Rear window wiper motor.

[Lil Bandit]

I too have a bad rear window wiper motor. I've inspected it and discovered that the plastic gear that engages the motor worm gear is stripped on one spot. A little digging has confirmed that this is a common ailment for all of the Montana / Venture / Silhouette vans, regardless of age. It begs the question why you would actually put a flimsy plastic gear in there instead of something harder.

The dealer is charging about $200 for a new one, the aftermarket wants $100 and the old one. My question is this: can anyone get there hands on the plastic gear alone? It seems easy enough to replace this one little part in what is otherwise a good module.

Incidentally, the whole way that the automotive industry has gone with "modules" that can be fixed if you could get the part, but you can't buy the part, is driving me bananas. On the one hand I know it speeds production and theoretically that lowers costs, on the other, why can't I buy a 50 cent plastic gear?

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by Lil Bandit

...I've inspected it and discovered that the plastic gear that engages the motor worm gear is stripped on one spot. It begs the question why you would actually put a flimsy plastic gear in there instead of something harder.

....can be fixed if you could get the part, but you can't buy the part...

One thing I have noticed is that the tapered shaft the wiper arm fits onto often slips and the wiper arm ends up wiping paint below the rear window. I think that is what saved mine thus far. Maybe that is part of the fail-safe to prevent the gear from getting damaged! Ya think?

I did tighten the arm down using a split lock washer in an attempt to keep the arm from slipping on the tapered shaft each time I went through the car wash. Those swirling brushes that go down both sides and around the back spin in different directions. They typically try to rip the wiper off the van.

Alternatively, if you knew someone who could turn a new gear on a CNC machine you could make it out of brass stock. As a matter of fact, both the worm gear and the drive gear could be made from the same material.

I'm surprised some offshore company hasn't started to make parts like this.

[markqc]

What aftermarket places have you found this wiper motor assembly at? Do you know of any in Ontario, Canada?

Thanks,
Mark

[Lil Bandit]

Originally Posted by markqc

What aftermarket places have you found this wiper motor assembly at? Do you know of any in Ontario, Canada?

Thanks,
Mark

I've found the motor assembly at Gord Davenport Automotive, one location in Orangeville, Ontario. The other is Car Quest, the have several locations, I deal with the one in Bradford. Both outfits will ship the part, both are asking about $100 for a rebuilt assembly plus the core.

Cheers, Mark.

[Lil Bandit]

Originally Posted by 1999montana

One thing I have noticed is that the tapered shaft the wiper arm fits onto often slips and the wiper arm ends up wiping paint below the rear window. I think that is what saved mine thus far. Maybe that is part of the fail-safe to prevent the gear from getting damaged! Ya think?

I did tighten the arm down using a split lock washer in an attempt to keep the arm from slipping on the tapered shaft each time I went through the car wash. Those swirling brushes that go down both sides and around the back spin in different directions. They typically try to rip the wiper off the van.

Alternatively, if you knew someone who could turn a new gear on a CNC machine you could make it out of brass stock. As a matter of fact, both the worm gear and the drive gear could be made from the same material.

I'm surprised some offshore company hasn't started to make parts like this.

I'm still not thrilled with my options on this repair. It would be quite easy to replace the stripped plastic gear, getting one seems to be impossible.

Have you noticed how many domestic minivans, regardless of make are out there with dangling or inoperative rear wipers? I'm not seeing this problem on import vans. Is it my imagination, or do the Japs know how to deal with snow and rain better than north americans?

[1999montana]

Part of the problem, I think, is the way some people treat these vehicles. Let's face it, at $38,000 CDN, it wasn't cheap. And in a way, it is a precision instrument and needs to be treated with care.

I take the approach that it is pointless to try and get the wipers (front or back) to move snow unless I know it is above freezing and NOTHING might be frozen.

Otherwise, I clean out the cowl area and ensure that the wipers (front or back) are not frozen to the glass before I start them. I figure that doing that it is cheaper than replacing a motor or gear set (if I could get one!).

I'm not suggesting that this is the only root cause of every failure, but it certainly is one.

[markqc]

Thanks for your replies. I guess these aftermarket places have access to replacement gears in order to provide rebuilt units. The plastic gear must be available somewhere. Today the dealer quoted me $315 CDN for a new unit. This for a $1 plastic gear that failed.
I agree about the thinking of how people treat their things, but the gear is stripped where the wiper changes direction back towards the "park" position so this should have nothing to do with it being frozen or pushing too much snow as it already has taken one pass starting from the park position. It is just a lousy design intended to generate the aftermarket parts industry.
The dealer also quoted $92 for a power window switch and $52 for the rear hatch interior grab handle. This is not only ridiculous but it is even insulting. Sorry for my ranting.

Mark

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by markqc

The dealer also quoted $92 for a power window switch and $52 for the rear hatch interior grab handle. This is not only ridiculous but it is even insulting. Sorry for my ranting.

Mark

Wow $92 for a power window switch at the "stealership"! You could try to compare prices online and get a better deal. I bought a master power window switch for the driver's door for under half of what you were quoted, and with shipping it was still around $50. The switch for the other side was even cheaper.You can get a lot of deals online for new parts, you just need to know where to look. Did you attempt to ;ocate any of the parts at your local salvage yard? Sometimes great deals can be had there as well.

[Lil Bandit]

Originally Posted by 1999montana

Part of the problem, I think, is the way some people treat these vehicles. Let's face it, at $38,000 CDN, it wasn't cheap. And in a way, it is a precision instrument and needs to be treated with care.

I take the approach that it is pointless to try and get the wipers (front or back) to move snow unless I know it is above freezing and NOTHING might be frozen.

Otherwise, I clean out the cowl area and ensure that the wipers (front or back) are not frozen to the glass before I start them. I figure that doing that it is cheaper than replacing a motor or gear set (if I could get one!).

I'm not suggesting that this is the only root cause of every failure, but it certainly is one.

I wouldn't feel too bad if we had used any of our wipers roughly. We garage the van, never use the wipers to clear heavy snow and always unstick them in icy temps. I think a more robust motor / gear combo is called for here. After all we do live in snowy country with lots of rain as well, normal use of your wipers shouldn't damage them.

[markqc]

I bought the van with 32,000KM on it and has been garaged since and driven mainly by my wife. The wiper could have been abused before we got it, but with low km's (56KM now) it must simply be another poor/weak design by GM. I will have to try aftermarket or the wreckers for parts as I don't want to throw over $500 for parts that should not have been worn out already.

Mark