What Have I Done To My Wipers....??

[ck1]

My wipers were going a bit mad, they were working fine but when I turned them off they were stopping in a progressively higher position on the screen, going from an inch above normal to completely vertical. I turned them off when it stopped raining (as you would expect) and they were directly in my eyeline. I tried to push the driver side wiper down into the correct position which resulted in a bit of a snap and now it's completely loose so rotates freely.

[Old_Geezer]

Motor may need replacing. Or lubricating or a general wiper clean may help.

[Old_Geezer]

As for the snap, you seem to have broken something. Go to your local garage, or Halfords, or somewhere similar, for the mechanics to check it out.

[bhg481]

The wiper arms are usually fixed to the mechanism on a splined shaft with a cover over it hiding a screw. It could be that the screw has come loose, allowing the arm to lift off the mechanism. If you can lift the cap you should be able to see underneath, locate the arm in its correct position and re-tighten the screw. If you are unlucky the splines may have got wrecked , which will result in needing either a new arm (easy to do yourself) or the mechanism replacing (not so easy).

[nescio]

I think it is unlikely the wiper arm has come loose on its splined shaft. It is usually extremely difficult to remove and the retaining screw or nut would have to be very loose to allow sufficient movement to turn the arm. More likely, your forcing the arm down has loosened the splined insert in the arm hub. You will need a replacement wiper arm.

[malagabob]

I’m more likely to go with BHGs answer.

[ck1]

Thanks all, I'll see if I can figure out what's been done and try not to make it any worse!

[douglas9401]

Depending on the make and model of the car it may just need the 'park' sensor on the wiper motor replaced (as well as the broken arm).

[ck1]

OK so I've figured out what's happened (I don't know the technical terms for any parts so bear with me...). The motor that works the wipers has a bar coming off it which must turn when the wipers are on, attached to this bar are too long rods, one going to each wiper. One of these rods has become detached at the motor end. I can't figure out how to get into this space so looks like a garage job to put it back on.