Squeaky Wiper motor

[SummerSteve]

One of my windshield wiper motors or gearbox has developed a very loud squeak that occurs on each wipe.

I plan to pull it apart in hopes of finding the cause, but thought of asking first to see if anyone on the Forum has had similar and if so, what was the cause...

It sounds like scraping (hoping it is something that can be lubricated) -

Steve

 

[baz]

Are you sure it's the motor making the noise and not the wiper squeaking/scraping on the windshield ?

 

[SummerSteve]

Yes, although the sound is similar, I've listened carefully - and it makes it when the wiper is raised off the glass too...

 

[tugnnaweigh]

I’d check with Parts Richard on availability and price on a new motor and check parts availability on your current motor prior to tearing into the current motor.

Then if I couldn't fix it right then and there without putting any parts into the current motor I’d subtract the cost of parts from the cost of a new unit and likely just buy the new one.

To quantify if repairs are the way to go you need to predict the additional service life the repaired unit will provide, compared against a new one. If that would likely be less than say, 70% of the life of a new one I’d go new.

Usually in things that are the same on boats, cars, planes, trains etc. if one goes out replace them all but that here gets expensive and I’d be taking the faulty one apart to see what caused the failure, you don’t often hear of wiper motors going out.

My guess it they're built pretty sturdy to be watertight due to their operating environment and that failed in this instance so inside everything is corroded.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Had the same problem on my starboard wiper. Turned out to be the rubber bushing on the stem of the motor. You need to get in there with some penetrating lubricant and let it soak in. You will probably need to do this a couple of times to get it to stop squeaking. It makes a bit of a mess.