Auto Repair Articles

Question:

I have a 1997 Buick Century and the Wiper Arm is stripped out. My husband has tried to tighten and re-tighten and it usually lats a week or two, but now he can’t get it to work do anything. The passenger side works fine and the drivers side just sets still cause it is stripped out. How can I fix this ?

Answer:

This situation is quite common. Remove the cap cover to gain access to the 13mm nut that is holding the wiper arm on. Remove the retaining nut and unplug the washer squirter hose. Remove the wiper arm and clamp it in a vise. Take a wire brush to the post on the car that you just removed the wiper arm from. This will help remove any metal flakes from the groves in the post. Now, using a small file preferably ( a flat blade screwdriver or knife can be used here but it will be more difficult ) cut as many groves in the inside diameter of the wiper arm where it fits over the post (they do not have to match up anything). Clean it off and get it ready to install. Turn the wires on and then off to reset the wiper arm post. Then, find some thin, hard wire about half the size of coat hanger wire. Mechanic’s wire will work or thinner if you can find it. You will only need a two inches. Make a semi-circle and place the two ends straight down inside the diameter of the wiper arm and slide the arm over the post. Bend the wire off to the side and install the retaining nut. What this does is create a key-way and binds the arm and the post together so it will no longer slip. Install the cap cover and your done.

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