I was driving my '98 Rodeo down the street today when a HUGE chunk of really wet snow slid forward off the roof, down the windshield, then met the wipers as they swept upward. They stopped immediately and there was a sound like a rifle shot. After that, the wipers went slack and would not work.

I've not yet had a chance to investigate what that noise might have been. Any ideas? There must be some sort of shaft that comes out of the wiper motor and moves the arms, right? Is it possible that shaft broke because of the weight of the snow? Or is it more likely that the whole wiper motor is toast? Where should I start looking? I know that the wiper motor is up against the firewall and sort of under the cowl, but beyond that, I know nothing about this problem.

The sound leads me to believe that it was a piece breaking, not a motor going south. However, my mechanic-ing skills are minimal at best, so this may be the product of wishful thinking.

As always, thanks for the help and suggestions. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The wiper linkage is behind the firewall and
under the cowl. The linkage snaps onto the wiper motor, so if you unbolt the wiper motor you can use your hands to move the linkage to see if the wipers work. If they work when you move things by hand then you know it's the motor.

I'll bet its the linkage. The part that connects to the motor is usually plastic and has been known to break. The bad news is, at some point isuzu changed the design and after that you have to buy the whole linkage, not just the end peice that connects to the motor. I dont know what year they changed that.This info is from what I've read on the forums anyways.

Thanks for the help, Steve and Dave. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

FWIW, the wipers still move in unison when I grab the driver's side arm and move it. I haven't tried it from the passenger's side, but I suspect that I'd get the same result there.

Additionally, there is a greater range of motion to the arms than there ever was before. This also makes me wonder if it is the part that connects the motor to the arms. I'll try to have a look tomorrow.



Guess after I find out for sure, I'll be putting a call in to Merlin at St. Charles to find out how much this'll cost me...

According to slhondaparts.com if you have to buy the whole linkage its around $42. If you can just replace the plastic part its about $3.50 (I think, if I'm looking at the right part).

The wiper motor drives a short arm in a small circle, which drives a connecting rod that translates the circular motion into lateral crosswise back and forth action. That connecting rod connects to swing arms that drive the rotational studs to which the windshield wiper arms affix.

If your wiper arms still operate in unison, I'd turn on the wiper motor and shine a flashlight down into the windshield vent on the passenger side. You shoudl be able to visualize the assembly and identify what's moving and what's not. I'd guess that the connecting rod flexed enough to pop it off the ball stud on the wiper motor armature. If that's the case, pop it back on, and pull out the creeper for underside inspection. Three or four hours later, after a good nap, crawl back out and inform the wife that, by the merit of your hard work and incredible mechanical skills, you have repaired the issue. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

Randii

I more or less envisioned a setup something like that... I figured that since the motor still works (turned it on and heard it making very normal noises) and the wipers still move in tandem, then it was probably the connection between motor and the mechanism that links the arms. Thank you for verifying my suspicions.



You mean I should be able to see it without removing the plastic cowling under the wiper arms?! Wow - I didn't know that. I'll have to check that out this afternoon...



Based on the noise I heard - it sounded like a pistol shot! - I'd guess I heard plastic, brittle from the cold temperatures, giving up the ghost.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

My wife knows that I know just enough about cars to break things really, really well. That's why one of my best friends is a mechanic. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Luckily, one of my wife's employees is married to a guy who does parts at the local Honda dealer, so he can get me parts on the cheap. After he looked at it, he thought the same thing we both did.

I'll keep you guys updated. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Finally able to tear into it this morning. Turns out that the cowl had to come completely off and that motor had to come out. The plastic link that holds the motor arm to the connecting arm between the wipers gave up. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll mean a whole new wiper motor because the broken piece looks to be integrated into the motor.

Relatively easy fix, though. I'll find out this afternoon how much the parts will be.

EDIT: Got it all fixed for the grand total of: NOTHING! After a trip to the local Honda parts counter, a look at some exploded diagrams and some pointers from the shop foreman, I was able to fix my truck for nothing. It turns out that the shaft on the end of the wiper motor simply "unsnapped" itself from the connecting arm under the cowl. After fishing the arm out of the cowl and forcing the wiper motor arm back on to it, I was back in business.

If anyone is in the Denver area, give Ralph Schomp Honda/BMW/Mini your business. They're good people and treat their customers well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />