Wipers Stuck Straight Up
pbmatthews
05-02-2009, 10:37 PM
I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix.
When I turn my wipers off, the blades stop in a straight up vertical position.
I did some research on this website and did some of the recommended ideas.
I removed the wiper blades, took off the plastic cover over the wiper blade motor, and then turned the car on and played with the wipers---turning them on fast, slow, on various intermittent speeds, and off.
The arms work fine when on slow, fast or intermittent. However, when I turn the wipers off, the crank that sits on top of the motor rotates in reverse, putting the blades back into the upright vertical position.
I purchased a new rebuilt wiper motor, and replaced the old wiper motor.
No dice---the same problem.
I then took the wiper blades off (again) and I removed the crank on top of the motor that drives the wiper arms. I then turned the wipers on---exposing only the shaft extending from the motor that actually drives the crank.
The shaft rotated fine with the wipers on in the fast, slow, and intermittent positions. However, when the wipers are turned off, the motor shaft comes to a stop and then reverses---which is causing the blades to rotate back up in the straight position.
I suspect an electrical problem---however, I would have thought the new motor would have fixed that.
Does anyone have any thoughts?????
When I turn my wipers off, the blades stop in a straight up vertical position.
I did some research on this website and did some of the recommended ideas.
I removed the wiper blades, took off the plastic cover over the wiper blade motor, and then turned the car on and played with the wipers---turning them on fast, slow, on various intermittent speeds, and off.
The arms work fine when on slow, fast or intermittent. However, when I turn the wipers off, the crank that sits on top of the motor rotates in reverse, putting the blades back into the upright vertical position.
I purchased a new rebuilt wiper motor, and replaced the old wiper motor.
No dice---the same problem.
I then took the wiper blades off (again) and I removed the crank on top of the motor that drives the wiper arms. I then turned the wipers on---exposing only the shaft extending from the motor that actually drives the crank.
The shaft rotated fine with the wipers on in the fast, slow, and intermittent positions. However, when the wipers are turned off, the motor shaft comes to a stop and then reverses---which is causing the blades to rotate back up in the straight position.
I suspect an electrical problem---however, I would have thought the new motor would have fixed that.
Does anyone have any thoughts?????
lance_kidd
05-06-2009, 04:08 AM
I have a 2001 Grand Prix SE and was in Maryland (from SC) and had a ton of snow on the windshield. I turned them on and wiped the snow and ice off and when I turned them off, they stuck straight up.
However, I got a used motor from the junkyard and it fixed the problem. Took me about six months to break down and get one though. I pulled the fuse out and lowered the blades until it rained and then I'd have to pull over and stick the fuse in :) I wouldn't suggest that though. I think the motor cost me about $40. It wasn't rebuilt though, just used.
You probably just got a bad motor, especially if it was rebuilt. From what I hear, it's the switch in the motor that puts the wipers in park position, and if the motor is getting power, then it really handles the rest. The motor is what puts the wipers in "park." I'm not a mechanic though, just offering my two cents. I've had some bad luck with my car and have become educated (term used loosely) on several Pontiac problems.
However, I got a used motor from the junkyard and it fixed the problem. Took me about six months to break down and get one though. I pulled the fuse out and lowered the blades until it rained and then I'd have to pull over and stick the fuse in :) I wouldn't suggest that though. I think the motor cost me about $40. It wasn't rebuilt though, just used.
You probably just got a bad motor, especially if it was rebuilt. From what I hear, it's the switch in the motor that puts the wipers in park position, and if the motor is getting power, then it really handles the rest. The motor is what puts the wipers in "park." I'm not a mechanic though, just offering my two cents. I've had some bad luck with my car and have become educated (term used loosely) on several Pontiac problems.
richtazz
05-06-2009, 08:40 AM
lance_kidd
05-06-2009, 10:40 PM
Hi Rich, maybe you could help me with a question about my wipers. When I replaced my wiper motor, there is an arm that connects to the top of it that spins around in a circle, moving the wipers. I snapped it off of the old motor and back onto the replacement motor I bought and put everything back together.
About a week later it come up a rain storm and the arm popped off. Had to take it all apart and put the arm back on and the same thing happened. This went on for about five different times before I was able to get a silver clamp screwed very tightly around the little piece of plastic that sits down on top of the motor. It hasn't come off in about a year, but is that normal. I don't even think you can replace that little bit of plastic without replacing the whole arm.
You can see what I'm talking about in the link that you provided above.
Thanks!
About a week later it come up a rain storm and the arm popped off. Had to take it all apart and put the arm back on and the same thing happened. This went on for about five different times before I was able to get a silver clamp screwed very tightly around the little piece of plastic that sits down on top of the motor. It hasn't come off in about a year, but is that normal. I don't even think you can replace that little bit of plastic without replacing the whole arm.
You can see what I'm talking about in the link that you provided above.
Thanks!
richtazz
05-07-2009, 02:57 PM
Lance Kidd,
Are you talking about the little plastic cover that snaps over the crank arm itself, or the big plastic cover that goes over the entire wiper motor/transmission assembly?
Are you talking about the little plastic cover that snaps over the crank arm itself, or the big plastic cover that goes over the entire wiper motor/transmission assembly?
lance_kidd
05-08-2009, 03:13 AM
Just the little plastic piece that snaps over the crank arm. All I did was pop it off the old motor and onto the new, but it wouldn't stay in place until I put a clamp on it and I'm afraid that one day when I have the wipers on high, that it's going to come off again.
richtazz
05-08-2009, 06:55 AM
That piece isn't really necessary, so if you're worried about it coming off, just leave it off.
jwalker1970
05-08-2009, 04:41 PM
VERIFIED FIX:
There's a metal tab on the wiper motor assy. It's the park tab. It gets bent down slightly then the spring loaded cam can't hit it. It slides by which makes the wipers stand up instead of parking. Bend the tab back up to a 90 degree position, It should work fine. (under the plastic cover on the wiper assy.)
For really good pics on the repair search "wipers wont park" in Chevy Impala forums.
www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=767192
There's a metal tab on the wiper motor assy. It's the park tab. It gets bent down slightly then the spring loaded cam can't hit it. It slides by which makes the wipers stand up instead of parking. Bend the tab back up to a 90 degree position, It should work fine. (under the plastic cover on the wiper assy.)
For really good pics on the repair search "wipers wont park" in Chevy Impala forums.
www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=767192
richtazz
05-11-2009, 09:10 PM
jwalker1970, I posted a link to that proceedure in post #3 above.
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