i'm reading about removing the wiper arm and in my chilton's manual it says i need a special tool J39637 to remove the stupid thing. is the tool necessary? is there some other tool that might do the same thing?

 

<scratching my head> Do you think a battery terminal puller might work, somehow?

 

I just took the nut off & gently used a screwdriver with the tip wrapped in electrical tape. If you are going to do it this way, be VERY careful not to break your windshield.

 

i'm not sure, i'd go look at it in person right now except its 25 degrees outside

the crappy graphic in the chiltons doesn't give you much info. it looks like its held on by a bolt and by this special connection that uses the tool.

 

The tool is like a modified c-clamp that pulls up on the arm while pressing down on the stud. I think it is just an interference fit or might be splined like other wiper arm drives.

 

As I recall, it's the usual tapered spline shaft, with a nut [under the plastic thing that pops off..]
I got both mine off, no problem, with no 'tool'... lift wiper arm,take nut off, and wiggle it some, while pulling straight up.. it should come off..

 

Bingo...we have a winner!

 

yep, they were just layed onto a tapered fitting and then had a nut on top. once i had the nut off it took me awhile to figure out how to get it off but in the end just blind frustration and me getting pissed off caused me to grab the windshield wiper and be very rough with it, and suddenly it came off in my hands

it was basically held on there by like a combination of rust and some weak glue of some sorts, maybe some silicone?

well i pulled it off and it looked like my drivers side wiper, the one that misses huge amounts of area, wasn't going back into its full down position so i basically forced it into the position and it seems to be half fixed now, except now when the wipers go down into the final position there is a loud squeek. not sure wtf it is...

 

I used a battery terminal puller to remove mine. That thing was really stuck on. Make sure you mark where your wiper is when you remove it so you can put it back on in the same position.