I drove home in a snow storm yesterday. The snow built up about 4 cm (inch and a half) on the driver's side, below the wiper. Then the driver's side wiper slowed down and the two wipers hit each other a few times. Then the driver's side wiper quit. Now, it just wiggles up a smidgeon when the other wiper goes. I stopped and removed the snow and ice build up, but that didn't help at all.

Did something come loose? Can I reattach it? Any other ideas.

TIA,
Linda
--
blah

Like the others who replied I retightened the nut on the wiper arm shaft to good effect. It has come loose a handful of times over the years on my 850 (1995), when the wipers had heavy use (lots of snow or driving rain). Eventually the splines on the arm and/or shaft wore and tightening no longer worked. I planned to replace the arm, but on a trip, as an expedient, I shimmed the worn space with a little piece (about 3/4 x 1 cm) of waterproof fine sandpaper and tightened it well. It has not come loose in 3 years.

Hopefully, Moregolf is correct. If not, it may be the windsheild wiper transmission (windshield wiper control arm which connects the wipers to each other and the wiper motor). It is located under the plastic cowling below the wiper connections. It is a ridiculously complex group of sheet metal pieces with multiple connectors which drive and connect your wipers. Over time the metal suffers fatigue or if you use your wipers to remove heavy snow or inadvertenly turn on your wipers when they are frozen to the windshield, the transmission linkage can break. Mine broke two years ago. I do not recall ever having abused it, although I bought the car used.

The replacement part cost $165.00 two years ago plus two hours of labor to remove and reinstall it. I found one in a junk yard for one third the price and tried to install it myself. Unless you are very good at mechanic, do not try it. You must have a special template to position the wiper transmission linkage in perfect coordination with the wiper motor or it will wipe your front hood or your car roof instead of your windshield. After hours of torture, I had a Volvo tech friend of mine do it. It was worth the money to pay him.

Dan

Dan, Thanks for your post. It did turn out to be just a question of tightening the bolt, but now I am reallllly, realllly pleased that I could fix it myself.
--
blah

Retighten the nut that holds the arm on.

Thank you for that tip. It worked. Yay!!
--
blah

Yep...that happens a lot on the 850's The good thing is you just re tighten them and the arms are pretty tough so they wont warp easily.