VW Caddy Wipers Dead: Switch vs Module Diagnosis

Having dealt with a similar issue on my 2006 VW Golf, I can share some relevant experience. As someone with moderate experience working on VWs, the symptoms you describe match what I encountered. The wiper switch on my car also failed completely, but the real culprit turned out to be a loose connection in the steering column wiring harness. The workshop found that the cable connecting the wiper switch to the control module had deteriorated over time. The repair involved accessing the steering column, replacing the damaged wiring, and testing the wiper switch functionality. Total cost was 95€, including parts and labor. Since then, both the intermittent and continuous wiper functions have worked perfectly. Before proceeding with repairs, could you share: Does the turn signal still work normally? Can you hear any motor noise when activating the wiper switch? Does the cruise control function properly? Have you checked if the wiper blades are physically stuck? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different. The workshop mentioned these are common failure points in VWs from that era, especially regarding the wiring connections.

Thanks for your input. Just had my last service at 34134km and I noticed an important detail, when activating the wiper switch, I can actually hear a faint clicking sound from the wiper motor area, but no movement occurs. The turn signals and cruise control are working fine, and I manually checked the wiper blades, they move freely with no obstruction. Based on what you described about the wiring harness issue, I am wondering if checking the connections around the wiper motor might be worth a shot before replacing the entire wiper switch assembly. Did your mechanic mention any specific testing procedure for isolating whether its a wiring issue versus a failed motor?

Based on that clicking sound you describe, your issue sounds different from what I experienced with my Golf. Though my wiring harness was the culprit, I never heard any clicking from the wiper motor area. The clicking noise typically indicates the wiper motor is receiving power but failing to operate properly. In my case, when the wiring harness had issues, there was no sound at all. Since your turn signals work fine and theres clearly power reaching the motor, I would now suspect the wiper motor itself rather than the wiring or switch. The workshop that fixed my car shared a simple test procedure: With a voltmeter, check if 12V reaches the wiper motor when activated. If voltage is present and you hear clicking, its likely the motor has failed internally. The wiper motor replacement on VWs from our era usually costs around 180€ including labor. As a related experience: After fixing my original wiring issue, I actually had the wiper motor fail two years later with similar symptoms to what youre describing. The clicking sound was the main indicator that helped diagnose the failed motor versus the wiring problem. Have you noticed if the clicking sound happens consistently every time you use the switch, or is it intermittent?

Thanks for that detailed explanation. Yes, the clicking sound is completely consistent, happens every single time I activate the switch, regardless of speed setting. Given what you shared about your experiences with both the wiring harness and motor issues, I think I will have the motor checked first. The rain sensor still shows activity on the dashboard when it detects moisture, which further suggests the wiring connections are probably okay. Since the windshield wipers are a safety feature, I will book it into a workshop this week to have them perform that voltage test you mentioned and likely replace the wiper motor. The 180€ cost estimate helps with budgeting, definitely worth fixing properly rather than risking driving without working wipers. Really appreciate you sharing both your repair experiences, as it helped narrow down the likely cause. Will update once I get the official diagnosis and repair completed.