Driver's side wiper problems

[Bucephala]

Hi all, new here. Just bought an '87 Tercel 4WD SR5 a few months ago. Last Friday the driver's side windshield wiper stopped functioning, the passenger side wiper still works normally but the driver's side only twitches each time it should be changing directions. If I raise it just off of the windshield with my finger but don't put tension on it it will move on it's own power.

I'm guessing there must be a gear stripped somewhere but I'm not familiar with how the system works, would this likely be a problem in the wiper motor or perhaps somewhere else in the cowl?

Thanks,

Nate.

[dlb]

welcome, nate. sounds like the linkage that runs from the motor to the arm is still intact so the problem might be where the wiper is bolted to the rotating stud. could be an easy fix, could be a PITA. let's hope it's the former.

it's easy to check. just pop the plastic cover off the base of the wiper arm. you can usually do this with your fingers but may need a small flat blade screw driver. once that's off, you should see a 12 mm nut that secures the wiper arm to the rotating stud. make sure this nut is done up snug, but don't overtighten it. i'm guessing the nut has just come loose so tightening it should fix it. if it doesn't, remove the 12 mm nut, wiggle the wiper arm off of the stud, and turn the wipers on to make sure the stud rotates properly. if it does, maybe the small teeth at the base of the stud are worn and need to be cleaned up. same might apply to the opposite surface on the wiper arm. take a look and let us know what you find.

[Bucephala]

Thanks, I'll take a look at it when I get home.

[Petros]

the linkage is likely okay if you can feel the pull of the arm when you lift it off the glass. IT sounds like either the hold down nut is loose and allows the spline to slip, or the spline is striped where the arm meets the post that come out from the cowl panel (the one directly aft of the hood in front of the windshield).

Pop the plastic cover as DLB suggest and remove the cap nut that is under, and pop the arm off the spline shaft. If there is any metal shavings in the spline shaft, blow them out and try installing it and tighten the cap nut down. If the splines are damaged such that you can not get it tight enough I do not know what else you can do. Perhaps put some fine sandpaper round the post and tighten the wiper arm down over it, or try some epoxy in the joint perhaps. You may have to replace either the spine shaft or the wiper arm if you can not keep it from slipping.

Good luck.

[marlinh]

Usually a sharp tool like a pick will clean the splines. Just work carefully in the direction of the grooves, it usually works.

[Bucephala]

Well I got home and yanked the plastic cover off and sure enough, the shaft was rotating but the arm wasn't. I moistened some q-tips and cleaned off the gears (the arm was completely stripped but I cleaned that too). I was tempted to add some JB WELD or Loc-Tite but didn't want to make the fix too permanent just in case I had to do it again.

So I just cleaned the gears and the arm and cranked it back down and it seems to be working perfectly now. I'm a little concerned that the arm will eventually strip again and there's only so many times that I can just clean it out and crank it back down. I guess you've helped me buy a little more time to locate another wiper arm to prepare for that time.

Thanks for the help, I'm kinda looking forward to fixing this car up some and I'm sure I'll need some pointers along the way, glad I found this site to get some pointers from.

God bless,

Nate.

[dlb]

glad it's working again. definitely don't use jb weld or loctite, that would cause bigger problems in the future if you ever needed to remove the arm. marlinh and petros had good suggestions for cleaning the grooves with a small, sharp tool, and replacing the wiper arm if necessary so try those if it gives you grief again.