Foretravel Owners' Forum

I was running new rubber tubing inside my windshield wipers, and thought it would be easier to take the wiper off to accomplish this.  The driver's side went fine, but on the passenger side, I snapped the bolt that holds the secondary (smaller) arm on.  I have new mount's for the wiper arms coming from Foretravel, but, the two bolts/nuts holding them on require you to go in through the inside dash area to access the nuts.  The nut's are behind the electrical panel and not accessible as is.  Has anybody had to work on the passenger side wiper mount, and have a way to access those nuts?  They are behind the top left area of the board in picture. 

Oh, sorry Bruce. I have no advice or experience but I have lots of empathy and compassion.

Michael

Have you removed the top of the dash?  Mine is held on with Velcro.  I think you will then find that the plywood substrate has holes cut in it to give you access to the wipers.  You may have to make them larger.  I did a write up several years ago on taking apart the dash which included pictures.  I would guess your model year is similar.

Rich

Link to dash access post.

Dash Removal (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=18705.msg129420#msg129420)

Rich

Dash on a '95-00 is slightly different than an '01-05.

I've not dug that deep into our 00 dash, and hope I never have to, but here are some thoughts/ideas.

On our 00, that white panel, the one  with all the wires and relays, is screwed to an "L" bracket, which itself is screwed into the bottom of the dash.  So to release the top you would have to remove those screws as a start.  Look across the top of the panel and you should see them.  Mine are not easy to reach.

Next all the screws across the top of your picture, the ones in the wood section, they look to screw into the front metal frame section, I bet those all have to be removed.  Also there will be (2) screws under the flaps of that grab handle, those would have to be removed.  Once all those are out, I'd guess that top panel would lift/pull off, it might be held with Velcro as Rich has shown in his pictures.

Realize there are many hot connections on that panel, battery disconnection is always a good choice, drop one of those many screws you are trying to removing and you will get surprised.

You need to take the top off on the dash and look for the hole in the plywood.  Do not drop the nut though. 

I've been in there several times. Opening up the access was a great mod. I used a sawzal and a vacuumed to collect cuttings. So since you're in this deep I highly recommend greasing the wiper shafts. By now they are dried out. Check the wiper motor mount bolts. Mine were  loose and it made a huge improvement to wiper smoothness.
Windshield wiper shafts (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=46254.0)

Here is what Steve thinks will work:

Remove all hardware/vents from this panel


That panel appears to be a very thin lauan ply wrapped in dash material, velcroed down (see the thin piece just above the plastic body tool - this is the view with the center dash piece/drinkholders lifted up):


You may also need to remove the perimeter piece by removing the screws (inside the horizontal holes in the black plywood - they are just below the wrapped portion of the perimeter piece)


Gently use a plastic body tool or other non-sharp, thin implement to carefully pry the velcro apart and lift out that wrapped lauan panel.  Hopefully you'll see the access hole John S mentions.