The intermitten wiper relay is bad just found this on my daughters 1994 Jeep GC. If you remove the cover under your hood release cable to the left of the brake petal you will find the relay. You can pull it out and hook the wiring harresses together and wipers will work, but the intermitten will not.
Weak battery or alternator output.
I just had this same problem with my 1998 VW Jetta. My parking brake light came on one day, but only half illuminated. Shortly after my windshield wipers and headlights stopped working. My radio works but the fans don't work either. I just found a thread which seems to point the problem at the ignition switch: http://car.justanswer.com/volkswagen/6uht-1998-volkswagen-jetta-headlights
Blown fuse.
The fuse, if not, then the switch, then the motor, but by then you will also need a test light and/or a DMM.
The car battery. Same as the lights, cigarette lighter, windshield wipers, power windows, power seats, and the heater (for a little while), when the engine is off.
If the windshield wipers work when pushing the lever down but not when they are turned on all the time, the problem could be in the wiper motor relay switch. There are two different relay switches for the windshield wipers, so that if the one fails a person can still clear the windshield manually.
Windshield wipers don't work
Why are there windshield wipers inside the car?
I have a 2004 and the same problem, did you ever find out why? Thanks Jeff
Replace the windshield wipers.
They come on when you turn on the windshield washer, but only when the headlights are turned on.
Mary Anderson invented windshield wipers in 1903.
When purchasing windshield wipers that work intermittently, they can be any windshield wipers that are the correct size. The ability to work intermittently is a wiring/fuse ordeal. This does not play a part in the selection of windshield wipers that you choose from.
The windshield wipers go back in forth if you now now what i mean
Many vehicles have a "mist" feature that makes the wipers swipe one time upon startup to remove mist or fog. This normally can be turned off...check manual.
A bad relay switch will cause the windshield wipers to not turn off. Replace the relay switch and the windshield wipers should turn off.
replaceing windshield wipers toyota truck