broken winshield wiper motor or rod?

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
My driver side wiper is broken (and it broke during pouring rain). How do I tell if the motor is broken? I went to check the wiper and some random guy came up to me and told me that my wiper rod may be broken. Is it easy replacing a wiper motor or rod?
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
If only 1 wiper is not operating I would suspect that the wiper arm is slipping on the shaft. Pop off the little plastic cap, remove the arm and check it out.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: Linflas
If only 1 wiper is not operating I would suspect that the wiper arm is slipping on the shaft. Pop off the little plastic cap, remove the arm and check it out.



Also, the thing i noticed is that the broken wiper is now free. There is no resistance when you push it around, unlike the other side that works.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: Linflas
If only 1 wiper is not operating I would suspect that the wiper arm is slipping on the shaft. Pop off the little plastic cap, remove the arm and check it out.

What cap are you talking about? i tried removing it and I was not able to remove any "cap".
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: Linflas
If only 1 wiper is not operating I would suspect that the wiper arm is slipping on the shaft. Pop off the little plastic cap, remove the arm and check it out.

What cap are you talking about? i tried removing it and I was not able to remove any "cap".

Some of them have a little round pressed in plastic cap over the nut, others the cap is hinged and flips up from the end of the arm towards the main part of the arm. The shaft is made of a much harder metal than the wiper arm and has splines on it that bite into the wiper arm metal when you bolt it down. Depending on how worn it is you may be able to clean the metal shavings from the splines and tighten down the arm so it re-grips again. I would still go ahead and buy a new arm if that is what it is as it will eventually slip again.
 

49erinnc

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2004
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I have a related problem. Both of my wipers work but every once in a while, they'll just stop in mid-action and sit on my windshield. To get them working again, I have to cut my windshield wipers off and shortly after that, the wipers will go back down to their flat position. Then I can turn it back on. Not really sure what it is but it's pretty inconvenient during a heavy rain.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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Originally posted by: 49erinnc
I have a related problem. Both of my wipers work but every once in a while, they'll just stop in mid-action and sit on my windshield. To get them working again, I have to cut my windshield wipers off and shortly after that, the wipers will go back down to their flat position. Then I can turn it back on. Not really sure what it is but it's pretty inconvenient during a heavy rain.

That is either the motor or a circuit/contact problem within the switch.

 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Hmmm...i am hopeless:(

I took the blades off, but there is nothing to tighten. All that i see is teh stud the bolt screws on too. Am I supposed to take something else off? I was reading on this and some cars require you to get under the dash. that seems like alot of work just to replace something related to the windshield wipers and I just do not have that much time:( I'd take it to a mechanic, but I am afriad they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg.
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
118
106
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Hmmm...i am hopeless:(

I took the blades off, but there is nothing to tighten. All that i see is teh stud the bolt screws on too. Am I supposed to take something else off? I was reading on this and some cars require you to get under the dash. that seems like alot of work just to replace something related to the windshield wipers and I just do not have that much time:( I'd take it to a mechanic, but I am afriad they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg.

Not the blades, the actual arms. If that doesn't work, remove the cowl and have a look to see if the rod that connects the 2 arms together is still atached.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Hmmm...i am hopeless:(

I took the blades off, but there is nothing to tighten. All that i see is teh stud the bolt screws on too. Am I supposed to take something else off? I was reading on this and some cars require you to get under the dash. that seems like alot of work just to replace something related to the windshield wipers and I just do not have that much time:( I'd take it to a mechanic, but I am afriad they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg.

Not the blades, the actual arms. If that doesn't work, remove the cowl and have a look to see if the rod that connects the 2 arms together is still atached.

that's what i am trying to do. the arms are off, but I do not know how to remove the cowl and check if the rod is still connected.

 

TekViper

Senior member
Jul 1, 2001
591
0
71
Dude tell us what kind of car you have so we can stop guessing how to take the wiper arm off.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
Originally posted by: 49erinnc
I have a related problem. Both of my wipers work but every once in a while, they'll just stop in mid-action and sit on my windshield. To get them working again, I have to cut my windshield wipers off and shortly after that, the wipers will go back down to their flat position. Then I can turn it back on. Not really sure what it is but it's pretty inconvenient during a heavy rain.
Sound like a problem with the relay.

ZV
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Hmmm...i am hopeless:(

I took the blades off, but there is nothing to tighten. All that i see is teh stud the bolt screws on too. Am I supposed to take something else off? I was reading on this and some cars require you to get under the dash. that seems like alot of work just to replace something related to the windshield wipers and I just do not have that much time:( I'd take it to a mechanic, but I am afriad they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg.
Not the blades, the actual arms. If that doesn't work, remove the cowl and have a look to see if the rod that connects the 2 arms together is still atached.
that's what i am trying to do. the arms are off, but I do not know how to remove the cowl and check if the rod is still connected.
With the arms off, turn the wipers on. If both posts rotate, the rod is OK and one of the arms is stripped. If only one post rotates, the rod is broken and you will need to have a mechanic repair it. (Technically a person could do it himself, but you don't sound like a person with a bunch of tools or much experience as a mechanic, so it would be easier to have a mechanic do it.)

ZV
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
It's a 2001 altima.

I have all the tools to do this work. ZV, I already did that check and the post does not move. I already ordered a new rod, but I am just not sure how to access the broken one. the reason i have been hesitant about doing all this work is because the car is parked in my school's parking lot. Every time someone does work on their car, the security guards become very anxious to get you to finish and they mae a big deal about it. I just want go, fix the problem, and be on my way and not waste time.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Hmmm...i am hopeless:(

I took the blades off, but there is nothing to tighten. All that i see is teh stud the bolt screws on too. Am I supposed to take something else off? I was reading on this and some cars require you to get under the dash. that seems like alot of work just to replace something related to the windshield wipers and I just do not have that much time:( I'd take it to a mechanic, but I am afriad they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg.
Not the blades, the actual arms. If that doesn't work, remove the cowl and have a look to see if the rod that connects the 2 arms together is still atached.
that's what i am trying to do. the arms are off, but I do not know how to remove the cowl and check if the rod is still connected.
With the arms off, turn the wipers on. If both posts rotate, the rod is OK and one of the arms is stripped. If only one post rotates, the rod is broken and you will need to have a mechanic repair it. (Technically a person could do it himself, but you don't sound like a person with a bunch of tools or much experience as a mechanic, so it would be easier to have a mechanic do it.)

ZV

Well ZV, it finally stopped raining and I pulled the gasket off....the only problem is that i was not able to get the rod off. Is there some clip that holds it? Since i was not able to get the the rod off, i just rehooked the end that came off. it slips off off if you apply pressure, but it stays other wise. I suppose this can be a temp fix....I called some mechanics and they all quoted me around $400:(. Any ideas?