14 replies to this topic

[bratman18]

My wipers on my Brat are extremely weak and slow even on high. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

[Durania]

I changed out the wiper motor on my old BRAT a year before I sold it. It is a real PITA. First you need to take the cowl cover off and inside you will see the output part of the wiper motor. The subaru factory service manual says to fabricate a tool so you can push the plastic tabs inward on the wiper control arms. Best I could do was two sets of needle nose pliers, don't pinch the piss out of yourself like I did. Some people have used sockets to do this. The wiper motor is held onto the firewall by three 10mm bolts if memory serves me correct

[bratman18]

So is this my only solution? Was yours weak before you changed it and a lot better after?

[Cougar]

This kind of trouble may mean the motor isn't getting enough power to run it properly. Make sure it is getting the full 12 volts to run it before you replace it.

[bratman18]

This kind of trouble may mean the motor isn't getting enough power to run it properly. Make sure it is getting the full 12 volts to run it before you replace it.

ok will do thanks!

[bheinen74]

this could be classic sign of alternator failure shortly.

[bratman18]

this could be classic sign of alternator failure shortly.

It's been like this for the entire time I've owned it so I don't think its the alt.

[subiemech85]

or do what I did

remove motor
remove flat cover over gearbox
remove round cover over motor
clean and lube motor and gearbox
reassemble
reinstall
ADD ground wire from gearbox cover screw to strut tower or other suitable ground point

[bratman18]

or do what I did

remove motor
remove flat cover over gearbox
remove round cover over motor
clean and lube motor and gearbox
reassemble
reinstall
ADD ground wire from gearbox cover screw to strut tower or other suitable ground point

So you noticed a big difference?

[Durania]

So is this my only solution? Was yours weak before you changed it and a lot better after?

Yeah it was very slow and would almost stop at the top of the cycle. The replaced motor fixed the problem.

[subiemech85]

huge increase in performance
it quit working on the way to work
at work pulled it in shop and cleaned, lubed, and adjusted
after all done, it worked great!! especially for a 29 year old motor!!

[bratman18]

Thanks guys! I will try cleaning and lubing first and if that doesn't work I'll try replacing it!

[subiemech85]

you may be able to remove motor without removing cowl plate!

let us know how it turns out

[bratman18]

you may be able to remove motor without removing cowl plate!

let us know how it turns out

yeah the whole motor is right under the hood, so I'm gonna take it apart when I get the chance and clean it etc. Thanks again and I will post my results!

[4x4_Welder]

On my Hatch, I lost intermittent wipers, and just had slow cycling on all settings. Turned out, the little contact wipers that ride the gear under the cover were bent and shorted. Fixed that, put a little more grease in there under the cover, and it worked great the rest of the time the car lived.