windshield wiper motor?

[StephanieD]

So I was out driving in one of the hurricanes that recently went up the east coast...

Apparently I was driving against the wind, so my speed plus the wind speed equalled too much for the driver side wiper mechanism to handle...

The driver side wiper flew up and almost off the side of the windshield, and remained there, pointing "up".

The passenger side wiper works fine. So until I get this fixed, I am leaning to my right to see out the windshield. :-)

I can move the wiper arm easily myself, it just doesn't feel like its connected any type of mechanism inside.

BUT when I try my wipers first thing in the morning, the driver side wiper "tries" to move a little, and does move a couple inches.

Even though my complete lack of mechanical knowledge should preclude me from ever picking up a wrench, I would like to try to fix this myself (with TN's help of course) before admitting defeat and going to a garage.

Any idea what the problem is?

Would I start my removing the black plastic panel between the hood and windshield?

Thanks very much in advance....

[StephanieD]

bump

[landphil]

Most likely the wiper arm was loose on the pivot and has "stripped" on the tapered spline. To check this, remove the small black plastic cap at the base of the wiper arm (pry carefully, it will pop out), which will expose a 12 mm nut. I can't remember if the driver's side is easier to access with the hood open - one of them is.

Turn the wipers on and off, to put the passengers side in the "parked" position. Then move (if necessary) the driver's side wiper arm to the normal parked position. Hold the arm, and tighten the nut securely, but don't overtighten it.. Cycle the wipers on and off to check operation, if they both work, you may have to loosen and re-adjust the arm position of the driver's side. Don't put it too low, or it will slap the plastic windsheild cowling on high speed.

I hope this works for you.

[StephanieD]

THANK YOU for the reply - it gave me a place to start.

I tore it apart and found that the spline was not stripped.

I threw caution to the wind and decided I could get a taxi to work tomorrow if necessary. I kept tearing things apart and found that the arm that goes from the driver side wiper to the passenger side had "fallen off" on the passenger side.

Apparently there is a clip to hold it on, like on the passenger side indicated in red in the picture. The clip is nowhere to be found.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg821...jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg542...jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg805...jpg&res=medium


Is this clip something an auto parts store would sell by the dozen or would I have to go pay $10 for it at the Toyota parts counter?


ALSO - it should be fun trying to get the clip on! Its "underneath" and therefore out of site. I have never put a clip on something holding it right in my hands. Should be fun... If anyone has advice, I'm all ears.

[StephanieD]

Solved, FWIW.

I took the assembly shown in the picture to the local industrial supplier and they had the clip for $0.20. The clip was not as hard to put on as I expected. Thanks.