Repair 7

Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a 2005 recall of 199,942 vehicles due to windshield wiper problems. Registered vehicle owners affected by the recall should have received instruction on where to bring the vehicles for inspection and free repair.

Defect and Affected Models

The windshield wiper recall affected Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, E-450, Escape, Expedition, Explorer, F-150, Ranger and Taurus; Lincoln Mark LT and Navigator; and Mercury Mariner and Mountaineer vehicles from the 2006 model year. On affected Fords, the manufacturing process may have occurred without the application of grease to the windshield wiper motors output shaft gear.

Risk

Per the NHTSA, the lack of grease application in the manufacturing process could cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation after a period of continuous use on the high speed setting. If the wipers were to fail in inclement weather, impaired visibility could cause an accident.

Remedy

Ford charged authorized dealers with inspecting the wiper motor and greasing the wiper motor gears if necessary. Concerned Ford owners may contact the NHTSA or visit the NHTSA website to determine whether their vehicle might have been part of this or other recalls.

In 2004, General Motors recalled 581,394 sport utility vehicles, including certain GMC Envoy and Envoy XL models, due to windshield wiper problems that could reduce driver visibility in inclement weather and increase the risk of a crash.

Identification

Some GMC Envoys were built with defective windshield wipers. These wipers may turn on or off by themselves or stop working altogether. Some drivers may notice that their wiper pumps are continuously running, which can cause a short circuit and corrode the components within the wiper module.

Incidents and Investigation

Prior to the recall, in 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received 1,179 reports of windshield wiper failures in General Motors vehicles using the "family" design module (p/n 15171306 base, p/n 15171307 for vehicles equipped with rainsense automatic moisture sensitive wipers) that appeared in 2003-2004 model year GMC Envoy and Envoy XL vehicles. The NHTSA opened an investigation that prompted General Motors to recall these Envoys and other affected models in early 2004.

Repairs

Beginning on July 6, 2004, authorized GMC dealers began offering free repairs for Envoy wiper problems as part of the recall. Dealers need to patch the wiper module vent hole and inspect the internal components and electrical system for signs of water damage or corrosion. Contact GMC or the NHTSA with a vehicle identification number (VIN) to determine if your Envoy wiper problems are related to this recall.

There may be many reasons to replace a wiper arm on a 1998 Dodge Dakota Sport. Having to replace an entire arm is a rare repair. Having to replace the wiper blade is much more common. However, if a wiper arm becomes damaged, bent or the splined cog of the pivot hole gets stripped (most often caused by wipers being turned on when stuck frozen to ice or snow), the wiper arm will need replacement. While replacing wiper arms is pretty standardized among many makes and models, there are a few subtle differences in the Dodge Dakota.

Instructions

1

Turn the windshield wiper motor to the Off position. If a wiper arm is misaligned, it will not matter at this time.

2

Open the hood to the Dodge Dakota Sport. The pivots at the base of the wiper arms on the Dakota are slightly concealed by the hood when in the closed position.

3

Lift the pivot cover upward from the base of the wiper arm to reveal the wiper arm retaining nut.

4

Remove the retaining nut with a ratchet and 15mm socket by turning it counterclockwise.

5

Pry the wiper arm (caully, but firmly) upward off the pivot stud using the wiper arm removal tool. Move the position of the tool around the base of the blade near the pivot to work the arm off evenly.

6

Remove the wiper blade from the removed wiper arm (if reusing). If not, place the replacement wiper blade onto the new wiper arm before installing it.

7

Place the new wiper arm onto the pivot so the wiper arm is placed in its down/off location. Do not turn the arm to align it once on the splined pivot. If necessary, remove the wiper arm and align it properly.

8

Replace the retaining nut and tighten.

9

Reposition pivot cover and snap it into place.

10

Repeat the same procedure for the opposite wiper arm before closing the hood and testing the new wiper arms.

Properly working windshield wipers are essential for safe driving. Wiper blades become worn over time, causing streaking, noises and vibrations. All of these problems can limit your visibility, making you less safe on the road.

Noise

Noise from your wiper blades can indicate a tear in the blades rubber. When blade rubber tears it is past time to replace your blades. Noise can also be produced if the motor arm is twisted.

Vibration

Wiper blades that vibrate across the windshield have either been improperly mounted or the rubber on the blade is too worn. If the rubber looks good, you may need to remount the entire blade to guarantee it is installed properly.

No Wiper Fluid

If you cannot get your windshield washer to work, first check to be sure you have plenty of fluid in the wiper fluid reservoir. The wiper fluid may also not function properly if a fuse is blown. Your car owners manual will tell you where to find the fuse box and which fuse to replace. Also check to be certain the sprayers which direct fluid to the windshield are not clogged with debris or dirt.