make up some jumper wires and see if you can make the motor run by jumping direct to the battery. If it runs that way, then just clean all that out hardened grease, re-lube, an re-install it. Then start looking for the wire that is shorted out and you can just about bet it'll be around the hinge area of the rear hatch.

Turn on the switch and start jiggling the wire bundles. Pretty simple, but still a PITA! Frankly, I did all the above about 18 times, tried 2 other used motors, cleaned switches, replaced the 58 buck relay, and nothing worked until I jiggled that bundle of wires....found the short and re-spliced it.

I had forgotten about the "backed out screws"...mine had the same deal and you'll see what we're talking about if your's are the same way. I also resorted to zip ties to re-attach the black plastic cover that had deformed over 25 years. Zip ties are a good thing!

Rainy days, it sure is nice to have a working rear wiper.

__________________
Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day