Windshield Wiper linkage

[RonD]

1994 Ranger 4.0l

Got back from a vacation and had a dead battery, it was old, 6 years, and its been cold out, replaced it
Started it up and all was well, but had left wipers on when I last parked it and we have snow here now and very cold
so wipers came on and were frozen to window
turn them off and waited til defrost warmed up windshield then turn them on
Passenger side worked but not drivers side
Drivers side is loose, not attached, can move it freely

So.......something broke, lol

What?

 

[sheltonfilms]

Never had to look at ranger linkage but maybe a ball popped out of socket (if it’s that type of design). May want to remove the access plate on the firewall and feel around .


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[racsan]

that access hole is a pain to work through, wish they could make that cowl screen plate removable. i bet i spent 30 min trying to get that stupid clip on when i put a new wiper motor on, i ended up pulling the hood off so i could look down through the grate holes while sliding the clip in to place.....went like cake once i could see what i was doing.

 

[holyford86]

that access hole is a pain to work through, wish they could make that cowl screen plate removable. i bet i spent 30 min trying to get that stupid clip on when i put a new wiper motor on, i ended up pulling the hood off so i could look down through the grate holes while sliding the clip in to place.....went like cake once i could see what i was doing.

For future reference that clip can be put on before you put the linkage arm on the motor crank, might save you a future headache

 

[scotts90ranger]

Similar happened on my '97 F350 except the drivers side is the one attached to the motor...

It's a simple clip on affair, at least on that, on the F350 the cowl is removable but still wasn't easy being as tall as it is. I put a small #2 or #6 hose clamp on the bushing to keep the linkage on and still be removable.

 

[adsm08]

The arm that comes off the motor itself has a ball socket on it. It runs a short link with an extra long pin. Over that pin go the links that attach to both the wiper arms. The passenger link goes on first, then the driver's side. Then a little "W" clip goes over the end of the pin to hold the arms on. You broke that clip. It let the driver's link fall off, and if you run the wipers long enough the passenger one will work it's way off too.

The clip is hard to replace. When I had to do mine first I tried the access panel in the engine bay and couldn't get it. Then, because I already had to take my dash out for other things (and because it only takes 10 minutes to take my dash out) I tried it through the access panel behind the dash. That wasn't easier.

Then I got a magnet, a pair of magic fingers, a long thin flat screw driver, and a long hooked pick and was able to set it down on the end and all but get it clipped.

Then I went and broke my forearm so it could hinge between the wrist and elbow and I was able to install it.

Oh, and wipers in the parked position put that joint as close to the access as it gets.

 

[Curious Hound]

"Then I went and broke my forearm so it could hinge between the wrist and elbow and I was able to install it."

I have often wanted to do that.
[emoji16]

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[RonD]

On my 1994 there are two firewall plates one in the center and one on drivers side

Looking down the vent holes I moved drivers side wiper and couldn't see any movement on motors arms, so problem was at drivers side wiper linkage
I removed the plate on drivers side(clutch reservoir is attached to it so I removed it first, 8mm bolts)
Three 5.5mm bolts holding plate
The arm was just laying there
The wiper drive has a short arm and metal ball
The motor arm has a hole with plastic cup inserted
Cup is pushed on to metal ball and held in place just by tight fit, ball and socket setup

Cup is worn out so after putting it back on the ball is was easy to pull off
Have to find a new cup
I put the end of a plastic wire tie into the cup and pressed it on to ball, that feels like it should hold for awhile, moves but can't pull it off easily

 

[Mark_88]

I was working on mine one time and seriously contemplated getting my cut off wheel and zipping off the slats on the grill guard...

I think there should have been a removable plate on that section to allow access to the linkage and the firewall pan...

 

[Andy D]

Heh heh Only one go round with this. Wipers on my '88 Grand Wag froze on my wife. She turned the wipers on. Ripped the pressed fit crank arm right off the motor. Luckily, I had an '81 wag behind the shop. The motors interchanged by doing a cut and paste on the plugs with butt splices. The original AMC motor (Ford ?) was 2X the weight with a nut holding the crank on. Anyway, I pissed and moaned so much, my wife has never just shut the car off without parking the wipers and turning them off. I remember this because it was one of the few arguments I won.