Drivers side wiper broke, help please?

[santa]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I did a search and read quite a bit on windshield wiper repair. However, I cannot find anything that relates to my situation.

When operated my drivers side blade will go one or two strokes and then flop down past the windshield frame towards the drivers side. I thought that it was the splines in the wiper pivot were worn out, but after removing it, they are not. Is there any particular reason for it doing this? Any help is appreciated! Getting hard to see with the snow and ice!

 

[Sasquach]

If there is no defect in the outer arm connection then the next reasonable place to look is the linkage inside the windsheild frame, the 2 oval plastic plugs will give access to the linkage although not sure if you have a dash pad but you may need to remove it.

 

[BusaDave9]

And then if you help the wiper blade back up it works for a couple more cycles and gets stuck at the extreme again. Correct?

The wiper linkage is binding when it goes past what the extreme should be. I had the same problem on my CJ except it was in the opposite direction (it bound up on the passenger side)
Look at this picture. When the motor moves the wiper back and forth, it moves the pivot (part #9). When part #9 is strait down the motor has the best leverage. If part number 9 goes strait to the right or strait to the left it will bind as the motor tries to push strait sideways.

I had this problem on my CJ5 when I bought it. The PO said the wipers never did work and he could never fix them.
Now why would part #9 go strait to the side during operation? You would think the wiper motor or pivot would have to be in the wrong place. Actually my problem was the windshield frame was bent where the wiper pivot was mounted. I think your pivot shaft is pointing too far to the drivers side. Then when the wiper goes all the way to the drivers side part #5 and the arm on part #9 are almost in a strait line. This is why I think your wiper arm is binding. That is why my wiper arm used to bind and the PO could never fix it because he just replace the motor and switch.

I think your wipers are mechanically binding.

 

[santa]

And then if you help the wiper blade back up it works for a couple more cycles and gets stuck at the extreme again. Correct?

The wiper linkage is binding when it goes past what the extreme should be. I had the same problem on my CJ except it was in the opposite direction (it bound up on the passenger side)
Look at this picture. When the motor moves the wiper back and forth, it moves the pivot (part #9). When part #9 is strait down the motor has the best leverage. If part number 9 goes strait to the right or strait to the left it will bind as the motor tries to push strait sideways.

I had this problem on my CJ5 when I bought it. The PO said the wipers never did work and he could never fix them.
Now why would part #9 go strait to the side during operation? You would think the wiper motor or pivot would have to be in the wrong place. Actually my problem was the windshield frame was bent where the wiper pivot was mounted. I think your pivot shaft is pointing too far to the drivers side. Then when the wiper goes all the way to the drivers side part #5 and the arm on part #9 are almost in a strait line. This is why I think your wiper arm is binding. That is why my wiper arm used to bind and the PO could never fix it because he just replace the motor and switch.

I think your wipers are mechanically binding.

Busa, correct after helping it back up it works at least one stroke. Also, I think you are right about it binding. When I move the arm back up after it has flopped down, I can see the metal on the frame move or dimple back and forth.

Do I need to reinforce the metal to fix this or replace the frame??

Thanks all...

 

[BusaDave9]

Yes, I am convinced you have the same problem I had.
When parts 5 and 9 become too strait the motor can't pull the linkage back. At first I though I had to move the motor. But there isn't much movement to the motor. Then I realised the windshield was bent where the wiper pivot was mounted.

Remove the plastic plugs in the windshild frame to watch the linkages and the pivot. I think you will see the pivot goes too far to one side. I hope I am describing this properly. Maybe I should make a drawing to show you.


Here's how I fixed it.

I removed the pivot (part 9) out of the windshield frame. I then installed a large bolt where the wiper pivot should be. I had large nuts clamping this bolt in place of the pivot. Becasue of the tilt of the windshield this bolt point upward. But in my case it also tilted to the right. It sounds like you will see it tilt to the left. With this bolt clamping tightly onto the windshield frame force the bolt so it is not pointing to the right or the left. This will straiten the windshield frame back to the way it should be.

If you do this right you will see the linkage no longer going to the extreme anymore.

I hope this helps.

 

[santa]

Thank you Busa! I understand completely.

 

[santa]

While we are on the subject. In the parts diagram posted by Busa, what is part #12? Is that the wiper fluid pump? If so, where is that supposed to be located? I do not have one and was wondering where it goes.

 

[BusaDave9]

what is part #12?

That's just the knob for the wiper switch

 

[santa]

That's just the knob for the wiper switch

Doh! Funny, thanks.

 

[santa]

Got it fixed!!! Thanks to everyone for their help.

It was exactly how Busa described the problem. Took it apart and tweaked the hole and it works now. I hope it does not contract back and bind, but time will tell. Thanks again.