q45 wiper motor
-
off2sobe
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:38 am
- Car: '94Q TCS, original transmission @ 230,000 miles
Re: q45 wiper motor (agentxx39)
I just replaced the wiper motor in my '94...all I can say is this is that it helps if you are a contortionist. The 4 nuts holding the motor to the firewall are a piece of cake, the nut that connects the motor shaft to the wiper links (behind the firewall) is a bear (and that's the nicest word I could think of). The nut is a 12mm...that'll save you at least 20 minutes.
Don't do this with kids around...they will learn words that you don't want to hear coming from their mouths. In other words, the $75-$100 labor will probably sound like a real deal about 45 minutes into this...
You have to take the plastic trip below the windshield...be very careful...the plastic is very brittle. Getting the drive nut off was not too hard...I used a 3/8" air ratchet--this is a tight fit...no room for a ratchet and the wrenches are too short (and no room for up/down movement).
The problem is getting the nut back on the new motor and getting it tightened. There is a small hole that overlooks the nut (offset to the pass side...take out the rubber filler). This will let you see what's going on (as well as you can from a 1/2" hole. I ended up using a cheezy infomercial tool, the "Squeeze Wrench". http://www.asseenontv.com/prod...R_PET . I'm sure the local tool shop (Harbor Freight, Steve's Tools) carry it for around $15. It worked like a charm (it's a 12mm nut...I put black tape around it and put it in the 13mm socket so it wouldn't fall out). If it falls it falls into the fan well you are hosed... I tied a piece of small cord to the squeeze handle and "squeezed" the ratchet by pulling the cord up.
After the nut was started I used my air ratchet to tighten. (Takes some patience to get it in and out.
If I were to do this again, I might try pulling the glove box door and seeing if the fan can be pulled...this appears like it would give easy access to the nut. Not sure if that's an option or not...
Another option...I don't know if I recommend it or not...would be to drop the arm that connects the motor to the wiper drive arms (they call this the wiper transmission) at the center connection (it pops off a ball). I knocked mine off inadvertently...won't tell you how--gotta plead the 5th--but it would allow you to move the arm around to get better angles.
All I know is that this one little nut caused me some serious frustration...best of luck.
I got my motor from salvage for $35, $45 w/shipping. I don't think these motors go out often...mine was busted due to accidentally being turned on while the wipers were iced down...the arm should have come loose from the ball, but instead it busted the gear that controls the intermittent and wiper "parking".
This would certainly be easier the 2nd time around...but make sure you have the right tools or very, very long thin hands.
I sure hope someone else has an easier way...this by far was the trickiest single nut (except for the small rear nut that holds the wiring harness at the rear of the alternator)....that I have found on my Q.
Don't do this with kids around...they will learn words that you don't want to hear coming from their mouths. In other words, the $75-$100 labor will probably sound like a real deal about 45 minutes into this...
You have to take the plastic trip below the windshield...be very careful...the plastic is very brittle. Getting the drive nut off was not too hard...I used a 3/8" air ratchet--this is a tight fit...no room for a ratchet and the wrenches are too short (and no room for up/down movement).
The problem is getting the nut back on the new motor and getting it tightened. There is a small hole that overlooks the nut (offset to the pass side...take out the rubber filler). This will let you see what's going on (as well as you can from a 1/2" hole. I ended up using a cheezy infomercial tool, the "Squeeze Wrench". http://www.asseenontv.com/prod...R_PET . I'm sure the local tool shop (Harbor Freight, Steve's Tools) carry it for around $15. It worked like a charm (it's a 12mm nut...I put black tape around it and put it in the 13mm socket so it wouldn't fall out). If it falls it falls into the fan well you are hosed... I tied a piece of small cord to the squeeze handle and "squeezed" the ratchet by pulling the cord up.
After the nut was started I used my air ratchet to tighten. (Takes some patience to get it in and out.
If I were to do this again, I might try pulling the glove box door and seeing if the fan can be pulled...this appears like it would give easy access to the nut. Not sure if that's an option or not...
Another option...I don't know if I recommend it or not...would be to drop the arm that connects the motor to the wiper drive arms (they call this the wiper transmission) at the center connection (it pops off a ball). I knocked mine off inadvertently...won't tell you how--gotta plead the 5th--but it would allow you to move the arm around to get better angles.
All I know is that this one little nut caused me some serious frustration...best of luck.
I got my motor from salvage for $35, $45 w/shipping. I don't think these motors go out often...mine was busted due to accidentally being turned on while the wipers were iced down...the arm should have come loose from the ball, but instead it busted the gear that controls the intermittent and wiper "parking".
This would certainly be easier the 2nd time around...but make sure you have the right tools or very, very long thin hands.
I sure hope someone else has an easier way...this by far was the trickiest single nut (except for the small rear nut that holds the wiring harness at the rear of the alternator)....that I have found on my Q.