How do I remove the front wiper assemblies? (to remove plastic firewall cover)

[WARFURIC]

As the topic states, I'm trying to remove both my front wiper arms in order to remove the plastic cover for the firewall.

My aircon stinks of leaf litter, and my pollen filter is clean. Checking between the firewall and the plastic cover, I can see a lot of leaves and flowers and other crap. In trying to remove it, I need to remove the wipers, but even after removing the cap and then nut, they don't want to move.

Any tips/guide/pics anyone has to help me out?

Many thanks.

[Guest001]

As the topic states, I'm trying to remove both my front wiper arms in order to remove the plastic cover for the firewall.

My aircon stinks of leaf litter, and my pollen filter is clean. Checking between the firewall and the plastic cover, I can see a lot of leaves and flowers and other crap. In trying to remove it, I need to remove the wipers, but even after removing the cap and then nut, they don't want to move.

Any tips/guide/pics anyone has to help me out?

Many thanks.

WD 40 should loosen them

[h100vw]

My top tip for taking wipers off and with anti tune ECUs it happens often.

If you push and pull on the pivot eventually they come off easily. Put the flat of your hand on the pivot and push repeatedly towards the screen and release. I haven't come across one that won't come off yet with this method.

Gavin

[WARFURIC]

My top tip for taking wipers off and with anti tune ECUs it happens often.

If you push and pull on the pivot eventually they come off easily. Put the flat of your hand on the pivot and push repeatedly towards the screen and release. I haven't come across one that won't come off yet with this method.

Gavin

Thanks Gavin, I'll have a try tomorrow morning, getting too dark now.

[flat6]

Would love to get in there and clean the leaves out of mine but it looks like a bastard of a job getting them wipers off

[WARFURIC]

I was able to get the drivers side one, but not the middle/passenger side one removed today.

WD40 and a fair bit of back and forth work and it eventually came free.

I gave up after an hour of trying the middle one. Going to borrow a puller from a friend during the week and try again then.

[The One]

I was able to get the drivers side one, but not the middle/passenger side one removed today.

WD40 and a fair bit of back and forth work and it eventually came free.

I gave up after an hour of trying the middle one. Going to borrow a puller from a friend during the week and try again then.

You can also try a small hammer with a cloth and slightly tap it to try and dislodge it and loosen it up abit, but you'd just have to be very careful. I usually just push and pull on them with the palm of my hand like Gavin mentioned. Although before I take the blades off I mark the windscreen or take a photo where they used to sit just so I can refit them in the same spot, just cause im fernatic like that and then you know they wont rub etc.

[Guest001]

I was able to get the drivers side one, but not the middle/passenger side one removed today.

WD40 and a fair bit of back and forth work and it eventually came free.

I gave up after an hour of trying the middle one. Going to borrow a puller from a friend during the week and try again then.

Put plenty of WD 40 on and leave for a couple of days to let it soak in.

They corrode onto the splines usually so takes a bit to get them off if its been a while since they were last removed

[csimpson]

As said, bit of WD40, then rock the assembly back and forth. Just be careful, and pay attention, because the bolt the wiper arm sits on is surprisingly brittle. I snapped one of mine and had to replace the entire thing from the motor up - $200 and half a day of adjustment later.

[The One]

As said, bit of WD40, then rock the assembly back and forth. Just be careful, and pay attention, because the bolt the wiper arm sits on is surprisingly brittle. I snapped one of mine and had to replace the entire thing from the motor up - $200 and half a day of adjustment later.

It's a stud they sit on isnt it? With a 13mm nut holding them down? How did you manage to snap the stud?

[Guest001]

It's a stud they sit on isnt it? With a 13mm nut holding them down? How did you manage to snap the stud?

Possibly because they are usually s**t metal and not very strong.


Problem is they corrode onto the splines

[WARFURIC]

Tried again on the weekend, and couldn't make the middle one move at all. Ended up just ordering a wiper puller tool from ebay.
Hopefully it'll arrive next week.

[WARFURIC]

UPDATE!

So I tried in vain to remove the middle wiper arm 2 weeks ago, and ended up giving in and ordering a wiper arm remover off ebay.

That arrived tonight, and I was determined to give it ago... 45 minutes later, and still no good. I ended up trading in my man card and using the pink rubber jar opener for more grip, and it popped right off.



Take a look at what was hiding under the plastic rain guard!









Half an hour of vacuuming later, and at least 80% of it's gone.

Back to finally having non smelly, breathable aircon again.


NB: This is the removed I bought. Cheapest on ebay at about $13 delivered from the UK.

[ratsalad]

I know this thread is over a year old but has anybody had trouble removing the plastic guard once the wiper arms have been removed? It seems like mine has been glued where it meets the windscreen, however there is no sign of any glue.

[h100vw]

I know this thread is over a year old but has anybody had trouble removing the plastic guard once the wiper arms have been removed? It seems like mine has been glued where it meets the windscreen, however there is no sign of any glue.

There is a slot in the bottom of the plastic trim on the windscreen. The cover has the male part which then clips in. You need to start at one end and once you get it started, it comes off easily.

Gavin