84 wiper motor somehow not connected to arm.

[MadMax_636]

So, recently I turned on my wiped and it swung out and didnt return. I could hear the motor still going and making noise where the arm is supposed to be connected.

How do I re connect it without breaking anything?

 

[franklin2]

Release the wiper arms and wiggle them off the posts. Then look for the screws holding the cowl panel in place(the panel with the slots) Should be a few across the top and some under the hood. Then wiggle the panel out from under the windshield and then you will have access. If you need a plastic bushing to repair it, look on the Help! rack at the parts store, they have a universal pack of those.

 

[SenorNoob]

I thought the cowl was spot welded. I've never seen one removed.

 

[901wd#2]

I thought the cowl was spot welded. I've never seen one removed.

Same, but I’ve been been wrong before. there are access panels below the cowl from inside the engine bay.

I had an 86 with one windshield wiper for a few months, picked up some new to me parts at the junkyard unfortunately, I didn’t grab everything from the different year vehicle so I had to make a second trip and grab the rest of the stuff as they changed the size of the bushing Somewhere along the way.

 

[SenorNoob]

Yeah I knew about the access panels. What little help they are.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

We had a '78 Toyota Corolla )my mom's old car) that did the same thing. We could see the area through the vents at the base of the windshield, but there was no access and no removable panel to put the arm back on its connection, so it was Sawzall time in the front. My stepfather cut a flap just large enough for access and bent down the metal so it could be bent back in place. You might face something similar.

The Corolla used a pin to hold the arm to the connector. The pin had rusted to pieces, and we rigged a replacement (I think with a small cotter pin). You might need something similar. However, my old Ford Festiva did the same thing one time because of ice on the windshield, but the arm just snapped back on its connector with a push.

 

[franklin2]

I am wrong again. The cowl comes off on the larger trucks, you use the access panels you guys are talking about to get to the linkage on the rangers and BII. They say in the instructions below it's important to stop the wipers when they are straight up and down on the windshield by turning the key off mid cycle.

1. Turn the wiper switch on. Turn the ignition switch on until the blades are straight up and then turn ignition off to keep them there.
2. Remove the right wiper arm and blade.

Remove the linkage access cover retaining screws ...

... and remove the cover

1. Remove the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the right pivot nut and allow the linkage to drop into the cowl.
3. Remove the linkage access cover, located on the right side of the dash panel near the wiper motor.

Reach into the access hole and disconnect the wiper motor linkage clip from the motor shaft

Remove the clip. Also, remove the linkages from the wiper motor shaft

1. Reach through the access cover opening and unsnap the wiper motor clip.
2. Push the clip away from the linkage until it clears the nib on the crank pin. Then, push the clip off the linkage.

Disconnect the wiper motor's wiring harness plug ...

... and remove the harness from any holding clips

Remove the ground wire retaining nut ...

... and the ground wire from the wiper motor attaching stud

1. Remove the wiper linkage from motor crank pin.
2. Disconnect the wiper motor's wiring connector.
3. remove the wiper motor's three attaching screws and remove the motor.

Remove the three wiper motor-to-firewall attaching screws ...

... then withdraw the wiper motor and crank assembly from the firewall

To install:

1. Install the motor and attach the three attaching screws. Tighten to 60-65 inch lbs. (6.7-7.3 Nm).
2. Connect the wiper motor's wiring connector.
3. Install the clip completely on the right linkage. Make sure the clip is completely on.
4. Install the left linkage on the wiper motor crank pin.
5. Install the right linkage on the wiper motor crank pin and pull the linkage on to the crank pin until it snaps.

The clip is properly installed if the nib is protruding through the center of the clip.

1. Reinstall the right wiper pivot shaft and nut.
2. Reconnect the battery and turn the ignition ON. Turn the wiper switch off so the wiper motor will park, then turn the ignition OFF. Replace the right linkage access cover.
3. Install the right wiper blade and arm.
4. Check the system for proper operation.