engine and drivetrain Wiper Transmission Removal

[Guest kellybubba]

1975 2002

I need to replace my wiper transmission...

The Nut that holds on my wiper transmission, on the top side closest to the arm, will not unscrew... Am i supposed to hold something underneath that I can't see? When i try to unscrew the nut the threaded part it is screw onto moves with it. 

 

Am i missing something here or is my nut seized to the transmission? 

 

 

[Mike Self]

When you say "The Nut that holds on my wiper transmission, on the top side closest to the arm" are you referring to the nut that attaches the wiper motor to the linkage?  If that's the case, you have a problem, as that nut screws onto a stud that's welded to the arm that sticks out of the wiper motor assembly.  You'll have to somehow grip the loose stud tight enough to unscrew the nut, as it's very difficult to remove the wiper linkage and motor as an assembly. 

 

If you're referring to the nut in the center of the wiper transmission itself (the part of the wiper motor assy that's inside the "tuna fish can" that's attached at right angles to the motor), that's not what you remove to get to the transmission.  That nut is a lock nut (note the small threaded screw that the nut surrounds) that adjusts the tension on the main transmission gear (think of the adjuster atop your 2002's steering box--same function).   You remove the top of the tuna fish can by unscrewing the three small screws around the perimeter of the lid.

 

Post a picture of what you're describing and we'll try to help further. 

[jgerock]

Center crank arm that mounts to the motor. You must pry upwards on the arm after removing the center bolt and washer.

Here is a new one.

[jgerock]

Re-reading your post, you may be talking about the end wiper shafts...

 

[Guest kellybubba]

Yes! So sorry, i'm house sitting and far away from my car so couldn't post a pic last night... I am talking about the wiper shafts...

I have not attempted the passenger side one yet as i am still struggling with the driver side one. The spindle is broken so I need to remove the transmission but i can not unscrew that top Nut. When i turn it, the whole threaded part turns with it as if it is stripped unless i'm supposed to hold something from below. It has been a huge pain to say the least. 

 

 

 

[Mike Self]

Referencing your picture:  the nut to the left is the one you see on the outside of the cowl--the one you're turning.  You'll need to grab either the nut on the right while turning the nut on the left, or if that doesn't work, grab the smooth piece just to the right of the right side nut with some needle nose or very small visegrips.   One of those should keep the hollow threaded shaft from  turning thus allowing the outer nut to unscrew. 

 

Last ditch effort:  if all else fails, and since the old piece is broken anyway, carefully cut partway through the outer nut with a Dremel tool so you can split the nut and thus remove the linkage.  Be very careful doing this that you don't damage the (very) nearby paint.  I'd tape a piece of metal over the paint right next to the nut to protect the paint. 

 

Good luck

 

mike

[Guest kellybubba]

ok, this helped a shit ton! with using my small vice grips, i was able to go under and grab that smooth piece to the right and break that nut free... 

 

Now, i got it all back together with a working transmission but, like an idiot, i did not look to see what position the transmission is supposed to be in when it slips on to the motor. I put it on the way i thought it was on but the knobs were turning counter clockwise not clockwise like they should. 

 

I guess a photo of the starting position would help and then i should hopefully be ready to go. 

 

J

[Guest kellybubba]

Ah ha! I got it. I just had the stupid arm system turning through the back instead of the front. 

Alas it's super weak and slow... 

 

one more question, I was attempting what i thought would be the easiest part of this project, unplugging the main female group cables from the car (cylinder plug) but am un able to pull them apart... Is there a tab i should know about? i pulled pretty damn hard but it did not budge. 

 

thanks

[Mike Self]

One more wiper tutorial...determining where to connect the wiper linkage to the wiper motor so the wipers actuallly wipe the windshield and not the hood!

 

1. With the wiper linkage disconnected from the motor assembly, turn on the wiper motor, let it make a couple of strokes, and then turn it off.  The wiper motor is now in the park position. 

 

2.  Position the wiper arms/blades on their linkage so they're an inch or so from the bottom of the windshield.

 

3.  Attach the wiper linkage to the crank arm on the wiper motor assembly, and run up the nut that holds the linkage to the motor assembly. 

 

4. Turn on the wiper motor and observe the wiper action.  They should not hit the rubber windshield gasket at the bottom of the windshield, nor should the right side wiper hit the windshield gasket on the full upstroke.  And when turned off, the wipers should park an inch or so from the bottom of the glass.  BTW, be ready to turn off the ignition if you miscalculated and the wipers start going down below the windshield gasket.  You can damage the wiper motor--or at least blow a fuse--if they hang up down there.

 

Have fun

mike