I had a regular size Dodge Van a few years back that I gave 3500 for and it only gave me one mechanical issue so two years ago, I decided I wanted another only with the hi top so there was more room when my two boys and I traveled in it. I found one I liked online down in Arlington and made them a lower offer which they accepted then drove thru the night to get there when they opened pretty much. As I looked the van over, I realized their "pinstrip" attempt was done to cover up major rust and asked them to knock a couple hundred more off the price but they said no because we had agreed on a price over the phone. Oh well.
Well, I decided to do an oil change on it not too much later and was amazed the engine is still in the van judging by the amount of rust covering the entire under body!!! I always have and still think that it probably sat in the flood waters of Katrina for quite awhile especially after attempting a plugs, wires, rotor and d cap change last August. I found out after opening the doghouse that there was NO WAY I would be able to reach 4 of the plugs from the front, back or side of the engine and took it to a service shop to let them finish what I started. I asked them over the phone what they would charge for finishing what I started before taking it in and more than half the day later wondering what was taking so long and finding out the price had tripled, I questioned what on earth. They handed me one of the plugs which was covered in rust and said what took so long was having to be extremely careful that they didn't break one off. No doubt.
Ford tuff my hiney!! This thing ran like a top and still does despite the rust. In fact, I half think the rust is holding it together good seeing how the front end handles differently after spending 1700 bucks on all kind of stuff up under there, LOL!
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. The place I bought it from now has a creme puff of a 2001 in a that I am hoping they will let me trade the one I have toward the newer one. Couldn't they give me a little more than half of what I paid considering it only has about 35k more miles than when I bought it if even that much and that it has all newer tires, 1700 bucks worth of front end work, new tune up and air conditioner servicing last summer (and changed the stock cassette stereo to a CD and mp3 player version)? Or am I dreaming and wishin and hopin? Ha!

The rust example they nearly pulled over on me.

 

Aw man!! Spoke too soon!! Wiper motor died Christmas day.....gonna be tough affording that fixture replacement! ROFL!!
Naw, they're about 95 at Advance so does anyone know where this thing is located so I can find out if I will be able to handle it myself?
Thanks!!

 

If you lift the hood and look about middle of the under hood on the fire wall you will see it. You will have to remove the wipers and the cowl to get to the main wiper transmission nut, but the rest is under the hood (3 bolts and a wire clip). Fairly easy job even for a novice.

Make sure you have a full can of Penetrating oil (like Liquid Wrench) cause if the under body is that rusted, it will be close to that under the cowl. Also if you youtube wiper motor dodge truck it is close to the same as our dodge vans. Sadly there is not that much as for guides via youtube on dodge vans, but a boat load via dodge trucks.

 

It's too bad the hood tilts so much so as to not be able to just sit on it and go to town, LOL!
Even at 5'8 and slender, I can still barely reach even close to the middle (like when I am cleaning the window with a squeegee).

 

That is where a small steep ladder comes in handy (always hated those crates, they always kick out). My other half is always yelling at me to return her steep stool (she needs for in the kitchen) cause I steel it and use it outside when I am working on my van. DOH reminds me I have to bring in her larger one she uses to change light bulbs in our home, worked wonderful so I could reach the top of my high top van. LOL

 

I did say I checked the fuse but I thought this morning "Is there a fuse for it in the box under the hood?"
I somehow knew there was one for a horn issue on a boyfriends Toyota 5000 moons ago so I wouldn't see why not.

 

Well, that was sweet, LOL! I go out job hunting in a torrential downpour relying only on the rain-x to take care of things, check it like I have done at random every few days, nothing.....check it after the rain has all but stopped about 20 minutes later and lo and behold, it is back on!
How weird is that?!

 

So, the wipers are working again? OK, sounds like a ground wire issue. Clean off all of the surface contacts and connections to the wiper motor.

Check all of the wiring from the wiper motor back to the battery.