99 Grand Am Windshield Wiper arm removal.

OK, I'm new here and to working with cars, so be kind.

I am trying to take off the windshield wiper arm (the entire arm not the blade) to repaint it. I've got the plastic caps off and the retaining nuts but can't get the arm off.

I found this http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=693310
but it says to just "pop off" the wiper arm."

Mine don't just pop off. I've pulled on it so hard that I was afraid to break the motor. I tried putting WD-40 on it, but it wont come off. I finally went to autozone and they said they couldn't tell me because all cars are different (shouldn't they know how to find out though?). Is there something else holding the arm in place or is it just so tight it can't come off.

Welcome to AF.

They do pop off, but they are not easily popped off.

You need to put a screw driver under the arm and lift it from the bottm of the arm close to the shaft, while lightly pulling/wiggling it up.

THey are indexed with the spline so they will only go on one way/one possition.

Hope that helps!

Wow, thanks for the quick reply.

I'll go try that right now.

Well, I started to pull it up and it still wouldn't come off. I would've kept trying b ut it started to rain pretty hard. I can't really get any leverage with the screwdriver because of the plastic cowl. Do you think a gear puller would work?

ok I forgot about the plastic cowl, try laying something under the pry tool so you dont crack the cowl.
A panel tool works realy well for prying and a small piece of wood/metal or even a stick.

Good luck

hello, u need to pull wiper off windshield it will do this easily, then with wiper off windshield(this takes the tension off the wiper arm)gently pull up the arm from where its mounted hope this makes cense....GOOD LUCK

I think you mean pull the upper arm up like you are going to change the blade.

I think I'll try what you both said.

Thanks again.

yeah you do need to lift the blade off the glass to releave the tension, but it's still hard sometimes to get them off.

I should put this in that thread posted above.

Ok guys still can't get them off. I've tried everything now. Pulled striaght up, releaved the tension, WD-40 all over the area, pryed with screwdrivers, used a puller tool (advanceautoparts.com part number 78888) and all I've succeeded in doing is breaking the plastic mount that holds the arm up that is under the cowl and chipping even more paint off.

Any other ideas?

This might be obviously dumb, but you did remove the 13mm nut ???

It shoudlnt be that difficult to remove. :grinno:

ha ha yea. I might not be too car savvy but I do know some of the basics.

I had my uncle, who is a mechanic/stock car racer, look at it about an hour ago and he couldn't figure out why they wont come off.

That is strange.... I just had mine off my 99 SE today to clean out the leaves in the cowl screen.
Have you tried standing on the car and pulling it off ? :lol:

ps that might dent you hood.... :eek7:

Good Luck

"That is strange" lol thats the story of my life.

I might just get a cutting torch and cut the car away from the wipers...:rolleyes:

thanks anyway for eveyones help.

I would just try pulling it up and wiggling it around.
Lightly taping the shaft might break it loose too.

IDK...Maybe someone took it off before and didnt line up the splines and hammered it on... :eek:

Good Luck

You didn't say why the puller didn't work (the only way it doesn't work is if it breaks :biggrin:). The screw will usually slip off the stud and then people give up on that idea. If you thread the nut on a couple turns it keeps the screw centered. If that doesn't work... find something that disolves JB Weld? :dunno: