Windshield wiper problem, '82

[jim's82]

Well, I found why my drivers side wiper travels too far but now haven't a clue what to do about it. I've just replaced the motor, all the linkage is good & snug, the wiper arm & post are tight & secure & the linkage is adjusted as far as it will go. Now, with the car sitting still & the windshield wet, the wiper hits & slightly goes over the windshield post but at 40 mph it goes clear off the windshield & gets stuck on the drivers side window. I found that the fiberglass, that the wiper post is mounted to, bows up & down allowing the post to move side to side & moving the wiper further & further out depending on how much wind is hitting the wiper. Does anyone have any idea what I need to do to remedy this? Is there some way to reinforce the fiberglass surrounding this mount? I'll try to attach a picture of exactly what I'm talking about. The area inside the yellow X's bows in & out. Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Jim

 

[69MyWay]

Jim, I am thinking one of many things.

1. I think your actual pivot assembly might be bad. It may be partly frozen up, causing it to bind hard against the mount when it operates thus flexing the mount.

2. You could have a issue devolping with the mounting surface allowing it to move.

Here is the deal. That pivot is mounted on the glass with a metal backing plate about the same diameter as the actual pivot itself. I suggest you first dig all the sealant out for clear access. You will see that the pivot mount bolts down to the mounting plate, then the mounting plate bolts through the fiberglass to another backing plate behind it.

Pull it off, inspect the pivot for good smooth twistie action. These are easy to get off junker vettes, so call around, shop around if yours is frozen up, and or lubricate and work it back and forth on the workbench.

About all you could do to the mount area is build a larger/wider rear backing plate that would spread across more surface area of the fiberglass. Attempting to reglass it would involve pulling the dash and i/p out for clear rear access to grind, patch, then cut the bolt holes back out. That would be a fairly major job for such a small problem if you could solve it with a bigger plate and well lubricated pivot.

Keep us posted.

 

[jim's82]

Sounds a little bit involved. When I disconnect the linkage to the pivot the wiper arm moves very freely. If there were some way to make it stop at a certain point, that would keep it from going off the windshield too. Just don't know how to build in a stop. I'm taking the car to the "Corvette Weekend" in Eureka Springs Arkansas next month. I think I'll wait to tackle this until after I get back. Is there a trick to getting the sealant off or do you just scrape & peel? Thanks

 

[69MyWay]

Just scrape and peel!

Try bending the rod that goes from the motor to the pivot point. Maybe that will shorten the overall throw.

 

[jim's82]

We think alot alike.... I did that already. It did work... for when the car is sitting still. If I place my hand on the windshield, about an inch before the wiper would hit the windshield post, the wiper will hit my hand & return downward without binding at all. If I stop the wiper motor, with the wiper in the full up position, there is about 4" of play from side to side at the end of the wiper but the linkage & connections show very little play or movement in them. The extra play in the wiper seems to be coming from the pivot post's ability to wobble side to side. I guess I'll have to follow your first suggestion & just see whats happening under all that coating.

 

[pa12.5]

Can anyone tell me the value for the resistor in the wiper motor cover on the 82 vette? Mine is burned beyond any possibility or reading the color bands.