what would cause the drivers side wiper blade to travel too far, and actually go off the side of the window?

happening to a buddy and was wondering if it was adjustable or if a new motor was neccessary.

 

My first guess would be that someone mistakenly put a longer than stock wiper blade onto the car, and that's why it's extending past the windshield. Wiper blades aren't usually adjustable, and I seriously doubt that there's a problem with the wiper motor.

 

Did he buy the car new or used. What may have happened (or what he may have done) is pulled the wipers up off the glass when washing and then open the hood with the wipers up. I did this on an eagle talon that I owned and it stripped some of the splines where the wiper arm attaches to the motor. I would turn on the wipers and the drives side would hit the a pilar. Not a real big hit but enough to annoy me. Never did fix it because I was selling it shortly after it happened.

 

he's owned it since it was brand new, 2000 v6 camaro, started happening recently.

as far as i know he hasn't replaced the wipers in a while. i'll ask about lifting them


he did say that they close properly, no problems in the resting position.

any other ideas?

 

The only way you can tell if he did what I did, is to leave the wiper in the down position and try and move it across the windshield (like it would if it were turned on). If there is play in it, thats probably the problem. It will LOOK fine but in moves when you try to move it. It shouldn't move at all. If not then I'm not sure...

 

If wipers are overtravelling in both directions, and loose, as mmanSS said, the linkage joints are probably worn. This happens after lots of use. Depending on what kind of joints the linkage has, you might be able to tighten them:

I haven't looked at F-body joints, but often they are a ball stud which is covered by a stamped piece. It may be copper or have a copper or plastic liner.

First check the ball joint at the wiper motor drive arm. It should be a bolt on, and could be loose.

If you remove the whole linkage (called the wiper transmission), you can carefully reshape the stamped "ball-cover" tighter around the ball. Try flat punch and hammer.

Another option is to find a newly wrecked F-body at a yard, and take the whole wiper transmission for your car.