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windshield wipers not working

Old Oct 18, 2010 | 10:56 AM
  #1  
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From: la puente, CA
windshield wipers not working

Windshield wipers will not move. I took apart motor and when power is applied the gear spins. I am not sure it is spinning fast enough to move wipers. I also removed the wiper outer rack tube, wiper rack inner wire, and both wiper wheel boxes. The inner wire moves and spins the wheel box when I pull wire by hand. When I put all components back motor will still not move inner wire. Please help don't want to get caught in unexpected rain storm with no wipers. Thank you in advance.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2010 | 10:58 AM
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So, do you maybe have a bad switch? Sound like all the componenets are working as they should.....
 
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Old Oct 18, 2010 | 11:03 AM
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I don't think the switch is bad, did not mention but that is how I put power to motor. I plugged in wires back to motor and turned on wiper switch in car and motor spun.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2010 | 12:08 PM
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OK, so the motor spins when turned on from the switch, and you can pull the wipers back and forth using the end of the cable....the only thing left is the connection between the motor and the cable. I've forgotten how these are made, but I think there's supposed to be a post on the gear that the end of the cable slips over. Is the post there? Does the end of the cable look OK?



If none of these then maybe the motor just doesn't have enough oomph to move them anymore?
 

Last edited by MINIdave; Oct 18, 2010 at 12:14 PM.
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Old Oct 18, 2010 | 01:14 PM
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Looked fine yesterday but I will double check it later. I also will try to clean inner wire and all teeth and re-lube to see if that helps and like you said motor might just need more power. Thanks for the help.
 
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 06:08 PM
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33EJB
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Originally Posted by smalest
Looked fine yesterday but I will double check it later. I also will try to clean inner wire and all teeth and re-lube to see if that helps and like you said motor might just need more power. Thanks for the help.
Sounds like your motor needs a rebuild. Brushes, armature and bearings wear out and get full of gunk over the years, that's why the motor loses power.

You could try fitting new brushes and cleaning up the contact surfaces on the armature with some very fine emory cloth at a minimum. Brushes for the motor are cheap (at least, they used to be!!) and no harm done if it doesn't work.

Use some brake cleaner and get all the old grease off the inner wire and the wheel boxes and the large gear that pushes/pulls the inner wire. Old grease gets hard and coagulated, interfering with the proper operation of the parts. Re-lube only when it's all clean - I used white lithium grease. Wheel boxes should spin freely - if not, they are worn out too.

Good luck!!

_______________________________________________
 
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 12:57 PM
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mk1leg
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From: Jersey C.I. UK
Check the teeth on each wiper wheel box under scuttle sometimes these fail.......... http://minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=33422
 
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 04:48 PM
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I took apart and cleaned all parts, now motor can turn one arm. With two arms they get stuck at top of turn cycle. I don't think motor is bad so I will be purchasing some new wheel boxes to see if that helps.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by smalest
I took apart and cleaned all parts, now motor can turn one arm. With two arms they get stuck at top of turn cycle. I don't think motor is bad so I will be purchasing some new wheel boxes to see if that helps.
What have you done so far IE have you fitted new motor or just referbed it and have you put it back in correct order as , as the motor Big cog turns it pulls and then pushes the spring wire wich in turn , turns the wheel boxes...
 
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Old Nov 12, 2010 | 10:36 PM
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I have not purchased any parts for wipers yet. So far all I have done so far is take apart Motor and gear, removed and cleaned; wheels boxes, inner wire and tubing. Since I have done this the motor is now able to move one wiper. Not sure if motor is problem or if wire is not moving as easily as it should be.
 

Last edited by smalest; Nov 15, 2010 at 10:38 PM. Reason: misspelling
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:36 PM
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well if it moves 1 wiper it should move the other as the spring wire pushes then pulls .....are you sure you have both wheel boxes installed correctly........
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 10:46 PM
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I believe all parts are installed correctly. I have just purchased new wheel boxes and will install and lube when they arrive. I am hoping that new wheel boxes will allow for easier movement.
 
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