Windshield wiper trouble

[Rdizzle]

So a couple days ago during torrential rain, i experienced a usual problem with the wipes, where they would not work. They would be turned on but would not operate, either starting randomly several minutes later of prompting me to get out and slowly pull up on them, sometimes making them start. When they would start they would at first move very slowly.
During the latest rain, they stopped while i was driving, forcing me to pull over and be late for work. I did the usual, got out and pulled on them, nothing. So i pulled harder and suddenly they both gave way and now swing free like they are not connected to anything. Which brings me to my question: A) what they hell is the original cause of this and how to i fix that and B) what did i break in the wiper arms and how can i fix that? This is a problem since being in Washington, it rains a fuckton.

[Venom_5]

where the wiper arms connect, there is like a knuckle sort of deal .... is that stripped?

pull the wipers off (directly upward, there is 1 nut to remove first i believe), and see if the bolt thing is stripped or of its fine, if it is fine .... i would have to guess that the motor is bad