Binding wiper linkage/slow wipers

[Russ Maki]

Hi gruppe!

I've been dueling with my '87 4000q for the last several months, dealing
with one problem only to have another one crop up IMMEDIATELY. It's been
frustrating, but my car's latest gremlin seems at least somewhat unusual if
an archival search is any indication. So I thought I'd summarize it.

My windshield wipers had been slowing down progressively over the last
couple months until they finally ground to a halt. At first they functioned
fairly normally at slow/intermittent speed but woundn't go any faster when I
switched to high. At times, they also had trouble parking. I assumed the
problem was electrical, either switch, relay or motor.

Well, the car sat idle a couple weeks, and the next time I wanted to drive
it the wipes were non-functional.

I got around to troubleshooting over the weekend and discovered I'd been on
the wrong track with my voltmeter and jumper wires. The linkage had seized
up on the driver's side wiper arm shaft --and I do mean SEIZED. I'm
impressed that the wiper motor managed to push the rig around as long as it
did. This had to be a long time coming on.

Soooo, I'd sure suggest to those with balky wipers that they make sure the
mechanical part of the system is working as well as the electrical part.

Cheers
Russ Maki
Ixonia, Wis.