Aaaargghhh!! Help - broken wiper

[zippee]

My wipers on my 97 Chim stopped working the other day half way across the screen and like a plank I tried to force them back down as they were right in my line of vision and have broken the spindle the arm fits onto.
Problem only turned out to be a loose relay.....

Now If I take the arm off and put the wipers on the spindle does turn but I can also turn it by hand, meaning it hasn't got enough grip/strength to turn the arm. My question is how do I repair it? The motor obviously still works fine and the drivers side is still good.
Is it likely to be difficult/expensive and would I be best getting a pro to do it?

>>> Edited by zippee on Wednesday 13th April 20:04

[stringbag]

Just looked in my bible and I would say yes to all of the above.
It sounds like you'll have to remove the dash & cut a hole in the bulkhead to get access.

Does the other wiper work ok? If not, it could be the gearbox, which is accessible and is part of the motor mech, just below the window on the pax side.
If it does work ok, dash out & get sawing I'm afraid.

Sorry.

[zippee]

Cheers,

The drivers side still works and the passenger spindle still turns with the motor (just) but I can hold it still woth my hand with the motors going.

Had a quick look in the bible yesterday but am still very unsure about what to do.
Think it looks more of a dealer fix than anything I'm capable of doing myself. Anyone got any idea of cost and time to fix etc?

[chimleic]

I have exactly the same problem, but on my driver's side wiper. Having fitted new blades and arms, a combination of stickyness and overly tight springs caused them to stick awfully to the windscreen. The pressure was too much for the mechanism and it has broken.

Took the car to a dealers and I was quoted in the region of £250 for the job + several weeks wait to get the required parts. :-(

Mind you, it's covered under warranty and they can fix my cabin fan whilst the dash is off :-)

[chimleic]

Zippee,

I was wondering what came of your wiper problem?

[zippee]

I had my wiper boxes etc replaced by Offords at a cost of about £300 made up of £90 for the part (2nd hand as £180 new from TVR) and the rest in Labour. According to the chap that carried out the repair it was a b*tch of a job and not one he particularly wishes to repeat, involved removal of the dash and having to unrivet the inner tray to gain access.

Have you taken yours to a dealer to see exactly what is wrong? The wiper motor will be a damned sight cheaper than mine was.