One wiper arm not working

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
2wagonhos
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Santa Cruz California

Fri May 15, 2009 12:12 am

I lifted my wipers up to wash my 1988 325iS and I accidently moved the drivers side wiper too far. When I went to put it back in place, it went, but when I turned the wipers on, only the passenger side worked. Did I strip the bolt? The wiper arm moves REALLY easily making me think that I stripped the bolt. Please help....
abelai
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 848
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cardiff

Fri May 15, 2009 8:35 am

Take the arm off and see if the spindle is moving.
If I can't fix it I'll f**k it up so bad nobody can!!
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Fri May 15, 2009 10:17 am

If one wiper is working, and the other not, then either the wiper has worked loose on its spindle, or the linkage has broken/fallen apart.
If the wiper makes a feeble attempt to move, then it's the former. If it makes no attempt at all, it's the latter.
Assuming your car is LH drive, it will have a completely different linkage assembly from most of us on here, so experience of your particular fault will be limited.
Take off the plastic grills (heater air intakes) on the scuttle and have a look.
These are removed by sliding them downwards a few milimetres, and then lifting them outwards at the top edge.
2wagonhos
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Santa Cruz California

Fri May 15, 2009 5:16 pm

Thanks guys for the help. It turns out the screw was loose under the plastic cab. Once I removed the cap and tightened the screw, it works perfectly. I did the same thing to the other side. THANKS!
Post Reply