Windshield wipers get stuck

[ponyboy]

So, my wipers were working fine and then recently as it has rained even here in Los Angeles, when I went to use them on a trip down to San Diego, they would get stuck when they go to th bottom of the windshield. They are new blades and they show no place that they are getting stuck to. Its like the motor isnt srong enough to pull them back up, but when I tug them a little, they go up fine and back down, then get stuck again.

Anybody ever have this problem? Is it the motor, or more likely/possibly a linkage problem? I sprayed some WD40 in the areas where I saw that it might seize up and it didnt help...

1970 BMW 2002, original steel colored wipers

Thanx, Pony Boy

I've been lookin on here a lot this morning and I found one good lead. I noticed he had the same wipers as me, the earlier type... He greased the motor...

This might help out...

http://laudeman.com/bmw_wiper.html

[ponyboy]

Well I tried to do the job in the link above and it didnt help. Wipers still get stuck. Even when I lift the wipers from the windshield, it gets stuck. I greased all linkage, no luck. The motor still runs but it doesnt move the wipers. It will move them fine except for when the wipers all all the way down and when they are all the way up. Its like either the linkage is niding or the motor just doesnt hav enough power to get the wipers past those two points. All linkage looks fine and is greased. Is this what happens when the motor goes bad? When it gets stuck, the motor makes a noise like its trying to get them to move, and the noise doesnt go off unless I move the wipers to the right position... I assume this is the position where they sit when off...

[DukeRimmer]

How does the motor sound with linkage disconnected??

[ponyboy]

It sounds ok... no grinding or struggling sound. It spins all the way around and keeps going. Thats why Im pretty sure either

1. the motor is just weaker now where it cant push the linkage in the harder to rotate positions, or

2. The linkage is binding

[Mike Self]

1. Disconnect wiper motor from linkage by removing the 10mm (head size) nut on the wiper transmission arm.

2. Turn on wiper motor, let it cycle thru a few strokes and turn it off. Let the motor go into the park position.

3. Reconnect the linkage to the motor so that the blades rest an inch or so from the rubber windshield gasket, and re-tighten the 10mm nut.

If that doesn't do it, you probably have one of three problems:

a. the motor-to-linkage connection is slipping (where the nut goes--it's splined and if that nut was loose, the splines will wear)

b. the parking mechanism in the motor is bad

c. The linkage itself is either worn or bent and hangs up at one particular point.

good luck--post what you discover...

mike

[ponyboy]

This was the advice I was looking for!

When I disconnected it, the motor kept turning and wouldnt go into park position...

When I reconnected, it did like before, getting caught up... I guess time for new motor...

That nut was loose I think, so I might need a new linkage piece that connects to rod on motor too, huh...

Thanx, Pony

[DukeRimmer]

(nt)

[Mike Self]

It lives under the round tin cover (tuna fish can-sized)...there are two brass spring contacts that provide power to the motor until they hit insulated spots on the brass contact rings (this'll make sense when you open up the cover). It's possible that one of the spring contacts has broken off--sometimes you can solder it back in place, or find a burned out motor and take the parking mechanism off it to repair yours. Check the archives for info on parking mechanism repair.

good luck

mike

[ponyboy]

Yeah I had it apart already and the two tabs on the lid are still there. As for a contact they hit on to stop power, Im not sure about that one. Ill have to open it up again and have a looksy.

As far as the splines being worn, do I have to replace the piece that goes on the shaft of the motor to make the linkage turn, or do I probably have to replace the shaft that it slides onto that comes out of the motor too? Ill check it out tomorrow again in the daylight...

Thanx, Pony

[ponyboy]

Well I went to pick and pull yards today, no luck as I figured...

I can take the wiper linkage off thee motor and literally hold the shaft where the spines are with my fingers and bind the motor...

Im sure I need a new motor.

they have a replacement motor for 74 bucks and 10 dollar core at this site..

They have excellent prices on parts...

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/