1995 Dodge Caravan Winsheild Wipers

Tiny
CLARENCE58
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 212,000 MILES
My windsheild wipers quit working. They were working and then all of sudden they just stopped. You can hear them come on when you turn the switch on, but they do not engage the arms. Is the motor bad or perhaps something else that is causing the arms not to move?
Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 2:19 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Hi clarence58. Welcome to the forum. What exactly do you hear? Is it the click of the delay relay or do you actually hear the motor run under the hood?

If the motor is running, you'll have to pop the trim cover off under the windshield and look at the linkage. The pivots snap together with a pliers. If the motor is not running, tug on one of the arms to irritate the motor. If it starts run intermittently, the motor has a bad ground which is very common. I can tell you how to fix that quite easily.

If only one arm has stopped moving, there are two common problems. The first is a loose 15mm nut under the trim cap on the pivot. Tightening the nut takes almost 5 seconds. The second problem is the arm has fallen off the bottom end of the pivot shaft. It can be reinstalled and tack-welded to prevent a repeat problem.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 3:03 PM
Tiny
CLARENCE58
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I hear the wiper motor under the hood running when and at whatever interval the switch is set on. So is the problem more than likely the linkage malfunction? I
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Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Try to move the arms. If both move together, suspect the linkage, but it they don't move easily, the worm gear inside the motor is likely stripped.

Looks like I misspoke about how the arms come off. I just looked at my '95 Grand Caravan and saw they no longer use the 15mm nuts on the pivots. Just lift the arm up and there is a tab on the side to pull out sideways. That tab will hold the arm up so you can use it as a lever to wiggle it until it lifts off the pivot.

Remove the plastic plate behind the hood to gain access to the linkages. If one is popped apart, use a pliers to squeeze it back together. If it pops off again, the plastic insert is worn out. Look for a replacement linkage at a salvage yard. The insert is not available separately.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
PEABODY1929
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  • 1 POST
I have a similiar problem with my '95 Dodge Caravan. However, when I turn on the wipers, the blades do not move and I hear a clicking noise. Thoughts?
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Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Start reading from my original reply. In particular, is the clicking coming from a relay in the box by the left hood hinge, or is it a mechanical sound coming from under the black plastic trim piece in front of the windshield?

Caradiodoc
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Monday, January 31st, 2011 AT 8:18 PM

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