IDIOT! Wiper linkage seems to have "gone" somehow..

[jasonbrianmerrill]

hijacked this thread, sorry http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=33266
so i started a new one, also because i am not sure if it's the same exact problem, even tho its the same car

So, it snowed like 20 inches here. I get outside, turn the car on to warm it up and start wiping it off. But then, the wipers move when they are unburdened of the snow that was atop them.

So, they were on the whole time, i just didn't realize it.

anyway, since they were working initially i was like "whatever" - so anyway, i drove about 2 miles and all of a sudden my driver's side wiper was crumpled by the other one.

I went to walmart, got a new wiper (the other places were closed) and put it on. Turned on the wipers and the driver's side wasn't moving. The other side was, however. So i took the actual wiper off to prevent damage - and figured i had blown the motor.

However, later on, after looking at the manual, i see that the motor is on the passenger side of the car, and there is only one. So if one side is working, the motor isn't gone. Also, i saw this: http://www.indiacar.com/techqa/wipers.htm#5

So im wondering what part of the linkage could be at fault here? and how do i diagnose or replace it?

any links, ideas, etc?

thanks alot

[Novice_cardude]

first off, pop off the driver's side wiper arm (take off the 14mm nut and wiggle the arm off) and check the splines on the shaft that the arm sits on. Chances are the splines are full of metal from the arm, as it most likely stripped the arm out.

Take a wire brush and clean off the splines, then put the arm back on and tighten it. The arm has a softer metal that will conform to the splines on the shaft and restore grip.

If that doesn't work, start looking at loose/broken linkage.

good luck!

[jordan7831]

Also, when you pop off the wiper arm check the washer, it may be seized and causing the wiper to malfunction.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Checking the linkage is very easy, just pop off the hood weather strip from the cowl cover, remove the two push pins toward the middle of the cowl covers, and the covers pretty much fall off.

What year is your Camry?

[jasonbrianmerrill]

doh! the bolt holding the arm on was loose. That's all it was! Phew. I cleaned everything off, and its tight now. Wonder how it came off to begin with? Whatever made it come off, it cant be good. But everything *seems* ok now.

its a 1992 6cyl wagon