The arc the windshield wipers make on my 1998 3.0 CL is too big. Even though the wipers sit in the coreect park position, the drivers side slams against the window pillar when the window is wet and they are wiping on fast speed. Even slow speed has a tendency to slam against the side pillar.

The service manual does not give any guidance on how to adjust the arc or even if its adjustable. I would appreciate any information from anyone who has had a similar problem.

 

Is just the top hitting the pillar? Are they the right length?

This shouldnt have changed from the factory so I'm guessing the drivers side wiper is too long.

If you switch the end position the start position is going to be all catywompas and you said it was OK.

 

When the car was brand new, the tip of the blade never struck the pillar. Then, with time, I noticed that on high speed the blade began to come closer to the pillar when the glass was very wet. Eventually, the blade began to approach the pillar on low speed also. Now, even on low speed, the wiper makes a very audible slap against the pillar. On high speed it slams against it so hard it sounds like something will be damaged.

The blades are original factory equipment so they are not too long. The problem has something to do with the linkages undeneath the cowl but I have no experience in this area so I do not know what to expect. I do not even know if they are adjustable.

I have to believe someone else has also dealt with this problem. I am hoping to discover what they found.

 

Now is the perfect time to do the one wiper conversation. Just make sure you get a plastic chrome blade

 

What is the advantage of converting to one wiper? It seems to me that two blades working in parallel would be more effective than one blade. Mercedes uses one blade on some of their models so I assume there is something gained from it but I cannot imagine what it could be.

 

I bit the bullet and took apart the cowl below the windshield. It was relatively easy to remove the entire windshield wiper assembly and motor as a single unit. The problem became immediately obvious once I removed it and was able to inspect it.

There is a rod connected to an eccentric on the motor (on the far drivers side of the cowl) that connects to another eccentric for the passenger wiper. A second rod connects the passenger wiper to the drivers wiper. Each rod "snaps" onto a ball on the eccentric. A nylon bushing at each end of each rod is what snaps onto the ball. The nylon bushing on the first rod was cracked where it connected to the motor. It was cracked because it was simply very worn. Replacement rods come with the nylon bushings mounted on each end. I am certain that replacing them will solve the problem.

 

Did you replace the rods or only the busings?

I'm having the same problem and it's annoying the heck out of me.

 

People do it to have a race look. Most real race car drivers don't drive often in the rain during a race. So most of them don't even have a wiper, but for the ones that do leave them on just have one because it less weight. It would be just enough to have them wipe the mud/dirt off. Suppose to reduce drag also on the car.

 

you know what'd be a sick idea... if someone went to the junkyard and ripped off the wipers from a caravan .. you know the ones that are like
| | - / \ - __ ___ - / \ - | |
i dont know how to explain it folds in , one goes down first.

it would be a nice complement to butterfly doors and m3 fenders

the tacky stuff ..

doesnt do it 4 me