Things You'll Need:
- Standard and Metric Socket Set
- Wiper Motor
- Tray (Magnetic Preferred)
- Pick
- Screwdriver
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Grease or Grease Gun
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Step 1
First, disconnect the negative cable from the battery to deaden the electrical systems in the car. This is necessary for spark suppression. Shorts, fire, and damage to electrical components can arise from working on electrical equipment while the battery is connected. Just loosen the nut and wiggle the cable off. Also, disconnect the connector attached to the wiper motor.
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Step 2
You will need to remove the wiper arms and intake grating. Use a pick or flat-head screwdriver to remove the rubber stoppers at the base of the wiper arms. This exposes the mounting nuts. Take a socket wrench and remove the nuts. Place them in the tray for containment. Now remove the arms.
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Step 3
Now you need to remove the intake grating. This is the vented, plastic cover that keeps debris from getting into the HVAC intake. It's right at the base of the windshield underneath the windshield wipers. Take a pick and pop out the plastic pins on top of the grating. The pins cover screws that secure the grating down. Take a screwdriver and remove all screws. Pull off the grating.
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Step 4
Now you need to remove the wiper transmission from the wiper motor arm. It's a rod or bar that connects the wiper motor at a ball socket. Use needle nose pliers to remove this. Use the pliers to apply equal pressure around the socket to wiggle the transmission off. Use care in order to keep the ball stud in place.
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Step 5
Remove all wiper motors mounting bolts. The number of bolts varies for every car and they are located on the firewall. Now you're ready for installation of a new motor.
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Step 6
With your new motor in hand, put all your bolts back into the motors rubber mounting sleeves. Line up the bolts to their mounts and hand tighten all of them in to hold it in place. Go ahead and tighten them with a socket wrench. There's no specific amount of torque needed to secure the bolts. Just tighten them until you feel they are tight enough and they won't vibrate loose.
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Step 7
You need to connect the wiper motor transmission back to the motor. If you bought a used motor from a junkyard, then you might have to clean the ball stud. Remove all dirt and old grease and apply new grease to the stud. Take the socket of the transmission rod and pop it back onto the ball.
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Step 8
Replace the intake grating. Line up the screw holes and tighten the screws back in. Do not over-tighten these screws! You are securing plastic to plastic. Very easy to damage. Tighten until you feel resistance. Replace the plastic pins to cover the screws.
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Step 9
Put your wiper arms back. Do not fully seat them into the mounting area. Let the base sit on the mounts. There should be a mark on your windshield where the blade ended it's travel. Line the blades to this mark and tighten the mounting nuts back on the bolts. Hold the arm in place to keep it aligned while you tighten the nuts down. Replace the rubber stoppers.
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Step 10
Now you can connect the wiper motor back to its power supply. Then connect the negative battery cable back up. Tighten the bolt on the cable only until it stops spinning. Turn your key on and test all settings of the wipers and make sure they all work.
