Windshield wipers not working

Tiny
ELMERKETRON
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 BUICK CENTURY
My car's wipers previously only working on high, now passenger wiper not working at all. What would this be, and is this something that I can repair without taking it to shop?
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 AT 9:22 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
JALOPYPAPA
  • MEMBER
  • 467 POSTS
If the driver's side works and the other does not, the rods connecting the two sides have come apart or broken, or maybe the wiper arm is not turning with its shaft. Pull the wiper arms off their shafts and remove the screws holding the cowling between the windshield and the hood. You will have to pull the little washer fluid hoses off, too. Under the cowl you will see the linkage and once you activate the wipers you will be able to see where it is disconnected. The fact that it works only on high may also indicate other problems with the motor or circuitry. You will see the motor over on the driver's side firewall and how it turns a crank inside the firewall connected to the linkage.
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Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 AT 12:17 PM
Tiny
20WHEELER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 116,000 MILES
Wipers do not turn off correctly when turned off
Six cylinder front wheel drive automatic 116,000 miles.

Odometer and gear light does not work, bulb? Before completely out did come on after driving a few miles for a week or two.
Wiper does not shutdown correctly when turned off. It will usually stop in opposite direction, up or open on the windshield.
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
First we will deal with the wipers. Have someone grabbed ahold of them when you turned on the blades? How bout heavy snow build up? When did you notice this happen?

Your vehicle has been known to have recalls on its year and model. Talk to the dealership and see if they have a kid for it to prevent that.
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
20WHEELER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No snow. When turned off 90% of the time wipers stop in vertical position, 5% of the time they stop in the down position but do not retract and 5% of the time they stop and close properly. I think it is the motor.
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
If thats the case it could indeed be the motor. You can try taking it apart and examining it to look for any signs of wear before replacing it. Or you could just replace it. I suggest a junk yard because a motor is pretty expensive
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DSIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
Four cylinder front wheel drive automatic

The driver side wiper works fine, but the passenger wiper does not work. I bought new wipers, and had someone at the oil change shop fix it. After a while it just stopped working on its own. What can be the problem?
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JALOPYPAPA
  • MEMBER
  • 467 POSTS
Pull wiper arms off their posts, remove seven mm and Phillips headed screws holding on the cowl below the windshield. You will find the linkage to the passenger side wiper broken or loose.
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 AT 3:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FRANKBEL
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
My wipers when it gets cold or there is too much snow, will not work properly, they either cross eachother, or recently when I turn them off they park in the upright position. After about 10 or more tries they park normal again. Any sugguestions?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
At the bottom of the wiper arms, open the cap cover. Remove the nut holding the wiper arm. Re-adjust the wiper arm where it is supposed to be. Tighten the nut.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IJLEBLANC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
Electrical problem
1998 Buick Century

when wipers are on just the drivers side has this problem. At times the wiper blade will continue off the winsheild. When forced back on is ok for a while but eventually happens again. Could this be a wiper motor problem?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Hi, no not a wiper motor prob. The nut that holds the wiper arm to the shaft is loose or stripped. But normally aligning the wiper properly and tightening this nut will solve the prob. Thanks billymac
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TERRY CLIFTON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
My windshield wipers are stuck in the upright (vertical) position. I have replaced the wiper tramission and the driver side wiper arm. How do I reset the wipers to the horizontal (Parked) position?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JALOPYPAPA
  • MEMBER
  • 467 POSTS
I'm assuming the wiper motor works OK and moves the wipers further toward the hood when you turn them off. If not, the circuit that controls that movement may be defective. But for them to stop vertically, there must be something else the matter. By chance, could you have gotten the linkage crank turned 180 degrees on the transmission's output shaft?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRACTORWILLY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
Electrical problem
1998 Buick Century

I am having a problem eith wipers. When I turn them off, the stop in middle of windshield. Just wondering if this is a switch problem?

Thanx.

Tractor.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRACTORWILLY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Well, as luck would have it, the wipers returned to normal.

It was parked for a few hours with the wipers in the new stopped position of the blades in middle of winshield. I started engine and rotated "delay" ring down to mist and she resumed her normal rest position.

Now this happened before so I am wondering if this is a sign of either the switch or the motor are going to calf?

Tractor.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM (Merged)

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