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Question:

My windshield wipers stopped working?

My windshield wipers stopped working while I was driving. When I turn on the wipers I can hear the wiper motor operating rhythmically, but neither wiper moves. Does this sound like an expensive or unusual repair on a Ford Escort? Fortunately I was close to home when it happened, but we‘re expecting rain for the next several days. Tomorrow there is supposed to be a sunny break but I‘m really worried that they (the dealership) might not be able to fix the problem right away, leaving me with a car I can‘t drive to work next week. More worried about having no drivable car than about the money.?

Answer:

Sounds like your arms came off.there is a arm that is attached to the motor and runs to the other wiper. It is held in place with a nylon type washer and nut type fastener.They are very easy to replace,all you do is push then into the hole.They probably cost about 2 dollars.The parts dept.at the dealer can tell how many you need and even show you a picture of this.
If the motor is good, then the wiper pivots and clips may have broken. It may be a big job if they are not easily accessible for the tech to work on. Also, where the wiper arms mount to the studs, check to make sure they are tight and not stripped. Remove the wiper arms if you want and then turn the motor back on to see if the stud spins Ok, they should turn easily with the arms off. If the studs do not turn, then you need to look at the pivots and the clips that hold the pivots on. good luck
You should never try to operate the windshield wipers without first clearing the snow off the window and making sure the wiper blade is not stuck to the window from the ice. Always pop them away from the windo first. You may have stripped the gear movement, and may need to replace the motor. You should be able to find one at a junk yard pretty cheap.

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