Newb here, replacing wiper motor 2003 Avalon - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

pwm72 · 02-21-2010, 12:41 PM

I need to replace the wiper motor on my neighbors 2003 Avalon, is there a trick to removing the cowl cover that I am assuming hides the wiper motor? Is it just held on with clips?
Thanks in advance!

Paul
pwm72@comcast.net

pwm72 · 02-22-2010, 05:43 AM

They are the "standard" wipers..(not rain sensing). They don't return to park, but stop at various points along their arc. Dealer suggested it was a wiper motor and offered to fix for approx $400. They asked me to give it a try.
So it is just a matter of prying up the clips? No fancy manuevering or anything?
Thanks for the reply. I am used to working on older cars (domestics).

OpticNerve · 02-22-2010, 10:18 AM

Paul, Thanks for your post. I also have a problem with my wipers on a 2000 Avalon. I lost the delay feature and the blades won't properly park when the I turn off the switch. Just been anticipating when to turn them off for about a year now. When I took off the cowl, my Haynes manual had a good tip. It suggested to pry up the cowl with a trim tool to find where the pins are located. I chickened out about changing the wiper motor and never either bought a new one or tried to find one at a salvage yard. Keep us posted on how it goes.

csaxon · 02-22-2010, 12:34 PM

I gave you the wrong info (gen3) your's is a gen2. You have 2 clips, 1 on each side of the cowling by the hood struts. Remove those with a taped screwdriver or trim tool. Once removed then gently lift and pull on the cowling. There are 9 plastic tabs on the windscreen side.

pwm72 · 02-22-2010, 09:20 PM

Thanks much CSaxon...I appreciate the insight.
Optic, I will let you know how it turns out.

runco0318 · 02-27-2010, 08:06 PM

My 2000 XLS wiper intermitten has not been working for some time, and when turning off the wipers, they will stop mid way on the windshield. After reading the posts here at Toyota Nation, and other places, I was convinced it was motor as instructed by many (it was). So I ebayed for several weeks, and finally purchased a used one delivered to my house for $40. Today, I finally got around to replacing it. Looking back, it was quite easy to replace, but I did have some problems and added to the wisdom factor.

First, removing the plastic shield after you remove both wipers (14mm wrench) was quite easy, but both the plastic clips at each end that hold the shield on, broke. Removing the (4) 10 mm bolts was a piece of cake. Then removing the motor + wiper assy was easy and the disconnecting the electrical plug was no problem. Removing the 13mm nut was a challenge, but using a hammer and a 13mm wrench was all it took. Make sure you don't damage the threads on the wiper studs if you lay your assy down and try to use brute force to free the 13mm nut.

Here comes the part that was really hard. MAKE SURE YOU ASSEMBLE YOUR NEW MOTOR CORRECTLY IN TIME WITH THE WIPER ASSEMBLY MECHANISM. What I mean is that the assy will rotate with you while you are breaking the old nut loose. You have to get your assy back in time with the new motor, or you will have to disassmble again after you wipers clean the firewall. I am no paid mechanic, but I find this new wisdom the hard way. So hopefully you will not make the same mistake I did.

How I recovered: After my wipers were not working correctly by slamming into the firewall, I simply plugged in the new motor (after my 1st mistake) without the assembly. Tunred on the wipers and then turned them off. This I assume to put the new motor in time or at least the starting postion. Then I disconnected the motor. After studying the wiper assembly mechanism without the motor, I then made sure the wiper assy mechanism was in its starting postion, all the way left. Then I assembled the motor and assemly togeather, being careful that the motor and mechanism did not rotate before I was able to get the nut installed and then tightened. Then I re-installyed the whole assy back in the car. Reinstalled the plastic shield (ran to the parts store for the plastic clips that broke, ~$2), then I reinstalled the actual wipers. PERFECT, JOB DONE. No more intermitten problems. If I had not made my mistake, and broke the clips, this job would have taken <45 minutes.

OpticNerve · 02-28-2010, 01:53 PM

Nice going. Don't feel too bad about the clips, since I did the same thing, and I still have not replaced them. When in doubt a hammer is my favorite tool! EBAY away going to look for a new motor right after I fixed the brakes. I need new pads and/or a rebuilt master cylinder.

pwm72 · 03-07-2010, 09:14 PM

Was able to get out and install the new wiper motor today and it went in without much problem. Issue I am not facing is that the wipers seem to sit a little high on the windshield. We cycled the motor before installing the linkage and all. Wipers seem to make the proper sweep across the windshield as well. It's just when they park, they go to where they should, then adjust up a few inches before actually parking. Very strange. Is there a "winter mode" that they could be set to? If so, how do you disengage it? Any other ideas?
Thanks all for the help so far.

csaxon · 03-08-2010, 11:42 AM

There is a winter (snow) setting and it's explained in the owners manual.