If the wipers on your 544 are slapping the windshield trim, then check the wiper motor mounting for looseness. Mine was so loose enough to cause the linkages to jam. The motor got nice and hot too while it strained to return to the parked position even after turning the switch off.

I took the driver's seat out, crawled into the footwell and had an assistant spray water on the windshield. I turned on the wipers and observed the mechanism in action. The motor was wobbling back and forth almost an inch overall. It was amazing that the thing hadn't self destructed.

I took off the defroster ducts for better access and reached behind the support plate. You can't see what you are doing without xray vision but it wasn't too hard to find the loose nut. I hand tightened as best I could and now things appear to be fine.

Hopefully this will be end of story.

Joe in WV