My windshield wiper motor is going out...

[kameraguy]

...keeps slowing down during the middle portion of the windshield. And I don't have the faster speeds anymore. Ironic as it has been raining really hard the past few days.

Was working fine this morning, but during lunch it started up. VERY annoying.

So i drop by the dealer and inquire about the problem. They check it out and say my motor is broken and needs to be replaced, as well as the relay as it's probably being burned out by the excess motor load.

You know how much to fix this?

$1500!!!!!!!!

WTF!!!!

So here's what i need according to Smythe:

202-820-53-42 - Electric Motor - $223
202-820-46-26 - Relay - $100
202-820-07-07 - Gearing - $700!!!

So this is just for parts. They are going to charge $550 for labour!!!!

OMG I almost had a heart attack.

Granted my extended warranty should cover it, but dang!

Anyone have this same problem?

Still deciding what to do now....

[Renn 208]

Originally posted by kameraguy


Still deciding what to do now....

DTM wiper mod...of course!

Wow though, I never realized that the wiper parts were soooooooooooooo expensive. May I ask, how did the gearing break? Or more directly, what's wrong with the gearing so that you need to replace it?

[jnolte]

thats friggin retarted!!! that is insanly over priced!

[kameraguy]

Honestly Renn I don't know if the gearing is bad, or the motor. The tech said these parts are what is needed to be replaced, but i'm hoping this is a "generic" esitimate.

I am trying to find a place that won't mind really looking into the issue (i.e. dissassembling the wiper and seeing what is broken.) I would hate to replace anything if it's not necessary. Especially the gearing!!!


But yeah, this mono-wiper is hella cool but HELLA expensive to repair! Sucks cuz I was loving the rain. I love to see the wiper in action. It's one of my favorite Mercedes features...well I guess it's an "oldschool" feature nowadays.

I would go to Topline but that's a helluva drive. Maybe i'll have luck @ Beshoff. Calling now...

[Andrew C280]

holy shit 1500 thats way expencive i will call my mechanic tommorow he was doing a wiper just like your the other day there is no way it cost that much unless i am mistaking

[kameraguy]

Dang, pretty much the same quote at Beshoff. The parts are the same prices too so i guess that's legit for MB retail.

Better contact the extended warranty peeps and see if this will be covered. Even if it isn't, it looks like I have no choice but to fix it. Probably some of the worst rain we've seen in our area thus far.

Grrrrrrrr.....


edit:

Oh Andrew, if your mechanic can do this job for cheaper i'll go with him then. Can you let me know? Where is he btw? Thanks!

[Denlasoul]

I had something similar happen to me. Wiper would struggle to get back and forth then it eventually seized. I dont recall what was fixed, but my total was around $200. I''ll look up my invoice when I get home to give you a better idea of what MB did.

DLS

[Andrew C280]

He is in canada most of you guys are in the U.S.A. I will call him if he can get you the part for cheap you can phone him and he could send it to you.

95% of the time I can't trust what is coming out of my mercedes tech's mouth I am so ticked off with them right now, I have two good guys in town that only do high end exotics the one guy only dose mercedes, the other dosen't like to work on mercedes only porsche and high end exotics but he will work on a mercedes once an a while

[Andrew C280]

I was just thinking today i notice that my gas lid was not locking i assumed the worst and would need to get a new air ram, when out removed it cleaned it up greased it reinstalled it and that fixed it works beautifully, i have never done a windsheild wiper on a car like this but you might want to try cleaning and greasing it up that might fix it, i dont doubt that if i would have took my car in they would have told me that i need a new air ram for the gas lid cover, but they would have done the same thing as i did i allways ask for parts and take down serial numbers, you might think i am parinoid but i dont have unlimited $$$$ and i was allways told you dont get money buy blowing it on useless things.

[kameraguy]

Yeah, i'll have a closer look tonight. Man I hope something got stuck there or something.

Thanks for the info though. I hope my warranty will bail me out of this one. My warranty company must love me by now (sarcastically speaking) :rolleyes:

[Andrew C280]

my warrenty company loves me so far I am into them for a new tranny mass air flow alternator ball joint and some other stuff I cant think of right now, i only paid $650 for it too, I cost them over 4K already and have only had my car for 4 months can wait for the spring so I can really drive it

[kameraguy]

Wow, it looks like we have much in common. I also had a tranny and MAS issue. Not sure if you had a headgasket leak, but I had one early on and it appears to be 'common". It's not a pretty repair in terms of price. How long is your warranty good for? I think in cases like ours the warranty company wished they NEVER sold us one!

[Andrew C280]

well my warrenty is a 1 year unlimited KM, I would like to renew it I dont think they will though, as far as I know the head gasket has not been done yet nore is going to need to be (crossing fingers for good luck) I show no signs of problems, I was just talking to my mechainc about oil's he said that they can contribute to a leak if you switch back and forth from regular and synthetic, i got one of these crummy shop manuals off ebay so i can have some guide lines befor i go into repairs blind

[J Irwan]

Kam,

I can't help to wonder why do you need a new gearing..?

if the wiper getting week, should this just be the relay and the motor it self..?


Regardz

[martattack]

Before you spend a DIME. PLEASE DO THIS!

The EXACT same thing happened to me with the wiper slowing down towards the middle.

All I did was lube the wiper mechanism.
[list=1]
First, set the wiper in the straight up position by turning the key off at the right time. It took me a few tries :)
Now remove the middle cover piece by pulling down and out on it. http://blauschwarz.home.comcast.net/wiper/wipe1.jpg
Third, Remove the main cover piece by pulling out and up on the two release tabs (circled in the picture) . I used my fingers, but you might need to use somethin pry it. http://blauschwarz.home.comcast.net/wiper/wipe2.jpg
Before you pull the cover all the way off, set the wiper to near full extension (around 45 degrees), now you can take the cover off and slide it up just a little to expose the mechanism.
I used White Lithium Grease on the mechanism. It comes in an aerosol can. It is normally used for boats, so it is waterproof and when you spray it on, it sticks. Use whatever grease you'd like. Particularly grease the two vertical sliders. Also grease the top most slider. http://blauschwarz.home.comcast.net/wiper/wipe3.jpg
Pop everything back together. Hopefully that was the problem! It saved me around $1500!!!
[/list=1]

[benzfan]

I believe the motor and gearbox are a unit (sealed of course). That's why the $$$$.
Try this before committing to the $: pop the center cover off and move it out of the way. A small mirror will help you locate the 2 slots on the underside edge. The other cover near the bottom of the arm releases easily too. Sorry, before doing this, move the wiper through a half stroke manually, so it is completely extended. Now that you have the 2 plastic covers out of the way, you should see a piston of sorts in the middle and 2 guide rods. Lube them with a good synthetic grease, perhaps one intended for snowmobiles, as it will have the winter weight you need without getting thick and binding up. Don't overdo it. Move the wiper back to the park position and back up a couple of times. Put the covers back on and park the wiper manually. Try it with the power now. Hopefully, that was all that was wrong. Do this in the summer too to make sure that any dirt is kept out and to make sure your grease hasn't liquified in the heat and run off. Do it again in the fall. Best of luck to you. I got lucky with mine last winter. It's still OK (knock wood).

[nokia8860]

Originally posted by kameraguy
So here's what i need according to Smythe:

202-820-53-42 - Electric Motor - $223
202-820-46-26 - Relay - $100
202-820-07-07 - Gearing - $700!!!



202-820-53-42 - Electric Motor - $223 It should be more like 134-150ish

202-820-46-26 - Relay - $100 - 50 dollars or there abouts

202-820-07-07 - Gearing - $700!!! try more like 450

But before you call tom @ caliber try swaping the relay out with some else. its located towards the rear of the fusebox.

If the problem is still there pull the rain gutter thing out and check if the linkage moves freely. If not then lube it up.

If that doesnt help pull the motor out and clean it up with some motor cleaner (RC)

But from what you described seems like either the linkage or relay.

[GDawgC220]

i had the same problem. it was fast sometimes and then somedays, it would slow down to a crawl while wiping across. I too was quoted a grand to repair/replace the wiper motor. all you need to do is LUBRICATE the arm that extends up and down.

I didn't even have to remove that big black piece in the middle. You can do that it way as well. What i did was turn on the wiper till it's in the straight up position and then shut off the power. Now, remove the little black piece that's above the big circular black plastic piece. It just pops on and off. After that, you'll see a hydraulic arm that extends in and out. I took some household oil and lubed it. Works great ever since.

Voila, you saved yourself $1000!

[moebiusgold]

GDawgC220 good job. Someone else who will allways try to make what they have work without spending big buck$. I have this little motto. If it's allready screwed up and probably has to be replaced. whats it hurt to try and dissasemble it and try and make it work better or at least find out what the problem is. The worst that could happen is you break it really good and do have to replace it. Getting that plastic cowel off of my C36 with out breaking the center 2 clips was the hardest job I have tackled yet. Those center 2 clips are the worse piece of German engineering I've come accross yet on the C's.

[GDawgC220]

:D

[kameraguy]

Hi guys, I really really appreciate the speedy help and definitely the info on how to lubricate the gearing. Yeah, i was trying to understand how the gearing could be at fault because it's not like the wiper stops or runs with some odd clicking sound. It just slows down exactly when the wiper blade contracts and expands at the two places in the middle.

I was also thinking maybe it wasn't lubricated, but i really didn't know if it even required that or could be a DIY. Looking at the wiper last night, I was wondering how i could try to do that and you guys basically read my mind :D

I am hoping it is going to resolve the issue. I'll have a go at it tonight.

Man, if this is all it was then I can tell the dealership to kiss my a$$ for not even considering this.

If not, then at least my warranty will cover this too.

But i'd rather learn something about my car and at least say i tried fixing it myself first.

i'll let you know. Thanks again for the great pics too boomingbenz. I appreciate the effort as i'm a visual kinda guy!

*fingers crossed*

[GDawgC220]

Originally posted by kameraguy

Man, if this is all it was then I can tell the dealership to kiss my a$$ for not even considering this.

If not, then at least my warranty will cover this too.

But i'd rather learn something about my car and at least say i tried fixing it myself first.

i'll let you know. Thanks again for the great pics too boomingbenz. I appreciate the effort as i'm a visual kinda guy!

*fingers crossed*

I know that a member (either from here or mbworld) called MBUSA about this solution and they said "thanks, we'll look into it"...guess it never made it to the dealerships as a solution :rolleyes:

[714guy]

Kameraguy i would switch motors with you since it doesn't rain often down here but lately its been rains like crazy, i Hate it.

Good luck with the fix, hopefully its some small easy and cheap to fix. Sometime we always assume the worst when it comes to fixing car when all it really is is a $.25 fuse thats gone bad.

Good luck

[martattack]

Originally posted by 714guy
Kameraguy i would switch motors with you since it doesn't rain often down here but lately its been rains like crazy, i Hate it.

Good luck with the fix, hopefully its some small easy and cheap to fix. Sometime we always assume the worst when it comes to fixing car when all it really is is a $.25 fuse thats gone bad.

Good luck

Like I always say, "start with replacing the cheapest part first!"

[kameraguy]

Hahahahha! yeah, cheapest parts first. I adhere to that too, hence why i'm using Rain-X at the moment (works ok). Next up....a tube of grease! :p

[dilligaf]

Mine broke a while back. What happened was the nut that holds the linkage to the motor shaft came off.

I found a place online that sells the motor for a little over 100. I would take apart the assembly and if the linkage is all ok then just replace the motor yourself. From what I have seen with these monowipers everyone wants to replace the entire system when just one part is broken.

I will try to find the link of the place with the motor and post it.

[714guy]

Originally posted by kameraguy
Hahahahha! yeah, cheapest parts first. I adhere to that too, hence why i'm using Rain-X at the moment (works ok). Next up....a tube of grease! :p

or you can drive really fast and the water will fly off the car:D. . . but maybe not since GAS is costing an arm and leg nowadays/:(

[moebiusgold]

Originally posted by 714guy
or you can drive really fast and the water will fly off the car:D. . . but maybe not since GAS is costing an arm and leg nowadays/:(
Off topic but damm, your right. I can't find premium for less than $1.99. Wonder what the excuse is this time?
On Topic. I love the monowiper. I just wish it retracted about 1 or 2 inches more (had a retracted park position) so that it was out of sight. Parking on the right side was not the answer. More water runs up in drivers view with the first swipe. I could never do Steve's vertical park. That would just be added attention for me and I don't need that. The high spped thing really does work. Go fast enough and you don't even need RainX. Road grime from traffic in front messes things up though.

[kameraguy]

Guys, I took apart my wiper assembly and it had lots of grease everywhere on the linkages. But I still greased the piston rods, linkage and as many bushings as I could get to and low and behold she is wiping again!

I appreciate all the help on this and I especially need to thank BoomingBenz for posting up the easy tutorial. All the steps were right on the money. I sure don't know how strong your hands are but man i needed to pry off the cover clips with the head of a long bolt! That was pretty tight. But other than that everything was easy peasy.

When looking at the piston design I can see how the grease got pushed out to everywhere. Looks like a tight fit for the bushings. After i applied the grease and gave it a few wipes, that grease was also displaced and the pistons looked clean. I hope whatever thin layer still exists stays on for quite a while. To be safe i'll keep a small amount of grease in my car just in case this happens again.

This was a great lesson for me and hopefully it'll help someone else too :)

Maybe this should be a tech tip?

[Tumbler]

Hey everybody, I'm new to the forum and the MBZ world. I'm glad to have found such a great forum that helps everyone enjoy their MB's without emptying their wallets at the stealership for minor repairs. :)

Just out of curiousity, what models/years came with the monowiper setup?

[martattack]

I can do a more formal writeup with more pictures if you would like. Let me know

Martin

[kameraguy]

What you posted is cool enough. if you want to make it more formal then I sure wouldn't mind. Let me know. You can post up a formal thread and then it can be a tech tip in the repair forum. I'll ask the mods to see what they think.

[Don C230]

BoominBenz,

Since my wiper's been "hanging up" for a couple of weeks this caught my eye. In my mind it "felt" like it just needed a bit of lube somewhere in the linkage - and that kind of thing keeps me from heading to a dealer.
Such a simple fix!

Thanks from me and my still solvent bank account.

Don
97 C230

[jnolte]

YEAH! thanks boomin!!

damn last night comin home when itwas pouring my wiper seized up in the middle of the windsheild. I was like oh shit my wiper motor just died. SO after driving very slow the rest of the way home almost crashing numerous times, i get online to search for "windsheild wipers" this thread pops up. I read Kams first post and start to worry that this damn mono wipe is gunna cost me 1000+ bucks to fix! Then i read boomins writeup and do the same, works fine now!! thanks man!! this is y i love this forum!! tons of good info! A++++ THis should be a tech tip write up!!

[martattack]

Glad it helped you out. I would hate for someone to have to spend that much money on a new wiper mechanism that just needs to be lubed!!!

Martin

[SLAMMED_C]

I will agree that the tip provided for lubing the wiper will help. but maybe only for a while.. Ive seen customers with the same problem and I have lubed it up.. and have never seen them again. and other times they are back in a week or 2 with a completley siezed wiper!!
luck of the draw I guess!!

and for everyone wondering why the dealer wants to sell you everything.. (the motor, linkage and gearing).. its becasue the gearing or possibly linkage is seizing up causing extra load on the motor.. slowing everything down when it hits the middle spot.
so If you just replace the motor, you have fixed a third of the problem.. and you will be back with another seized or slow wiper. so they say replace it all so the problem doenst return, a costly repair......but needed.

[97Brabus]

Originally posted by kameraguy
...keeps slowing down during the middle portion of the windshield. And I don't have the faster speeds anymore. Ironic as it has been raining really hard the past few days....


So, I am now having this problem and I cannot click up to the 3rd speed and when on the off position it keeps going (trying to) in interval mode. What was the experience when you lost your speeds. Hoping I don't have to replace the combo switch. Feels like I am gonna break it if I try to force to 3rd speed. Please advise what happened to yours. Thanks!

[martattack]

If your combo switch physically won't move to position three then there is something obviously wrong. Possibly something lodged or broken inside. Are there any other problems with the wiper portion of the combo switch? Do the other positions work correctly?

[97Brabus]

Yep, they all work correctly, but I think you may be right about something mechanically wrong with the switch. It just happened to occur at the same time as my wiper issue because I was turning them on and off so as not to burn out the wiper motor more than I need to.

[97Brabus]

OK, so I greased up the wiper mechanism and now it moves smoothly! Thanks everyone!!! It's at least fixed for the moment.

Now for the bad news...I somehow broke my combo switch (the part that turns the wipers on) so that I only have interval and off position. I live in Seattle and it's now winter...so I definitely need 2nd and 3rd speed. Anyone know how to take the combo switch apart so I can see what's going on in there?

[Denlasoul]

Originally posted by 97Brabus
Now for the bad news...I somehow broke my combo switch
What the hell did you do now!?!?!? j/k ;)

[benzaddict]

97brabus, If you are coming to the gtg on Saturday we can swap out the switch in no time if you want. It will take about 30min, let me know and I will bring some tools. If you want I can see how much I can get one for at my work, I work at Phil Smart "the stealership". It sucks to not have your wipers, it's been raining like mad lately. Let me know.

[97Brabus]

Benzaddict,

I would definitely be interested in checking your price. I may take a shot at repairing it if it's spendy...so if you could find out if there's a schematic that shows how to disassemble it (the knobby part with the wiper switch) that would be helpful too.

Denlasoul - I think I got pissy with the switch when I was trying to see out the windshield. The switchy got b*tchy!!! :p

[martattack]

Here's the best I can do for you for a schematic:

http://blauschwarz.home.comcast.net/wiperschem.gif


Later
Martin

[AWD_Dan]

Bump.

I had white lithium grease in my garage. This post just saved me $800.


Thanks CLUB202.COM!!

[97Brabus]

Yep! Thanks over here too!

[kameraguy]

For real, this place can save you some serious money! This thread as well as the the seat-switch thread nokia posted has been of great help to so many people already!

[Denlasoul]

Originally posted by AWD_Dan
I had white lithium grease in my garage.
Ha! I used to coat my BMX bike brakelines with white lithium grease!

[martattack]

Originally posted by Denlasoul
Ha! I used to coat my BMX bike brakelines with white lithium grease!

I had a can of it to use for my boat propellor!

[CMSw202]

First- I'd like to mention how much I appreciate this forum and everyone that posts. I've learned so much since I've discovered this site and I've just been amazed how much information is posted here.

Second- This is a great thread. I recently ran into my own problems w/ my wiper. I have a 1994 c280. My wiper just stopped working; no movement whatsoever. So what do I do? Search this forum for wiper problems and here we are. I've tried to do the instructions posted for oiling the internal wiper mechanism and to no avail my wiper is still not working. I can hear the motor turn on, but still no movement.

Any suggestions?

[97Brabus]

Is there any binding in the switch when you flip the wiper on? I had to replace mine at the same time I had the lubrication issue..mostly because I got mad at it and flipped it on and off so much it broke. :mad: Its a mechanical switch inside your combo (turn signal switch). You also may want to try helping the wiper move to help determine if it's the motor...

[AWD_Dan]

Funny, it was right after my combo switch died, I started having the sticky wiper arm syndrome. & Thanks to his very thread, I saved $800

And no problems since

:)

-Dan

[mike816]

No no no no no no selling...

in the wrong Forum

without having 30 previous Posts.

[mike816]

okiedoekie

[202280]

Just yesterday my wiper was getting stuck at certain points of it's sweep. I read on this thread about removing the two covers to expose the sweep mechanism. I did this and relubricated the two rods with the sliders (even though they seemed in perfect condition) and tried using the wiper. Still the same fault! It turned out to be the sliding joint which the wiper arm is joined to! This is more susceptable to weather and dirt being only partially covered, so more likely to fail than the covered mechanism. Don't get me wrong, the other area can fail!

I lubed up the slider rod and tried it out, worked perfectly. I recommend cleaning the gunk off the joint before giving it the lube as to prolong the life.

I was glad this was such a cheap effective solution to a seemingly VERY EXPENSIVE problem!!! :)

[!!!!!NJ Drive]

Originally posted by CMSw202
First- I'd like to mention how much I appreciate this forum and everyone that posts. I've learned so much since I've discovered this site and I've just been amazed how much information is posted here.

Second- This is a great thread. I recently ran into my own problems w/ my wiper. I have a 1994 c280. My wiper just stopped working; no movement whatsoever. So what do I do? Search this forum for wiper problems and here we are. I've tried to do the instructions posted for oiling the internal wiper mechanism and to no avail my wiper is still not working. I can hear the motor turn on, but still no movement.

Any suggestions? i jus ran into this problem yesterday...i found the nearest garage to look at it & the said it was the wiper transmission

any other suggestions before i have it replaced...$60 for part but labor is $100 :confused: =$160, not a bad deal since i had to drive an hour from work to home in the rain yesterday...im glad i made it home in 1 piece

[dezinetech1000]

Thx BoominBenz...I a have 99 and couldn't get the big plastic cover off (#5)....anyhow. I just got to (#4) on your instruction and applied lithium grease to the shaft...and it's nice and smooth again....make sure it's fully extended (43 degrees).....

[whitec230k]

well atleast their charging you $200 less of what they charged me!! and i found out later that i just needed to grease the wiper linkage and etc.


Originally posted by kameraguy
...keeps slowing down during the middle portion of the windshield. And I don't have the faster speeds anymore. Ironic as it has been raining really hard the past few days.

Was working fine this morning, but during lunch it started up. VERY annoying.

So i drop by the dealer and inquire about the problem. They check it out and say my motor is broken and needs to be replaced, as well as the relay as it's probably being burned out by the excess motor load.

You know how much to fix this?

$1500!!!!!!!!

WTF!!!!

So here's what i need according to Smythe:

202-820-53-42 - Electric Motor - $223
202-820-46-26 - Relay - $100
202-820-07-07 - Gearing - $700!!!

So this is just for parts. They are going to charge $550 for labour!!!!

OMG I almost had a heart attack.

Granted my extended warranty should cover it, but dang!

Anyone have this same problem?

Still deciding what to do now....

[greenphant]

Ok - so I was having issues with my wiper, in that I was driving in semi-torrential rain on the hwy and the wiper just quit in mid-wipe! I limped home with the hazards on and found this post, which was VERY helpful in pointing me in the right direction. Many of you are talking about greasing up the arms and mechanical parts behind the wiper cover.
This was not my problem. I opened it up and it was greased fine and moving freely. So then I took off the cowl and all the plastic covers to get to the motor and linkage (My motor still was working - I could hear it, so I ruled out fuse/relay issues quickly). The motor ran, but the wiper didn't move. So, I felt around in there and the linkage was kind of loose on the driver's side by the motor. I pulled the whole assembly out and inspected it to find that the linkage was loose on the motor and needed tightening - I tightened it (the motor has splines to make the linkage actually move). This job took ~20 minutes all toll, and cost $0.00. I couldn't bear thinking about laying out a grand or more for this repair, so I tinkered around and figured it out, and I was GLAD I did. PLEASE check yours before dropping tons of money on it - it could be something that simple.
Please see detailed pics below.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/greenphant/wiper_mount_spots_redux.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/greenphant/wiper_third_mount_spots_redux.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/greenphant/Wiper_Linkage_with_nut_redux.jpg

[mike mac]

Originally posted by Renn 208
DTM wiper mod...of course!

Wow though, I never realized that the wiper parts were soooooooooooooo expensive. May I ask, how did the gearing break? Or more directly, what's wrong with the gearing so that you need to replace it?

how do you do the DTM wiper mod?
when ever i have the wiper on and im turning my car off i kinda try to time it so it stays in the middle. but it doesnt always work, only on good days lol
but this wont help if im driving, and ive hear of removing th fuse, but i just think thats retarded. i would think there a way to reset the computer timing for that

[greenphant]

Originally posted by mike mac
how do you do the DTM wiper mod?


Send a message to strictlyspeakin - he also did a write up on it. It's just a matter of doing what I did in the above diagram and just setting a different "park" position. It really isn't that hard.
-G

[reclipse93]

I had this problem, I just used some silicone spray that doesnt leave residue. This is something I use on the pulleys, ect on my sailboat and withstands weather great.

[OzC36]

Excellent posts from BoomingBenz and greenphant!

[KINGFACTOR]

Mine broke a while back. What happened was the nut that holds the linkage to the motor shaft came off.

I found a place online that sells the motor for a little over 100. I would take apart the assembly and if the linkage is all ok then just replace the motor yourself. From what I have seen with these monowipers everyone wants to replace the entire system when just one part is broken.

I will try to find the link of the place with the motor and post it.

Same problem I had. I went to the scrap yard n picked up the entire assembly for like $40 but when I got home I realized that it was just the nut that had come off. I put it on and tightened it n viola. It works just fone for now. I will keep the assembly for like a week just to make sure then ill return it

[Spikes]

Thanks!! The stopping wiper arm has been lubricated thanks to the tips here.
I can add that a long strong room key worked a charm to "unhook" the oval cover plate.
Everything was clean and very very dry

I used Prolong spray-on grease. It is recommended for sunroof rails and gears as well as any other application exposed to water.:)

[Charles]

Thanks guys. I will lube mine asap.