In my '88 aerostar there were plastic gears that would snap/sheer if the blades were frozen to the windshield in the winter and the driver turned them on. Ask me how I know
It sounds like you have a similar problem in your wiper assembly.
In my '88 aerostar there were plastic gears that would snap/sheer if the blades were frozen to the windshield in the winter and the driver turned them on. Ask me how I knowi jumpered directly to the motor and the motor would work but there was this snapping noise and no wipers moving.