wipers

broughy84 · #1 12-26-2005, 12:26 PM

Does anyone elses wipers hit together after they have ran for a prolonged period of time? The bottom of my drivers side hits the top of my passenger side wiper when they start to go up to wipe the windsheild? It's a 98 if that makes any difference. I think I am going to buy a smaller blade for the passengers side now. I need to replace them both anyway, they broke last night in the rain coming home from my inlaws for christmas!

'97ventureowner · #2 12-26-2005, 10:58 PM

I've haven't had the opportunity to tear apart my wiper system yet, so I'm not sure if the Venture uses the same system other older GM vehicles that I have owned or worked on use. This system has the wiper arms that are splined, and they fit onto a splined shaft. I was thinking that maybe they are wearing out with age and use, so they maybe be slipping after prolonged use. If you use your wipers a lot, (if you live in an area that receives a lot of precipitation,) then this could be a cause. The simple fix might be what you are describing, or you might replace the wiper arms. You could try to take off a wiper arm and see if the splines on either surface are wearing out. I seem to remember from previous repairs that the arms were usually the first to go, maybe they were made that way with a softer metal. If that doesn't work, you could check the linkage from the wiper motor to the arms. I shudder when someone talks about the wiper system on these Ventures as it looks like a pain in the ass to work on, with a great deal of the system hidden in the engine compartment.

cdru · #3 12-27-2005, 09:16 AM

Yes the shafts are splined and yes the system is a PITA to work on. I too would start with adjusting the arms where they attach, moving the top arm one or two splines. Shortening the blades (or rather putting the correct size blades on if they aren't) also may fix the problem.

gls02 · #4 12-27-2005, 03:40 PM

I have heard that if you use other than OEM blades you take the chance of the wipers crashing like you are describing. Since you didn't mention replacing the blades recently, I can guess that the wipers have been working properly up until now. Maybe the wiper rubber has slipped causing the wiper to be a bit longer. I wanted to avoid buy wiper blades from the dealer when I replace mine, so I bought a 22" for the passengers side and a 24" for the drivers side. I used Anco Winter Blades from Wal-Mart and have never noticed any difference with the one side being shorter then the other.

Measure your wiper blades, they might be a tad too big causing them to hit each other.

broughy84 · #5 12-27-2005, 09:19 PM

I replaced them today, they are both 24 inch blades. They still hit. I put 22's on the passenger side and they don't hit. I really don't want to go mess with the wiper system....

stever1 · #6 12-31-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broughy84

I replaced them today, they are both 24 inch blades. They still hit. I put 22's on the passenger side and they don't hit. I really don't want to go mess with the wiper system....

hi, after making sure that your wiper arms are not stripped and the little stop arm on the bottom of the wiper cam is not broken(a common problem) follow my adjustment instructions i posted on wipers don't park stever1 is the user.

Huney1 · #7 01-28-2006, 09:06 AM

"I have heard that if you use other than OEM blades you take the chance of the wipers crashing like you are describing."
That sounds sort'a wierd, but with the Venture I'd believe almost anything you tell me. <Grin> Like broughy84 said, get a 24" driver side and 22" passenger side from WalMart and have done with it and they sell them at an economical price.

bmracing76 · #8 02-12-2006, 09:19 PM

The splines on the wiper arms are aluminum, mine stripped out on my van. Alle I did was remove both arms, clean both mating surfaces, applied a permanant (red) locktite to the shaft, and reinstalled with the correct alignment. I did this a year ago and haven't had a problem since. Beats buying replacement wiper arms. Good Luck.

Huney1 · #9 02-13-2006, 06:48 AM

I got new ones and put 24 on driver and 22 on passenger and had to play with them awhile to make them stop hitting or overshooting drivers side at the top. I know a trick, next time I'll get two 22's and be done with it.
Question: Rear wiper, is there anyway to make it run constant instead of hitting five to seven swipes then quit?

GregA · #10 02-13-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huney1

Question: Rear wiper, is there anyway to make it run constant instead of hitting five to seven swipes then quit?

The Rear Wiper control has two positions:

1 - Push the TOP to WASH (and wipe 5-7 times)
2 - Push the BOTTOM to keep the wiper ON (although it is intermittent - 1 wipe every 20 seconds or so). Move the switch back to the "middle" position to turn it OFF.

At least that is the way it works in my van.

Take Care,

Huney1 · #11 02-13-2006, 02:16 PM

Thanks, I figured it was sonmethin' I wuz missin'.
Whew! Being semi retired has it's bad days; today wuz my day to vacuum, shake rugs , dust and mop floors. Oh well, at least I get to stay inside where it's warm. <Grin>

Huney1 · #12 02-26-2006, 07:20 AM

"The splines on the wiper arms are aluminum, mine stripped out on my van."

Yesterday during a bad rainstorm our drivers wiper splines stripped out on a trip to town. Aluminum splines with very small with very shallow grooves. Another GM engineering marvel . . . . Thanks for the LockTite tip, I picked some up at the auto parts store and will fix ours this morning.

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