18 replies to this topic

[850maybe]

Driver side wiper loses contact with windshield in the most important part, my line of sight. Won't maintain contact up or down. If it rains I'm screwed.

Can the arm be bent to get contact? Anyone else have this issue?

[Black Betty]

850maybe, on 19 November 2009 - 08:35 PM, said:

Driver side wiper loses contact with windshield in the most important part, my line of sight. Won't maintain contact up or down. If it rains I'm screwed.

Can the arm be bent to get contact? Anyone else have this issue?

bending it is a temporary solution, get a new one from the dealer

[ErikS]

850maybe, on 19 November 2009 - 08:35 PM, said:

Anyone else have this issue?

I do, really annoying. I thought there was an adjustment that can be made, maybe not though.

[MyCarIsRed]

You can also make sure the wiper assembly is bolted down well. Under the plastic cowling. Mine was a bit loose and 1/4 turn on the bolt (compressing the rubber washer) fixed my lifting arm.

[Bah]

Oh ye..let the master of no drivers side wiper speak. I carry vice grips in the back and its always lovely when driving having the wiper just flail.

At first it will be bending the arms. Its a temp fix, but, if you do this for too long, you'll destroy the mount for the arm. Yeeeeeeaaaaa when this happens your farked unless your gonna replace the whole assembly...I put new arms on 30k+ miles ago, and unfortunately the base is just ruined on the drivers side, thanks to my brother owning it and using the bending method for so long.

Replace the arms...i've gotta do it for my 96 so i don't have the same issue.

If its not the arms, then it might be the same issue i have. In which case, try to see if you can find the assembly...but i'm pretty sure its all one piece (motor and all). You'll know when this is the case...because no matter how you bend the arm, or tighten the nut down, the wiper just wont touch completely. The tighter i make mine, the better, but it loosens up obviously...tried jbweld to build it up, aluminum foil etc etc...

Anyone else ever had this happening from bending for so long? I mean it could also be from the fact the assembly is 16 years old lol

[Ronny]

I had this problem on my old 850. I took the time to remove the entire wiper assemby which isn't that big a job and kind of refurbished it by cleaning and relubing all the joints, through shafts and bearings. It made a huge difference. I reset the arm by removing it and carefully bending while holding it in the vise. It took a few tries but I got it pretty close to where it should be. Never had a problem after that and the wipers ran smoother and quicker than they used too.

[corivus]

I have this issue on my 94!!!! one of the girls that fosters for my rescue has the same problem on her 96 850 GLT so either I can replace the arms? or the whole assembly? I already replaced the blade and its assembly just not the arm or the whole thing still having this problem :|

[Black Betty]

corivus, on 20 November 2009 - 12:37 AM, said:

I have this issue on my 94!!!! one of the girls that fosters for my rescue has the same problem on her 96 850 GLT so either I can replace the arms? or the whole assembly? I already replaced the blade and its assembly just not the arm or the whole thing still having this problem :|

Just do the arms, we should start a group buy lol I need two drivers side wipers.

[850maybe]

Black Betty, on 20 November 2009 - 01:11 AM, said:

Just do the arms, we should start a group buy lol I need two drivers side wipers.

I'm in for a GB!! I'll check things out tomorrow. Dealer wants $57 for the arm
If tightening doesn't work I'll be ordering one from FCP I think.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[Black Betty]

850maybe, on 20 November 2009 - 03:45 AM, said:

I'm in for a GB!! I'll check things out tomorrow. Dealer wants $57 for the arm
If tightening doesn't work I'll be ordering one from FCP I think.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

fcp has a lifetime waranty and 15% right now

[855]

Everybody always says bend the arm as a temporary fix. So my question is what happens and at what point does the wiper arm go out of its original shape? I have the same problem and have looked at other arms and they are all the same bend as mine....so either they are all bent or something else in the linkage goes out of wack.

These cars have so many stupid little problems that they deserve to be in the scrap yard but i love them for some strange reason

[troyhyde]

Pull the arm, flip it upside down on a shop towel on a concrete floor, give it a whack with a rubber mallet.

Should be good for a long while.

Don't try and jack with it on the car, you could actually cause some problems...

[Gilhuly]

Everything's temporary. Bend it. I did.

Black Betty, on 19 November 2009 - 08:41 PM, said:

bending it is a temporary solution, get a new one from the dealer

[bergmjs]

http://volvospeed.com/wiperarm.php

[Ronny]

bergmjs, on 20 November 2009 - 05:39 AM, said:

http://volvospeed.com/wiperarm.php

I wouldn't do that. You could bend the shaft. It should only be done off the car.

[Ipd]

I've tried bending them and never seem to have any luck so I just replace mine when needed.
http://www.ipdusa.co.../p-72-157-4530/

[bergmjs]

I bent mine on the car about a year ago and it worked pretty well and I only had to rebend it a little a month ago.

[erikv11]

bergmjs, on 20 November 2009 - 05:39 AM, said:

http://volvospeed.com/wiperarm.php

This works just fine for me, and no it does not bend the shaft, remember that link was posted by a pro with years and several thousand cars of experience.

Eventually the bending doesn't work any more, but it isn't because the shaft/motor is ruined. It is because the metal at the base of the arm is all chewed up by the splines on the shaft, basically the hole diameter gets routed out too big. That's when you can't tighten it etc. At that point, remove the arm, clean up the shaft with a wire brush (the spline gaps will be all filled up with soft metal from the wiper arm), and replace the arm with a new one.

[corivus]

I'd be up for a group buy as long as the issue does not come back in a year :|