Arm that connects the driver side windshield wiper arm to the wiper motor has disconnected & I don't know how to get it back on?

sounds like the connecting rod between both wiper arms either broke or one of the keepers popped off under the connector for that arm..since the wiper system IS NOT designed to wisk snow off the window once accumulated, this can an does happen.. even seen motors get burned out doing this..cleaning the window first will save this issue and the equiptment. need to acess this arm<take off the vented peice below the windshield and everything should be visible there..repost findings

1. Remove the cover over the windshield wiper motor. (Pops off, held on by spring clamps.) 2. Disconnect the wiper linkage from the motor. 3. Disconnect the driver's wiper linkage arm from the main pivot arm in the center. 4. Remove the wiper motor bracket. This bracket stretches from one side of the engine compartment to the other, and is connected on both ends to the wiper brackets, as well as to the main pivot arm in the center. There are two bolts at each position. The center and driver's side are facing to the rear and you have to remove them by feel. They are 10mm. A 1/4 drive ratchet will fit, but center and driver's will be difficult anyway. A GearWrench would probably be better. 5. Remove the serpentine belt. 6. Remove the electrical connectors from the alternator. 7. Remove the rear bolts from the alternator. You won't be able to see either one without a mirror. One sits at about the center of the alternator, the other at the rear, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches lower. Both are 15mm. You'll need a wrench, as a ratchet won't fit. Don't have a stubby, but that might help. A GearWrench would have been great. 8. Remove the forward pivot bolt. (Also 15mm, ratchet will work here.) 9. Remove the alternator. You may have to turn/rotate/flip it to get it out and you may have to move the linkages for the wipers as well. Once I got to this point, it was pretty easy.
Steps 4 thru 7 are a real serious pain in the back/arms/sides/hands, etc.
I debated the washer tank method, but I found that once I had removed the wiper motor, I had enough room. You would have to do all this to get the tank out, anyway.
Hope this helps. It's exactly what I did and it worked.



Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_remove_the_alternator_from_a_2002_Chevy_Venture#ixzz24V7ARxEA

The wiper motor on a Volkswagen is an electric motor connected through a drive linkage to the wiper arms. Windshield wipers are an integral feature for operating a motor vehicle safely. If your wipers are not functioning, or seem to lack the speed or power they used to have, the wiper motor should be removed and replaced immediately
.

Location

• The wiper motor on a Volkswagen is located directly underneath the plastic cowl cover. The cowl cover is located directly below the windshield.
  

Removal

• Begin by removing the wiper arms by prying off the covers at the base of the arms and removing the nuts that secure the arms to the drive shafts. Label the passenger and driver arms so they can be installed in the same positions. They are not interchangeable. Remove the rubber hood to cowl weather seal. Unscrew the plastic fasteners from the driver's side of the cowl cover, then remove this half of the cover. Remove the fasteners from the passenger's side cowl cover and remove this half of the cover. Disconnect the windshield wiper motor wiring harness by separating the plastic wiring connector. Remove the three bolts that secure the wiper motor to the vehicle's body. Pull the motor slightly away from the body, then remove the nut that connects the motor shaft to wiper linkage. Remove the motor.
  

Installation

• Place the new wiper motor into position in the cowl and reconnect it to the wiper arm linkage. Then reinstall the three retaining bolts. Reconnect the plastic wiring connector to the wiper motor wiring harness. Place the cowl covers into position below the windshield and reinstall the plastic fasteners that retain them. Reinstall the rubber hood to the cowl weather seal. Reinstall the wiper arms in the same position you removed them from, along with the wiper arm retaining nuts and lower wiper arm covers. Turn the windshield wipers on and test for proper operation. If the wiper blades slap against the bodywork surrounding the windshield, loosen the nuts that connect the wiper arms to the shafts and adjust.
  

More Read: OBD2 car diagnostic tool

Locate the wiper motor, and disconnect the electrical wires from it by unplugging them. The wiper motor is in the engine compartment against the back firewall near the driver's side.
Disconnect the wiper arms from the wiper motor linkage by using the pliers to remove the clip.
Locate the wiper motor in the engine compartment on the back firewall and remove it with the proper size wrench. There are three attaching bolts.
Remove the wiper motor by twisting it around if you have to. The wiper arm linkage will come out with it. good-day !

3Remove the cowl grill under the windshield wipers using the proper size screwdriver. This is the grill that you see under the wiper arms before the engine compartment hood starts.

Read more: How Do I Remove a Windshield Wiper Motor from a 1994 Ford F-250? ' eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7195498_do-motor-1994-ford-f_250_.html#ixzz1odr1irhn

This is an old but very current problem also. I just replace my second 97 caravan motor in 6 months because of severe grinding noise and it was the motor both times. I got another re-mfg replacement motor last week and it is totally quiet.
Before you install the crank arm on the motor you operate the wiper switch in all positions to check that the computer is running it intermittently, slow and fast etc. that it and shuts it off at the same position every time. That shut off position is park.
Unplug the external motor connector or fuses. Now push the mechanism arms fully to the right and install the crank arm at two o'clock on the motor shaft, which gives you just enough room to install the hold down nut. Hold one of the metal bars so you don't turn the motor during tightening the nut.
Now reconnect the power plug and test the operation. The motor should shut off with the right end arms fully extended, which, when connected with the blade arm, will make them stop at the bottom of the windshield. Install the driver side wiper arm slightly above level and the left arm 4 inches below that. Don't power tighten yet. Test the operation. If they hit each other adjust one or the other away. This works for most all wiper adjustments. When you get everything looking right and sweeping the full window and not the body. Start tightening and putting every thing back together.
Also clean out the wiper pan and the two drain hoses. The hoses can be pulled loose below the pan. LOL

Wiper Motor

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disconnect the wiper motor electrical connector.
3. Remove the four mounting bolts securing the motor to the firewall.
4. Using a suitable prybar, carefully separate the wiper motor from the wiper linkage and remove the motor.

To install:

1. Attach the wiper motor ball joint to the wiper linkage.
2. Position the motor on the firewall and secure the motor with the four mounting bolts. Tighten the mounting bolts to 75 ft. lbs. (102 Nm).
3. Connect the electrical connector.
4. Connect the negative battery cable.

Windshield Wiper Motor
Removal & Installation
To Remove:

1. Remove wiper arms.
   
2. Remove weatherstrip from cowl.
   
3. Remove two cowl vent grille panel screws.
   
4. Remove windshield nozzles and hoses.
   
5. Remove three cowl vent grille panels.
   
6. Disconnect windshield wiper motor electrical connector.
   NOTE: Do not remove crank arm from windshield wiper motor.
   
   
7. Loosen nuts that attach the drive link brackets to the crank arm.
   
8. Remove wiper motor crank arm brackets.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Remove three bolts and windshield wiper motor from vehicle.

To Install:

1. Install windshield wiper motor and three bolts.
   
   
   
   • Torque to: 62 in lbs. (7 Nm)
   
   
2. With right side linkage closest to the windshield wiper motor, install drive
   link brackets to wiper motor crank arm.
   
   
   
   • Torque nuts to: 44 in lbs. (5 Nm)
   
   
3. Connect electrical connector.
   
4. Install nozzles and windshield washer hoses to cowl vent grille.
   
5. Install three cowl vent grille panels and screws to vehicle.
   
6. Install weatherstrip to cowl.
   
7. Install wiper arms.

why do you think the motor still works if the wipers don't move? Can you hear the motor run or can you see a little movement when you turn the switch on?

What happens when you activate the washers?

go to a salvage yard that allows you to remove the parts yourself. Then you can see how the motor and linkage assembly comes out.


don't have 1983 info, but here is 1994:

Section 01-16A: Wiper and Washer System, Ranger/Explorer 1994 Ranger and Explorer Vehicles Workshop Manual
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Windshield Wiper System, Ranger/Explorer The windshield wipers are actuated by a permanent magnet, rotary-type electric windshield wiper motor (17504) . The two windshield wiper pivot arms (17526) and windshield wiper blades (17528) are mounted on a pivot shaft, one at each side of the windshield. The windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) are connected to the motor by windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip (17531) . Ranger and Explorer vehicles are equipped with an interval wiper and washer (IWW) system featuring a lever-type turn signal and windshield wiper switch (13K359) mounted on the steering column. The IWW windshield wiper governor (17C476) uses a relay contact to control current to the windshield wiper motor . The governor electronic circuitry controls the contact to supply current to windshield wiper motor . A rear wiper/washer system is available on Explorer vehicles. The rear window wiper system consists of a windshield wiper motor mounted inside the liftgate (40010) , an articulating windshield wiper pivot arm and windshield wiper blade , a windshield wiper/washer switch (17A553) and an inline circuit breaker. The front electric windshield washer system consists of a control switch, integral with the turn signal, a windshield washer reservoir (17618) and windshield wiper motor and the necessary windshield washer hoses (17A605) , windshield washer nozzle jet and brackets (17603) and attaching parts.
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Pivot Shafts and Linkage Removal and Installation
NOTE: The left and right pivot and windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip assemblies are serviced separately.

1. Perform Steps 1 through 9 of Windshield Wiper Motor Removal as described in this section.

1. If servicing left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip , remove left windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade assembly.

1. Remove left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip access cover.

1. Remove left pivot nut, lower windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip and slide it out through left access opening. For installation, follow removal procedures in reverse order. Tighten nut to 10-13 Nm (7-10 ft-lb). Make sure the clip is fully seated in the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip . Do not try to install clip with windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip on motor crank pin.
   

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Windshield Wiper Motor Windshield wiper motor are not serviceable. If worn or damaged, the windshield wiper motor must be replaced as an assembly. Removal

1. Cycle windshield wiper blades until in straight-up position and turn ignition switch OFF.

1. Disconnect battery and wiper motor electrical connector.

1. Remove the right windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade .

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Remove the right pivot nut and allow the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip to drop into the cowl top outer panel .

1. Remove the linkage access cover, located on the right side of the dash panel near the windshield wiper motor.

1. Reach through the access cover opening and unsnap the wiper motor clip.

1. Push the clip away from the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip until it clears the nib on the crack pin. Then, push the clip off the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip.

1. Remove the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip from windshield wiper motor crank pin.

1. Remove nut and ground strap.

1. Remove three attaching nuts from windshield wiper motor. Remove the windshield wiper motor .

Installation

1. Position the windshield wiper motor and install the three attaching screws. Tighten to 13.6-19.0 Nm (10-14 ft-lb).

1. Install nut and ground strap.

1. Connect wiper motor electrical connector.

1. Install clip completely onto right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip. Make sure the clip is fully seated. Do not put the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip on the motor crank pin and then try to install the clip.

1. Install the left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the wiper motor crank pin.

1. Install the right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the wiper motor crank pin. Pull the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the crank pin until it snaps into place. The clip is properly installed if the nib is protruding through the center of the clip.

1. Install the right windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and nut. Tighten the nut to 9.5-12.5 Nm (84-110 in-lb). NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 10 miles or more to relearn the strategy.
   

1. Connect the battery ground cable and turn the ignition switch on. Turn turn signal and windshield wiper switch off so windshield wiper motor will park, then turn ignition switch off. Replace right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip access cover.

1. Install the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade assemblies on the pivot shafts to dimension X. Dimension X is the distance between the centerline of the blade saddle and the top edge of the cowl top outer panel grille. The value of Dimension X for each vehicle is given in the Dimension X chart in the Specifications portion of this section.

1. Test the system.

SECTION 501-16: Wipers and Washers 1999 Town Car Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Mounting Arm and Pivot Shaft Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Remove the windshield wiper pivot arms (17527).
   1. Remove the nuts (one each side).
   1. Remove the windshield wiper pivot arms.

1. Remove the LH and RH cowl top vent panels.
   1. Remove the hood weatherstrip.
   1. Remove the screws.
   1. Remove the retaining clips.
      • Disconnect the LH and RH washer hoses.

1. Position the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) assembly aside.
   1. Remove the nuts.
   1. Remove the bolt.
   1. Position the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly aside.

1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly.
   1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
   1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly.

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Motor —Windshield Wiper Removal

1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) assembly; refer to Mounting Arm and Pivot Shaft .

1. Remove the windshield wiper motor (17508).
   1. Remove the output shaft bolt.
   1. Remove the bolts.
   1. Remove the windshield wiper motor.

Pivot Shafts and Linkage
The windshield wiper assembly is mounted below cowl top extension (021A36) . Linkages are connected with non-removable plastic ball joints. Windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shafts are an integral part of the windshield wiper and are serviced as one unit. Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301). Refer to Section 14-01 .
   

1. Remove antenna mast from the antenna base.
   

1. Remove cap on LH and RH windshield wiper pivot arms to expose nuts retaining the arms to pivot shafts.
   

1. Remove two nuts, one from each of windshield wiper pivot arms . Lift wiper arms to service position, carefully rocking them back and forth to loosen them from the pivot shaft. Lift off windshield wiper pivot arms .
   

1. Remove seven screws retaining the cowl top vent panel.
   

1. Disconnect windshield washer hose (17A605) at LH side of vehicle just ahead of where it enters cowl top.
   

1. Remove hood cowl seal.
   

1. Carefully remove cowl top vent panel from vehicle.
   

1. Remove three retaining screws to cowl drain tube that is connected to top cowl.
   

1. Disconnect wiring harness leading to windshield wiper motor.
   

1. Remove five screws retaining cowl top to vehicle and remove cowl top and windshield wiper from vehicle.
   

1. Remove two screws and two nuts retaining windshield wiper to cowl top and separate the two parts.
   

1. Remove drive linkage from motor shaft linkage.
   

1. Remove remaining screws attaching windshield wiper and separate the two parts.
   

Item Part Number Description 1 02010 Cowl Top Panel 2 N621906-S2 Nut (2 Req'd) 3 17508 Windshield Wiper Motor 4 N805605-S36 Screw (2 Req'd) 5 17500 Windshield Wiper Assembly A — Tighten to 9-12 Nm (80-106 Lb-In)