snow and electrical problems

[phill]

So I went out to drive my car today and when i started it everything was normal except for the fact that my gauges(glowshift tinted 7 color) the needle was lit up but the rest of the gauge face wasn't. after i wiped 18" of snow off of my car i hit the wipers and they went about half way up and stopped. couldnt get them to work at all again. I checked the fuses and they're good. im stumped.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Where are you and how cold was it? Was the car charging properly?

 

[phill]

flagstaff AZ, its somewhere in the 30's or 20's. and its a brand new battery

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Is the alternator charging it though? Did you check to make sure ice isn't stuck in the arms? It doesn't take much to stop them.

 

[Kickerbeast]

Just because the battery is new doesn't mean that the alternator is charging. That was the point. If the alternator isn't charging and you are running off of the battery, as the battery drains things will stop working, which is what it sounds like your guage did. I'm guessing that the needle uses an actual bulb which will light even with low voltage. The face likely will not if the voltage gets too low, it will just stop working.

 

[phill]

alternator is recently new too. is the snow a problem. ive been driving it everyday in >30 degree weather for a few weeks now

they moved half way up and just stopped. idk if its the motor or what. ive pulled on them pretty hard and they're not moving so they are still connected to the motor

 

[Kickerbeast]

The snow shouldn't be a problem unless you have some messed up wiring somewhere. I would still double check that the alternator is actually charging. Basics first. Maybe the wiper motor just decided it was done. I would check to make sure the alternator is charging and then if everything is good there I would check out the motor itself. Check for power and ground on the proper pins at the motor.