My rear wiper on my 96 impreza outback hasnt worked since I bought it. Now that its winter (aka the rainy season) I'd like it to work. None of my fuses are blown and I'm terrible with electronic stuff so I don't even know where to start. It is just stuck in place in the middle of the rear window. When I turn the knob to turn the wiper on nothing happens...no sound of a motor...nothing. My rear window washer fluid also does not spray though I do hear a sound of something trying to work when i twist the knob for washer fluid...nothing comes out though. Suggestions on where I should start trying to solve the problem?

Most likely the motor.  I'd check for voltage at the motor or grab a used one and plug it in.  

 

Could be the switch arm or wiring.

one possible issue for the rear wiper is a broken wire in the harness where it moves from the chassis to the hatch.

the washer issue is likely a hose issue,

maybe where it jumps from the chassis to the hatch.

cascadeclimbn,

 

As suggested, the wiring break in the rubber gaitor to the tailgate is one issue, but more probably the motor shaft is seized from lack of use. The steel shaft to the wiper arm frequently seizes to the corrosive properties of the cast aluminum/white metal/whatever of the motor case. Try removing the entire motor from the tailgate and with luck and lots of penetrating oil you may be able to free it up. Frequently asking the motor to turn while the shaft was seized may have burned the motor out. You won't know until you try.

 

My first OBW (a 97) had the same issue. I drilled the rivets out of the motor case and eventually got the shaft free. After cleaning it up well, I lubed it liberally with waterproof grease and used small nuts and machine screws to put it back together. Worked like a charm.