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Wiper Noise

jhm

By jhm
in Ask A GM Technician

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jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
Posted

Been getting real heavy rain past few weeks. Yesterday driving thru a storm, got home everything ok. Left for work this morning, more rain. Turned on wipers now they are making a noise on the "down stroke" sounds like a ratchet on a socket wrench. Seems to be coming from driver side. Havent got to look at it yet, still at work, anyone got any ideas?

bill190 Enthusiast

bill190

Posted
Posted

Aside from needing new wiper blades...

 

I run the wipers then go outside and listen to where the noise is coming from.

 

On a car I have, I was able to tighten some nuts around where the shafts come up for each wiper and that got rid of a noise. Also oiled the parts.

 

On another car I had to replace the main "round and round" gizmo which is an arm off the motor. There was a little pivot ball which was worn out. In that case the part came with the motor and I had to buy the whole works.

 

With my truck I was able to remove the screen over the wiper arms (92 GM), then get access to all the moving parts there. Then oiled all the moving parts real good and that took care of that noise!

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Aside from needing new wiper blades...

 

I run the wipers then go outside and listen to where the noise is coming from.

 

On a car I have, I was able to tighten some nuts around where the shafts come up for each wiper and that got rid of a noise. Also oiled the parts.

 

On another car I had to replace the main "round and round" gizmo which is an arm off the motor. There was a little pivot ball which was worn out. In that case the part came with the motor and I had to buy the whole works.

 

With my truck I was able to remove the screen over the wiper arms (92 GM), then get access to all the moving parts there. Then oiled all the moving parts real good and that took care of that noise!

I hope it is just the blades, it was 5 am when this happened and I didn't have the time to mess around. The motor is over $200 but my wipers havent parked all the way down for a few years (happened during another downpour) so maybe the motor will fix both problems. Maybe the linkage from the motor to the blades?

bill190 Enthusiast

bill190

Posted
Posted

Well there are 3 or 4 different things which can cause noise.

 

-Wiper blades. Turn the wipers on, go outside and the noise will travel with the blades back and forth.

 

-The bars inside the vent thing below the windshield. They call these the "wiper transmission" in that it is "transmitting" the motion from the wiper motor to the wipers.

 

-A little rotating bar which connects from the wiper motor to the wiper transmission. The point of connection here.

 

-Then the motor itself. Lift the hood and then use a empty paper towel roller held to your ear and point the other end at the various parts. Then you can figure out where the noise is coming from exactly.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Gremlins. After I posted this topic, I left work about 8 hours later. The sun was out, everything was dried. I tried the washers, no noise. Dont know what it was but is gone for now! :thumbs:

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