My 89 244 recently started having wiper problems - first, the issue appeared as the wipers working very slowly - slower than the normal "slow" speed, no matter if the stalk switch was on "slow" or "fast". Then, they just plain stopped working. This weekend I pulled the motor out, and it seemed to be working okay (turning at different speeds), and I got it to turn the wipers, but only when they're pulled to the up position, off of the window. As soon as they were folded into position, they'd die again.

Does this sound like a weakened motor, or some issue with the wiper shafts themselves?

The saga continues... So I did some bench testing with the original motor, and it actually finally died on the bench. Ordered a replacement from FCP, tested it, installed it (and had a lot of fun when one of the wiper arms under the dash decided to come off it's cam), resealed the shaft hole... Now, the wipers work, but every speed is like half as fast as it should be. Meaning: the fast speed is about as fast as slow should be, the slow speed is half as fast as it should be, and intermittent is painstakingly intermittent. Any ideas?

Check the ground wire to the motor. You may need to lift it and clean the metal underneath.
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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man. ;-)

Thanks for the quick responses - Sounds like a motor may be in my future. While I'm in there, I figure I might as well lube up the actual wiper bushings, too. Besides disconnecting them from the arm that's connected to the motor under the dash and taking off the actual wipers, is there any trick to this?

There is a wealth of good posts from the past on this subject. Type "windshield motor 240" in the search box at the top of the page, and you will be able to review them all.
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jds

Ahhhhhh, brings back memories of laying on my back prying that clip off the end of the motor arm.

Wiper Gremlins, got that merit badge over a year and a half time frame on my 86 245DL. Started dragging, then stopped up at the top. Got a donor motor from the PUP and a few weeks later that motor started stopping mid way up the glass all of a sudden. Checked the wiring, replace the connector on the motor (badly tarnished pins), and added a better ground. The ground did help for a while in a what we call here in Texas a "frog strangler" storm they suddenly came to a sudden hard stop. Installed another donor motor and it had no high speed. another one had no intermittent, and so on. Went back to wiring and then relay, but it was again the motor. After three or four motors from junkers decided to fix it once and for all.

The fix was to finally go down and get a rebuilt motor from the auto house. Installed three of those before got one that worked. Got a good one on the fourth try and have had no another issues in over two years now. It stops at the bottom, have intermittent, and when needed the high speed.

If I had to do it all over again, it would be to go get a new motor and get it over with.

That doughnut seal is a dealer part by the way.

Good Luck,

Sounds like a weak motor (worn bushings etc.) There is some info on repairing bushings in the FAQ's but maybe a swap for a stronger motor from the wreckers is faster. I'm on my second round of this with a 740 where first the delay stops, then low gets slow and finally fast will quit.

Greg