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Alty · Jan 27, 2011, 04:20 PM

Well, this is the first time I've posted in this forum, thankfully. ;)

I have a 2001 Chevrolet Venture van.

For the past few weeks my windshield wipers haven't been working properly. At first we though it was because of the snow (no matter how well you wipe it off, some always remains near the base of the wipers) but we've recently had some nice weather and all the snow that was on the base is gone. There are still some leaves caught in there. Just mentioning that in case this could be part of the problem.

I'll try to explain what happens as best as I can. Bear with me, I'm one of those women that goes to the mechanic and says "It's making a bear noise" and hopes the mechanic can figure it out from there. ;)

Anyway, they will run, at times, but I have to turn the wipers on to full, get out of the car, push down on the wiper. It will run for a minute or so, and then stop, but I can still hear the motor powering the wipers straining, moaning, trying to work. Even if I turn the wipers off the motor is still making that noise.

I'm thinking it's a loose connection, but I'm not a mechanic and not at all mechanically inclined. Hubby has no idea.

Normally I'd wait, get it looked at, but we don't have the money right now and because the snow is melting, I really need my wipers to work.

Any suggestions?

If you need any more info, please ask, I'll do my best to answer.

smoothy · Jan 27, 2011, 04:44 PM

Not an electrical connection if you hear it running... sounds to me like the Windshild wiper motor/transmission is having problems and may need replaced.

I am assuming however the two pivot points the wiper arms attach to aren't bad. There should be a way to unhook them from the motor assembly and make sure the pivot freely... but I've not workd on the specific vehicle you have to give a step by step.

You don't have to buy new... remanufactured is cheaper... or the cheapest is used from a Junkyard.

Alty · Jan 27, 2011, 04:51 PM

Thanks Smoothy.

So basically, no matter what, this isn't something I can fix myself?

Darnit. I was hoping someone would say "smack it five times with a hammer and it will all be fine". ;)

I really need a new car.

The fact is, I'll get nothing for this one, and even though it's 10 years old, it only has 67,000 km on it, that's almost 42,000 miles for you Americans. ;)

smoothy · Jan 27, 2011, 05:12 PM

Depends... I don't know how dangerous either of you are with a screwdriver or wrench?

It could very well be something you could do... or equally be something you don't want to touch.

And trust me... I've known people I wanted to have legally barred from owning tools. My late Father-in-law was one... his spirit was willing... but the poor guy had NO mechanical aptitude.

Alty · Jan 27, 2011, 05:19 PM

I'm pretty good with tools. After all, I make furniture.

Something tells me that building and replacing a motor, aren't the same thing though. ;)

At this point I really have nothing to lose. I'm one step away from just abandoning this van on the side of the road.

smoothy · Jan 27, 2011, 05:24 PM

If you can visit a library and find a Helms manual covering your van... you should be able to find and photocopy everything you need to know to do it. The hardest thing is knowing how hard to NOT tighten the bolts... and use the right tools... if its metric... use metric... if its SAE (inches) use SAE tools, or trust me... when you strip the head of a bolt off... you instantly make an easy job magnitudes harder. If you was local I'd show you both how to do it. I could probibly do it in less than 30 minutes.