Will a dry windshield fry a wiper motor?

[benhanson]

Regarding my 91 318i:

I replaced my wiper motor about 3 months ago.  It had fried itself, getting hot enough to melt the plastic shield that goes over it.  IIRC, I had left the car to warm up(I'm in AK) and when I returned I smelled the smell of plastic cooking and the wipers didn't work.

So I replaced the motor, all seemed well, then tonight I stopped to do some work, left the car idling under the car port, and when I came out after about 10 minutes the motor was smoking, and again no wipers.

Can this happen just due to friction from a dry, but warm windshield?  Are these motors prone to self destruction?

I do NOT look forward to doing that replacement again.

[Choking Hazard]

When I lived in Germany, many people lifted the wipers off the windshield if the car stayed out overnight to keep the wipers from freezing to the windshield.  But were yours even turned on?

[hoevesruperd]

i don't think a dry windshield would fry a motor, check your linkage for damages or obstructions. maybe the smell comes from the relay?

[beegeezy]

hmmm, you were running the wipers on a dry windshield? Why? Still sounds kinda funny that it would burn up two motors like that. check your wiring.