That description sounds like the nut on the wiper motor drive arm has come loose. Very common issue if anything like snow/ice/mud is blocking the wiper arms from moving. When that happens the drive arm will strip out the light teeth that were formed when the nut was first tightened down. It is easily repairable once you get the wiper transmission assembly out of the van.
First step is to remove the wiper arms. They have plastic caps at the ends that hide nuts which secure them to the wiper transmission. Then you remove the cowl cover by removing the weather strip and the retainer screws. You will see the wiper linkage and the motor under the cowl.
Now for the hard part. The drive arm has to be installed so that all of the linkage arms are in a straight line. The ball on the end has to be pointed AWAY from the drive motor but with all of the arms in a straight line. Tighten the nut down to 13-14 ft lb. (I use a box end wrench to get to it under the wiper linkage and just tighten it by feel so it's TIGHT.)
Now before you put it all back together test it to be sure the arm is on and in the correct position. To do that take two pieces of tape and wrap one around each of the studs where the wiper arms mount like flags. Then turn on the wiper motor. If the "flags" move in the correct direction like the wipers should then remove them, and put everything back together. To align the wipers correctly you can look close at the windshield glass. Imprinted in the inner layer will be alignment marks. Just place the blades on those marks and tighten down the nuts.
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Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 AT 3:45 PM
