The Rear wiper motor is having trouble pushing the blade across the rear window.

In your collective wisdom is this motor worth fiddling with or should I simply spring for a new motor?

The car has been sitting over the last several months, and the motor is fifteen years old. Is this motor something that I could rehabilitate or might cleaning up and greasing the many joints do the trick?

I was thinking that using a spray graphite, would a PB Blaster, WD-40 type lube be better?

Gratefully yours,
Nick

Check this post for the possible fix. I think the FAQ was updated.

Rear wiper seizure

Tom

The link was very helpful.
This being Vermont I should have supplied the fact that about 6 months of the year the rear end is completely caked with salt grime and ice.

I removed the shaft and cleaned the accumulated salt imbued grease from all parts with brake cleaner soft wire brush, the slathered up the shaft, splines and threaded parts with Never Seize put it back together- problem solved.

The job only required one quick trip to the parts store for a new spring clip. Cost of repair $3.78.

Thanks Tom.

before you blame the motor make sure the armature which holds the wiper blade is not frozen in the cylinder between the blade and the inside of the tailgate.

i have seen them get sticky and tough to move which causes the motor to get a heart attack trying to turn the blade.

change the armature and the motor flies

Thank you Trichard,you were absolutely right on with your comment. It was clear, when the parts were removed, that they were in need of some cleaning and lube.

Nick

I haven't done this job yet, but I've done similar things and suggest your plan of attack be:
1. Check all the bolts that secure the motor...if they're loose obviously that's no good. Also a good test is to see how the motor operates with the wiper off of the window.

2. Go a head and lube it up. I like to use bicycle lube for those kind of things, but mainly because I have some nice stuff around the house from Mountain biking. The stuff I use is nice and thick, so it lasts. I would say the graphite would be a good choice. About the only thing I use WD 40 for is cleaning things, I find it's not great for lubricating long-term things.

3. If those don't work, you're still at ~ $0 cost. Go to a junkyard and pull a motor out of the right car...I think 740's should be the same. If you've never been to the junkyard- definitely go- you'll discover how worthwhile it can be. If there are no junkyards available, I think there are some that you can order parts and have them shipped, but I don't know any off hand.

Happy wrenching!
God Bless,
Koos

Koos, my brother, good call, the motor bolts were indeed loose- I did happen to have a bottle of bicycle chain lube which I used on the many pinion points after they where all sprayed with brake cleaner and soft brushed. A little Never Seize on the shaft, splines and so on, (on face and a little in my eye ) and the wiper works like a charm. Ready for another Vermont winter.
Thanks again.
Peace be upon you!
Nick