Replacing wiper to motor linkage on 944 S2

[Tom]

On the way home the other night, in the persistent rain, my driver's side wipers stopped working. The linkage had popped off at the wiper end - I refitted it and ordered a new linkage the next day. This weekend I thought I'd fit the new part but I've got myself in spot of bother: The old link came off fairly easily without removing the wiper moter etc but I just can't get the new one on - can't get enough purchase to push the joint together and I can't get the whole assembly off to do the job on the bench. Steps I've taken so far are:

• Removed both wiper arms and the big nuts that hold each wiper drive to the bulkhead.
• Removed the single screw that fixes the motor assembly to the engine bay.

After this, I'd expected the whole wiper assembly to drop down and hoped I could remove it completely. The drivers side and motor are now nice and loose but for some reason the passenger end will not budge. I can't see what's left that's holding the assembly in place.

Has anyone out there had experience changing this part? Any tips?

 

[944Turbo]

http://www.titanic.co.uk/FAQs/FAQ73_944WindscreenWiperProblems.html

Tony

 

[Fen]

There's another 10mm screw upward into the bottom of the scuttle. You need to get the blower motor out to get the whole thing out. You can replace just the linkage arm without removing everything though; it's trickyl to get the leverage to pop the ball on, but it can be done.

 

[mik_ok]

I replaced mine without removing anything else - it was quite hard to get the motor end on ~ from memory I think I used my 13" crow bar gently levering against a block of wood that I sat on the bulkhead.

 

[jr2015]

I did mine about 10 years ago, yes it was bloody awkward and I think I popped the new one on with a mole grips.
jr.

 

[richthomas]

I did it exactly the same way as mik a few months ago, off and on again with a carefully placed crowbar, block of wood and some old rags. It is the motor end that is hardest to get off and then on but it is easily do-able. Complete job should take about 20mins, and that was with a lot of faffing and umming to work out just where and how to lever it.

I was worried about the closeness of the windscreen and how much pressure was needed to get the motor end back on, but no cracks appeared!. Just go careful and it is an easy job, much better than stripping the whole assembly out, that looks like a right pig.

Incase anyone is wondering, the new arms are now a little more expensive, £8.10+VAT or something. Chris at Exeter will discount the VAT if you mention the forum and post one out for free []

If anyone has play in their linkage, or juddery drivers side wiper I would highly recomend replacing this arm now. This time of year it is a nightmare to lose your wiper in the dark and rain when you are only half way to where you are going. It's only the drivers one that goes as well, as the end is exposed and the cup faces up and can get run off and spray from the screen. If only it was made upsidedown!!

 

[Tom]

Thanks Guys! I've just completed the replacement, using the in-situ technique. I was all ready to book it into the local OPC (who had quoted 1 hours labour for the job and couldn't do it 'til Friday). Given the current weather, I didn't rate my chances of being able to drive the 25 miles without needing the wipers either. Thanks to all your encouragement I'm back on the road.

For the record, it took me about 50 minutes, most of which was finding something the right shape to use as a lever and getting it into position. I found it best to fit the wiper end of the linkage first, to stop it flapping around (it clicked on fairly easily by hand) then applied pressure to the motor end using an old ladder hook and a piece of wood to protect the car. The part cost £10.53 inc VAT from the OPC.

 

[sawood12]

Is it just one link you need to replace? Also how do you get the plastic rain guard off? It appears to be clamped under the two large windscreen clamps. Do you have to cut around the clamps to remove the rain guard? I could do with replacing the rain guard as well as mine has a split in it.

 

[Fen]

You don't need to remove the plastic cover to do the job; you can work under it. If yuo want to replace it you need to take off the wiper arms and the big nuts holding the spindles to the scuttle, but the wiper assembly is still held on from below.

 

[Tom]

It was the rain guard that made me decide to replace the linkage in situ - once I had taken the wipers off and the big nuts on the spindles, I found that after nearly 16 years, the glue holding it to the bulkhead was too well stuck. I don't think I could have peeled the guard off without wreaking it and even then, I don't think it would have stuck back on. I wondered whether warming it up a bit might have helped.