Windshield Wiper question

I have a 90 XJ, my wipers recently started having problems. Whenever I turn them on intermittent or low or high the lights in my Jeep will dim and they will move and get stuck or they won't go at all. The only time they actually work is when I use the mist on the switch. My turn signals work fine, but my cruise doesn't work. I read in my jeep owners manual about a 4.8 circuit for the front wipers, my question is when these go bad can they short causing the wipers to do this? or when they go out do the wipers quit working? I have already used the search function and I felt it was better if I posted all of this

any ideas?

Lights dimming sounds like a short in the wiper motor, as the wiper motor otherwise shouldn't be drawing enough power to affect the headlights and there are no other connections between the two systems. Shorts are hard to find - I hate all electrical gremlins like that and I'm not too good at diagnosing that kind of thing. I guess the short could be either in the wiper motor itself or in the stalk off the steering column where the control is. The fact that the mist works is significant, as that uses a different circuit. (I assume your lights don't dim in this case?)

You might try removing the wiper motor and make a visual inspection of the wiring on the outside of it. I had to replace a motor a while back and it wasn't too hard. The motor itself is sealed and I wouldn't suggest breaking into it unless you know what you're doing, but the whole assembly is in a rubber boot and has connections on the outside. Maybe is the problem is simply that the boot has deteriorated and the leads on the motor are touching sheet metal - that would be an easy fix. If not, then you can swap out the wiper motor with a friend, maybe, or get a rebuilt one from autozone (about $50, if I remember right). If you still have the problem, then it must be a short up in the control stalk, at which point you can pull your hair and bang your head against the nearest wall (or swap out the whole steering column, which is about $125 at a junkyard and again not too very difficult to accomplish).

Pop the cowl cover up and check for any broken linkages. I know the brace that goes across the two splined mounts for the arms was broken on mine. Every now and then I would get a bang from the wipers or they would stick and the relay would make all sorts of clicking noises.

Right my lights don't dim when I use the mist

Alright guys so something weird has happened, my wipers work again

It's the magic of

an intermitant work/no work would suggest a wire short. the fact that all works well now would mean that the short is no longer shorting at this time.

you may be fine, or it may rear its ugly head again later.