If your windshield wiper sticks, stalls, slows down, etc, a very likely cause of the problem is a bad motor. The root cause of that is two gears inside becoming damaged. I do not know of a way to replace either of these two gears alone. Not to mention, this is probably a bad solution, for several reasons, the main reason being that a full motor replacement is cheap and easy. The part costs less than $100 and I've seen it as low as $75 brand new as of this posting (March of 2010). I bought mine from aiAutoparts on eBay for $80, brand new, OEM. Most other posters seem to have bought this part from AutohausAZ. Auto Haus' site says the part "lists" for $150 and they sell it for $96.21, and it was on sale for $91.40 when I searched it. They only list one part, but there are apparently two types of motor. One is for VIN serials through A644281, the other is for VIN serials from A644282. I honestly do not see why these can not be interchanged. Autozone, O'Reilly, and Advance Auto all list only one OEM replacement, but list two refurbished models. If you tried to get one of the refurbished models you have to return your current motor to get the core back, and you have to get the matching motor replacement. Seems right. Unfortunately one of the refurbished models is twice the price of the other. Both of the refurbished models cost more than the OEM model from these Autozone and gang. All three of these models from these stores cost more than the only part available from Auto Haus, AZ, and that is a new OEM replacement. The one I purchased was not for my VIN serial, BUT it matched the one I replaced, so someone may have swapped it out before I bought the car. In any case it appears these may be interchangeable. But do not take my word for it. You are advised to get the appropriate model for your VIN. I just recently installed mine, so given enough time to find out, I could end up regretting it. For all I know I'm replacing a motor the previous owner replaced 2 years ago and because it may be the wrong model it may go bad again. They both look identical in functional form, but have some slight differences in their casings. Here they are:
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For VIN serials through A644281
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For VIN serials from A644282
Tools Needed
Procedure : Removal
Procedure : Inspection, Preparation
Procedure : Installation (not reverse of removal, exactly)
Get Started
Here's the long description with photos. The photos were taken mostly during installation at 1am. I apologize for the lighting, but you can see everything you need to. Also, keep in mind that since these photos were taken during the installation, they may appear to have some parts taken on or taken off out of order from my description. Also, my description does not match exactly the way I did. In hindsight I learned a better way to do this project and I am sharing that with you. Use the pictures as general reference.
Alright, let's get started. Get the tools I mentioned handy. Pop your hood and put it into the full vertical position. If you have never done this before, just look for the clips at each hinge, it's pretty straight forward.
Drape your towels over the fenders to avoid scratching them.
Procedure : Removal
Step One-Two: Remove the primary and secondary fuse panel covers; remove the wiper motor fuse and unplug the motor. The first cover is removable by hand by squeezing the clip. You will need a phillips screw driver to remove the second cover by removing five screws.
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![Image]()
Step Three-Five: Remove the wiper blade, arm and the transmission cover. Remove the 5mm hex head bolt, then slide the wiper arm off the post. This can be kind of tough. Keep in mind there are springs behind the arm, if you pull the arm away from the windshield these springs will tend to push the block that is on the post towards the windshield. Pulling the arm off in this manner could risk damaging your windshield, even if you place something on the windshield to prevent this. Just be careful. Replace the 5mm hex head bolt into the wiper arm you just removed so you don't lose it. Now pop the plastic cover off of the wiper transmission, it pops off on the bottom and slides off the post at the top. It should come off with ease.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Step Six: Remove the ventilation intake registers. Each has three plastic clips you need to push down on while pulling the vents back. I used my thumb. As with all plastic clips you run the risk of breaking them if they are dry-rotted or if you use too much pressure or concentrated force. You shouldn't need a screwdriver to press on these, and using one could break them.
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Step Seven: Remove the fresh air ventilation duct. It's all one piece. It has one plastic nut on each the driver and passenger sides. Remove the 10 screws across the back side of the duct, then look closely for all the clips on the front side of the duct. There's a bunch of them. I got all of them off by hand. You can roll and push the duct forward slightly to relieve some of the force on the clips.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Step Eight: Remove wiper motor and wiper transmission as one unit. you'll need to remove the shroud between the wiper transmission you recently took the plastic cover off of and the windshield. It comes out by hand. Two or three of the duct screws you've already removed were holding it in place to the duct. There are two nuts to remove, one clip to undo, and one bolt to loosen. This bolt doesn't appear to actually have a nut on the other side, a mere quarter turn and it is completely loose, if you turn it any farther than that you will damage the plastic ramp it tightens against. Remember this when installing later. First undo the white clip by hand, then remove the two 10mm nuts, then loosen the bolt on the rubber damper. To remove the assembly, tilt the whole assembly up while pushing back and slightly up to slide the flange out of the rubber damper. Watch your windshield here, you don't want to chip it.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Step Nine: Separate wiper motor from wiper transmission. Remove the one 13mm nut attaching the motor output shaft to the transmission, then remove the three 10mm bolts attaching the motor body to the transmission body. Pay attention to the orientation of the motor and the bolts for re-installation.
![Image]()
Prep and Installation post coming next. This post shortened due to image and character limitations.
For VIN serials through A644281
For VIN serials from A644282
Tools Needed
- Socket wrench and extension
- 10mm socket
- 13mm socket
- 13mm open-ended wrench
- 5mm hex key
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Pliers
- Something to hold and separate screws and nuts... please, no jokes.
- Brake parts cleaner
- Paper towels
- Two "work" towels (to drape over fenders)
- White lithium grease
- Elbow grease
Procedure : Removal
- Remove primary and secondary fuse box covers
- Remove wiper motor fuse and unplug motor
- Remove wiper blade
- Remove wiper arm
- Remove wiper transmission cover
- Remove the ventilation intake registers
- Remove fresh air ventilation duct
- Remove wiper motor and wiper transmission as one unit
- Separate wiper motor from wiper transmission
Procedure : Inspection, Preparation
- Check wiper transmission for problems
- Clean wiper transmission linkages
- Lube all contacting parts on wiper transmission
- Park new motor by itself, unattached
Procedure : Installation (not reverse of removal, exactly)
- Attach new wiper motor to wiper transmission
- Install wiper motor and wiper transmission as one unit
- Plug-in motor and install motor fuse
- Test motor operation
- Install primary and secondary fuse box covers
- Install fresh air ventilation duct
- Install driver and passenger ventilation intake registers
- Attach wiper transmission cover
- Attach wiper arm
- Attach wiper blade
- Wet windshield thoroughly and test away!!!
Get Started
Here's the long description with photos. The photos were taken mostly during installation at 1am. I apologize for the lighting, but you can see everything you need to. Also, keep in mind that since these photos were taken during the installation, they may appear to have some parts taken on or taken off out of order from my description. Also, my description does not match exactly the way I did. In hindsight I learned a better way to do this project and I am sharing that with you. Use the pictures as general reference.
Alright, let's get started. Get the tools I mentioned handy. Pop your hood and put it into the full vertical position. If you have never done this before, just look for the clips at each hinge, it's pretty straight forward.
Drape your towels over the fenders to avoid scratching them.
Procedure : Removal
Step One-Two: Remove the primary and secondary fuse panel covers; remove the wiper motor fuse and unplug the motor. The first cover is removable by hand by squeezing the clip. You will need a phillips screw driver to remove the second cover by removing five screws.
Step Three-Five: Remove the wiper blade, arm and the transmission cover. Remove the 5mm hex head bolt, then slide the wiper arm off the post. This can be kind of tough. Keep in mind there are springs behind the arm, if you pull the arm away from the windshield these springs will tend to push the block that is on the post towards the windshield. Pulling the arm off in this manner could risk damaging your windshield, even if you place something on the windshield to prevent this. Just be careful. Replace the 5mm hex head bolt into the wiper arm you just removed so you don't lose it. Now pop the plastic cover off of the wiper transmission, it pops off on the bottom and slides off the post at the top. It should come off with ease.
Step Six: Remove the ventilation intake registers. Each has three plastic clips you need to push down on while pulling the vents back. I used my thumb. As with all plastic clips you run the risk of breaking them if they are dry-rotted or if you use too much pressure or concentrated force. You shouldn't need a screwdriver to press on these, and using one could break them.
Step Seven: Remove the fresh air ventilation duct. It's all one piece. It has one plastic nut on each the driver and passenger sides. Remove the 10 screws across the back side of the duct, then look closely for all the clips on the front side of the duct. There's a bunch of them. I got all of them off by hand. You can roll and push the duct forward slightly to relieve some of the force on the clips.
Step Eight: Remove wiper motor and wiper transmission as one unit. you'll need to remove the shroud between the wiper transmission you recently took the plastic cover off of and the windshield. It comes out by hand. Two or three of the duct screws you've already removed were holding it in place to the duct. There are two nuts to remove, one clip to undo, and one bolt to loosen. This bolt doesn't appear to actually have a nut on the other side, a mere quarter turn and it is completely loose, if you turn it any farther than that you will damage the plastic ramp it tightens against. Remember this when installing later. First undo the white clip by hand, then remove the two 10mm nuts, then loosen the bolt on the rubber damper. To remove the assembly, tilt the whole assembly up while pushing back and slightly up to slide the flange out of the rubber damper. Watch your windshield here, you don't want to chip it.
Step Nine: Separate wiper motor from wiper transmission. Remove the one 13mm nut attaching the motor output shaft to the transmission, then remove the three 10mm bolts attaching the motor body to the transmission body. Pay attention to the orientation of the motor and the bolts for re-installation.
Prep and Installation post coming next. This post shortened due to image and character limitations.
