Alcology
01-04-2012, 04:29 PM
Hello there. Upon purchasing the wagon I noticed the rear wiper didn't wipe! Not cool. I decided to look at it to see what was going on and hopefully fix it myself, since the money saved can go to other car issues/plans. If anyone else has a problem with their rear wiper not moving, this might be helpful and save you some ca$h which you can then spend on Huffer's mod using the honda rear wiper arm.
What I used to do the job:
metric sockets and wrenches
crescent wrench
flathead screwdriver
phillips screwdriver
snap ring pliers
rubber mallet
metal file (but hopefully not for you!)
pencil
lithium grease
600 sandpaper
body trim popper
To start, remove the rear wiper arm. Pry off the plastic wiper arm cover that's over the 10mm nut holding the arm on there. Take the nut off and then gently pry the arm off if it's stuck. Make sure to keep track of your pieces! Remove the larger nut holding the wiper mount from the outside with a crescent wrench. Watch out for the spray nozzle, it could snap easily.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wiperarmnut-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wiperarmnut.jpg)
Next, take out the trim plugs on the hatch. The grey top plug can be pulled out with your finger nails very easily and the darker plug comes out afterwards.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_trimplugin-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=trimplugin.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_trimplugout-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=trimplugout.jpg)
Once they are out of the bottom, remove the grey clips holding the light bulb access panel and swing those open. I used the body trim removal tool to reach in there and pop the plastic studs off because I already had one, but I'm sure anything you can use a pry tool would do the job. Maybe even just pulling it off? The red studs at the top of the panel in the image are the plugs that have to come out. I went from the outside in since it was easiest.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_hatchpanel-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=hatchpanel.jpg)
Now you have access to the wiper motor mount. Disconnect the electrical connection and fluid hose first and move them aside. Now from the outside pull off the washer nozzle and set it aside. There are 3 bolts holding the mount on there, there are metal sleeves inside the grommets for the bolts, they might pop out so be careful. Once those bolts are out, the whole thing can be removed and brought somewhere warm and spacious to work on it. (So... cold...)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wipermotormount-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wipermotormount.jpg)
There is a backing plate on the mount keeping the gearing inside. But first, there are some clips holding the gears in place on the arm side. I used a screw driver to pop the C clip off the pivot arm, it's very small. There is a washer and O-ring there as well to keep track of, the O-ring will probably stay in place until the pivot arm comes out. On the shorter post, there is another C clip (E clip?) holding the post in place and a washer. I used snap ring pliers to easily widen it and pull it off, but I've done the same type of thing in the past with a screw driver.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmoring-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmo-ring.jpg)
Now, you can remove the backing plate on the mount. There are a bunch of phillips head screws there and the ground for the motor. I used a #2 phillips head to remove them all. The plate just comes right off. There is a lot of grease in there (or should be!), I left it there to reuse since none of it was particularly dirty, but it could be. Now the tricky part for me, the arm was rusted into place. I couldn't find my rubber mallet readily so, I impatiently just used a steel hammer on the end to loosen it and pop it off. Terrible idea! The steel hammer messed up the threads on the arm and really made it difficult to later get the 10mm nut back on. I used a file to get back to some usable thread in the end. When the arm started to come loose, I made sure the gearing would just come out on the table in front of me. You might want to make a note or take a picture of how the gearing is set up. I didn't have a problem with it, but if it isn't put back together correctly, you might get reduced area of coverage of your wiper. There are some washers on the gearing posts, so keep track of where they go as well. I dropped a washer and it stood on end by itself! Crazy! Probably just greasy.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wipergearing-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wipergearing.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_washerstand-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=washerstand.jpg)
As you can see, the arm was rusted in there good. I used the 600 sandpaper to remove the rust on the arm and wrapped some around a pencil to try and get some rust removed from inside the arm itself as I didn't have anything else handy. Once the rust is removed and the arm cleaned off, spray a bunch of lithium grease in the hole and on the arm itself before putting it all back together. If there is any dirt inside, take the time to clean it out and re-grease everything. Put everything back together the way it came apart and make sure to get the O-ring in place and the clips back in place.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmrust-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmrust.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmsanded-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmsanded.jpg)
Test the wiper motor to see if this was your issue by hooking up the electrical connection. If everything works, just reverse the steps to get the mount back in , the trim on, and the wiper on and you are good to go!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wiperinstall-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wiperinstall.jpg)
I had sanded and spray painted my wiper arm before doing this as well since it was gross looking. I didn't use Huffer's wiper mod as I'm a cheap bastid :cool:
The motor casing does come off as well if that is your issue. There are some parts in there that can wear down, but if that happens, you may as well just buy a new motor from subaru. I don't know if you can buy it separate from the whole mounting plate or not, but it does come out. There are some small pieces in there that can get loose and be a PITA to put back in. I did that too as I was curious.
If this DIY is too wordy or picturey, let me know. I like going in to a project with all the info available to me!
What I used to do the job:
metric sockets and wrenches
crescent wrench
flathead screwdriver
phillips screwdriver
snap ring pliers
rubber mallet
metal file (but hopefully not for you!)
pencil
lithium grease
600 sandpaper
body trim popper
To start, remove the rear wiper arm. Pry off the plastic wiper arm cover that's over the 10mm nut holding the arm on there. Take the nut off and then gently pry the arm off if it's stuck. Make sure to keep track of your pieces! Remove the larger nut holding the wiper mount from the outside with a crescent wrench. Watch out for the spray nozzle, it could snap easily.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wiperarmnut-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wiperarmnut.jpg)
Next, take out the trim plugs on the hatch. The grey top plug can be pulled out with your finger nails very easily and the darker plug comes out afterwards.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_trimplugin-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=trimplugin.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_trimplugout-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=trimplugout.jpg)
Once they are out of the bottom, remove the grey clips holding the light bulb access panel and swing those open. I used the body trim removal tool to reach in there and pop the plastic studs off because I already had one, but I'm sure anything you can use a pry tool would do the job. Maybe even just pulling it off? The red studs at the top of the panel in the image are the plugs that have to come out. I went from the outside in since it was easiest.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_hatchpanel-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=hatchpanel.jpg)
Now you have access to the wiper motor mount. Disconnect the electrical connection and fluid hose first and move them aside. Now from the outside pull off the washer nozzle and set it aside. There are 3 bolts holding the mount on there, there are metal sleeves inside the grommets for the bolts, they might pop out so be careful. Once those bolts are out, the whole thing can be removed and brought somewhere warm and spacious to work on it. (So... cold...)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wipermotormount-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wipermotormount.jpg)
There is a backing plate on the mount keeping the gearing inside. But first, there are some clips holding the gears in place on the arm side. I used a screw driver to pop the C clip off the pivot arm, it's very small. There is a washer and O-ring there as well to keep track of, the O-ring will probably stay in place until the pivot arm comes out. On the shorter post, there is another C clip (E clip?) holding the post in place and a washer. I used snap ring pliers to easily widen it and pull it off, but I've done the same type of thing in the past with a screw driver.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmoring-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmo-ring.jpg)
Now, you can remove the backing plate on the mount. There are a bunch of phillips head screws there and the ground for the motor. I used a #2 phillips head to remove them all. The plate just comes right off. There is a lot of grease in there (or should be!), I left it there to reuse since none of it was particularly dirty, but it could be. Now the tricky part for me, the arm was rusted into place. I couldn't find my rubber mallet readily so, I impatiently just used a steel hammer on the end to loosen it and pop it off. Terrible idea! The steel hammer messed up the threads on the arm and really made it difficult to later get the 10mm nut back on. I used a file to get back to some usable thread in the end. When the arm started to come loose, I made sure the gearing would just come out on the table in front of me. You might want to make a note or take a picture of how the gearing is set up. I didn't have a problem with it, but if it isn't put back together correctly, you might get reduced area of coverage of your wiper. There are some washers on the gearing posts, so keep track of where they go as well. I dropped a washer and it stood on end by itself! Crazy! Probably just greasy.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wipergearing-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wipergearing.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_washerstand-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=washerstand.jpg)
As you can see, the arm was rusted in there good. I used the 600 sandpaper to remove the rust on the arm and wrapped some around a pencil to try and get some rust removed from inside the arm itself as I didn't have anything else handy. Once the rust is removed and the arm cleaned off, spray a bunch of lithium grease in the hole and on the arm itself before putting it all back together. If there is any dirt inside, take the time to clean it out and re-grease everything. Put everything back together the way it came apart and make sure to get the O-ring in place and the clips back in place.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmrust-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmrust.jpg)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_pivotarmsanded-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=pivotarmsanded.jpg)
Test the wiper motor to see if this was your issue by hooking up the electrical connection. If everything works, just reverse the steps to get the mount back in , the trim on, and the wiper on and you are good to go!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/th_wiperinstall-1.jpg (http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15/alcology/97%20Legacy/?action=view¤t=wiperinstall.jpg)
I had sanded and spray painted my wiper arm before doing this as well since it was gross looking. I didn't use Huffer's wiper mod as I'm a cheap bastid :cool:
The motor casing does come off as well if that is your issue. There are some parts in there that can wear down, but if that happens, you may as well just buy a new motor from subaru. I don't know if you can buy it separate from the whole mounting plate or not, but it does come out. There are some small pieces in there that can get loose and be a PITA to put back in. I did that too as I was curious.
If this DIY is too wordy or picturey, let me know. I like going in to a project with all the info available to me!