Wipers forgot where to park?

ChazzyD · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 03:19 PM

So today I turn my windshield wipers on to wash the windscreen. Went to turn them off and they stopped about 10" too high. Tried turning them on and off several times with the same result. I'm thinking I should just remove the arms and then bolt them back down in the fully parked. Is that going to fix them? We will see. Anybody have that happen before. Has it skipped a stepper tooth and is now stopping on another?
Charles

**Craig** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChazzyD

I'm thinking I should just remove the arms and then bolt them back down in the fully parked. Is that going to fix them?

**Craig** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 04:39 PM

Best pic I can find (but it's not an Alfa):

ChazzyD · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 06:38 PM

Ok, Thanks Craig. I will drive the Volvo tomorrow since I think it's going to rain. I'll take the wiper motor apart and see what is up with it. I have had issues with the wipers before, but not recently. They tend to go past the pillar on the driver's side and still park low, or did until today. Maybe they are now working correctly, now that I adjusted them and they seem to work fine (they don't go too far and they park correctly). But I am afraid that they will do what you are saying they may do and try to dive down too far now that I have taken them off and reset their position? I have no experience taking one of these apart but I'll give it a go.
Charles

**Craig** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 06:49 PM

The last one I did was over 30 years ago but it should be pretty easy.

Don't put the arms back on afterwards until you're happy that it's working right, you don't want to damage the spline/knurling.

**AlfaTango1** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 09:24 AM

There is a chance that one arm has become loose but I doubt both,there is a nut obviously on both arms. You can adjust but if you do, make it in small increments maybe five inches at a time. I replaced a whole motor assembly about a year ago and it can be a big pain with the blower motor in the way. If the stopper is not lined up correctly it can and will act like yours is so if you pull the unit out make a mental or psychical note of the proper orientation of the stoppers.

ChazzyD · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 10:12 AM

I'm assuming I have to pull the whole wiper rack out to get the motor out?
Charles

**AlfaTango1** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 10:24 AM

Yes and it sucks without taking the blower motor out. Well you could disconnect the motor but that would even harder in my opinion.

ChazzyD · #9 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 02:05 PM

So it's another job that takes the better part of a day to do.

Charles

Del · #10 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 07:52 PM

Had to do this with our Milano. The contacts rubbing on the swash(?) plate inside the gear case, not the motor itself, needed to be reshaped due to wear and regreased. Not easy to get the wiper gear out on that one as well.

ChazzyD · #11 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 06:19 PM

Thanks all for the advice. I got after it this evening after work as the Volvo ain't real fun to drive.

Pulled wiper rack which required some finnigling. Had to remove plastic cover tray, unscrew both large wire harness connections to make room, remove relay cover, remove wiper arms, remove 4 bolt plastic covers, remove plate at middle of car where false firewall brace is, hunt for the one bolt up underneath, behind motor at real firewall. Now wiggle the whole rack out. 20 mins. tops!

Opened up vinyl weather shielding and popped open the gearbox case, bent up the three contacts therein which looked good but hoped that they would get a sure contact now. Spread some of the grease around in there onto the worm gear. Installation reverse of removal and all that jazz. THEN discover the smallest arm is half broken in two!

This is the one with the slot in it for adjustment of sweep, connected directly to the motor swing arm. Great, pull it all back out, 10 mins. tops this time!

Pull out welder and lay a bead or two, put it all back.

Turn on and off a few times, and then mounted the wiper arms at park position, works perfect. They set up when on intermit and then park when off and they no longer go too far at the windshield pillar either. Sweet.

Took the time to grease the plastic pop on joints too, just pry them off clean, pack with fresh grease and pop back on. Also cleaned out the leaves and such while I had the rack out, there was a lot up under the heater box, like always.
Charles