I noticed someone had a windshield wiper problem poll. The problem on my 2002 is a little different but also very annoying. The wipers work fine but in the OFF position, instead of laying nicely down at the bottom of the windshield as they should, they stop in the UP position on the windshield. My hubby talked to the dealer and they talked about a $300 fix! Geesh! Has anyone else had this problem? How did you fix it? I've tried unhooking the battery to reset things, but that didn't touch it.

 

Now I'm guessing... but it sounds like the gear that drives the wipers is out of sync with the sensor that knows what position the wiper is in. Again, guessing, I'd say you might need to replace the wiper motor.

Sounds like the dealer is the best place to start.

Maybe this has happened to someone and they will chime in.

Good luck.

 

If the wipers are "parking" in the wrong position, then it would seem to be to be a very easy fix. With the wipers off, pull the arms and then reposition them in the correct "rest" position, if they are removeable on splined stubs the way most windshield wipers are. Case closed.

$300 to fix this sounds like an extreme rip off to me.

 

Thanks RogueWave and JMc - I like JMc's suggestion better if it works! But if that doesn't work, sounds like I may have to go the dealer route. By the way JMc - love the pic! Wow!

 

So we have to ask, when turned off are the wipers not going to the park position - or - is the park position too high up (in the normal rest position).

If it is not going to "park" at all then it definately sounds like the motor.

If it is simply out of adjustment then repositioning the arms is what is needed.

But then, has it always been this way (i.e., how did they get out of adjustment in the first place.) Getting a fraction of an inch out of adjustment over time is normal with wear, but several inches out is not common.

When your hubby talked to the dealer, other than the estimate did they tell him what was wrong and what they would do to fix it?

Good luck.

 

I'm wondering what caused the problem to begin with... It just sounds weird. I don't know about C5 wiper motors, but I know that older wiper motors often have an adjustment to orient the park position of the wiper blades.

Sure wish a service manual was available for these cars...

 

no, No, NO! Stop! If you "reorient" the wiper arms on their shafts the next time you touch the key they will want to go into the engine compartment. If it were me, I'd ask the dealership what they were going to do and order the same parts used from Gene at Karshop or new from Fred Beans.

 

I agree. Always better to err on the side of caution.

 

For whatever reason they're not getting the signal from the stalk to drop back into the "parked" position, or they're getting the signal and the motor can't take that command. To me it sounds like a relay problem. Is the car throwing any codes? (scary to think a car might have a code for something as elemental as a wiper, but you never know...)

 

No, they haven't always been that way and there are no codes. They park, but home is straight up on the windshield, not laying down where they should be. It's just that when I turn them off, they go into the down position but then they move up the windshield and park there. Otherwise, they work with no problems. So, it doesn't sound like the motor is the problem. Hubby didn't pay attention when the dealership told him what needed to be replaced - that's why I usually take her in!

This happened last winter, also, when I got caught in a horrible ice/snow storm on the way home from work, but they readjusted themselves and parked in the normal position. This winter, again, caught in an ice storm I thought they would find home again but they haven't. From what I'm hearing, it sounds like reorienting them won't cause any problems. Someone said they "will want to go into the engine compartment" if I try that. I'm not sure how they can do that, but at any rate, it sounds like I can try re-orienting them. Thanks to all, I feel better about trying that.

 

Re-orienting them WILL cause problems.

If you adjust them down too far they will try and enter the engine compartment. Yes, there are body parts that will stop them from actually going into the engine compartment, but those parts and/or the wipers themselves will get damaged.

If you adjust them too far up, the drivers wiper will travel off the windshield when fully extended and the passenger wiper will ... well it won't be right either.

You mentioned that they periodically work normally. I don't think this is an adjustment problem. More of a wiper control problem.

In short, orientation adjusts their travel or arc across the windshield. The motor controls what position they are in within the arc.

My guess is that when they were frozen during the ice storm a control within the wiper motor (could be a gear, a sensor, a relay, etc) that should put the wipers in park has broken and allows the wipers to park in the wrong place.

Please seek local professional advice somewhere before doing anything. You need to have someone physically look at your car. We can give generalized suggestions, but ...

Ask the dealer what they were going to do. You might be able to do the repairs yourself, but let someone diagnose this for you.

 

I'd look for a used motor at the salvage yard or on E-Bay!

 

Thanks, RogueWave - she's about due for an oil change and we'll get it taken care of then. Just to clarify, the wipers work perfectly, they just forgot where home is. My dealer has always taken care of our GM vehicles and they mostly do a great job. I was just trying to keep some money in my bank account! Passme has had a lot of upkeep in the past year. Oh well, if you want to have fun, you've got to keep them running and looking good!

 

 

i agree, i would not reorient them. It seems to be a position sensor or relay problem. Heres why you should change the position from what you are saying, the wipers work ok, they just dont know where the off position is. So if they are working ok in the on position that means that they are positioned correctly. It has to be something else. Sensor/relay wise.

 

I was curious, did you ever get this problem fixed? What was the cause?

 

Passme's problem here is the exact same as mine. I had noticed that each speed on the controls works perfect, and they swing where they need to be, but once you turn them off, they will slow down to where they SHOULD stop, but then move up to a vertical position after stopping for a second in the right spot. It didn't make much sense to me at first, but I read a post that said something about taking the plastic fairing off that reveals the wiper control arms underneath. The post said to manually adjust the center arm that rocks both wipers and bring them back down to 'home' position. I could use some guidance on whether you guys think this is a good idea or not, or to just have a shop look at it. At the same time, I have to rewire my front flashers and have the horn looked at too, so I may take it in anyway. I personally have yet to mess with the wipers, but need too soon because i have to get it safety inspected to register it, and cant wait any longer. If anyone has any additional advice concerning the subject it would be appreciated.

 

Bad wiper motor $60.00 bucks at AutoZone!!

 

Sounds like a good place to start, and end hopefully. Thanks bud!

 

Mine did the exact same thing after the compartment was flooded. They acted erratic for a while then began to act normal again but wouldn't ever go back to the park position. Replaced it with the Auto Zone one and has been fine ever since