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Topic: Wiper motor and arm issue (Read 1154 times) previous topic - next topic

Wiper motor and arm issue

The attached 2 pictures show the present location of my drivers side wiper arm. While the wipers were in use, the drivers side did not stop and return to vertical, it kept going until hitting the mirror. I stopped, unscrewed the 2 nuts holding the arm to motor mechanism, reset the arm to correct position, same thing happened again. The passenger side continues to function properly. To avoid any damage, I just stopped using the wipers. I have not gotten under the dash yet to remove the motor but I am certain the nuts that hold arms are tight . I am assuming:
1-   Something in the driver side wiper motor has broken, or
2-   There is some type of relay or switch that controls the arm action and that device is malfunctioning.

Has anyone had this experience before? Any guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Wiper motor and arm issue

Reply #1 –
When I recently replaced my wiper arm I had to set it a couple times to get it right.  The nut on the main arm should lock into the ridges of the arm and wiper motor.  Make sure the ridges are clean and the nut is tight. 

Re: Wiper motor and arm issue

Reply #2 –
CDM, the wipers are all mechanical from the motor, the hole ( on the wiper mechanism)that the wiper motor stud goes into may have stripped out from nut getting loose and or metal fatigue.
The wiper motor is something I have considered replacing--to this point it has worked fine but being 20 years old with dried-up grease and I would bet plastic gears!! any comments on this would be appreciated.
Chris

Re: Wiper motor and arm issue

Reply #3 –
I tried to remove the wiper arms from the motor and had no luck. I tapped around the perimeter of the arms and tried gently prying. Tomorrow I will apply some penetrating oil. I am assuming there is a splined connection I need to free up.

Re: Wiper motor and arm issue

Reply #5 –
Make sure you extend the wipers away from the windshield when you try to remove them.  They are spring loaded and will not release if up against the windshield.
 

Re: Wiper motor and arm issue

Reply #6 –
If the wiper arm is seized on the motor shaft, before doing anything else, find the motor under the dash and make sure it is still fastened correctly.  I had a similar situation and the motor was loose and the body was rotating when it should not.  Had to glue in a brace to fix it.

jk