocalyapse, only things that is open is grocery stores, pharmacies, and other "essentials". No restaraunts, night life, cinemas, nothing since march 2020)