I can turn on the wipers but they do not move and the motor has a grinding sound to it.

If upon turning the switch, you hear either a buzzing or a noise coming from the wiper area but no movement of the windshield wipers, then it becomes likely that there is a mechanical problem. In front wiper systems, there are two moving parts, the wiper motor and the wiper transmission. In rear wiper systems with a single wiper, there’s a single moving part, the wiper motor.

If you hear a buzz, it could be a motor straining to move a jammed wiper transmission or a locked motor gear. If you hear a grind coming from the wiper area, it could be a stripped gear in either the motor, the transmission or where the wiper arm splines to the wiper motor in the rear. Don’t let the term transmission fill you with dread; it’s simply a term for a multi-lever set of arms and hinges that turn the circular motion of the wiper motor into the side to side motion of the wiper arms. It is also possible that the spline on the post of the front wiper arms is stripped.

Generally speaking, you can reach the motor and transmission by removing the wiper arms, all the screws that hold the cowl beneath the wiper arms and the weather stripping. Once exposed, you should be able to remove the motor from the transmission and check to see if the transmission is binding or if the motor is the culprit. Simply, replace the culprit, and reassemble.

If the problem is with the rear wiper system, getting to the wiper motor can be more difficult with far more trim to remove than with a front system. You may elect to consult your mechanic for help.

Something in the assembly is binding and stripping out the motors. Check the pivots in the linkages for friction and wear.

sounds like the wipers are stuck if you have to force them when disconnected from the motor, try lubricating all moving parts,

sounds like the gears inside the wiper motor are gone. replace the wiper motor and be sure to check the nylon bushing on the wiper control arms for wear.

sounds like the gear drive has stripped out the end of the wiper arm. if you can hear the motor run but arm does not move, remove wiper arm and check drive teeth. replace as needed

it sounds like the problem is the wiper motor if they work when you move them by hand.the motor probably has a bad spot in it,first try hooking up a jumper wire from the battery ground and the other end to the wiper motor body and make sure its a good ground at the motor.if the wipers work alright then permanently hook up a ground to the motor and body,as the motor will have a bad ground not allowing the wipers to work.

sounds like a failure in the wiper linkage or wiper motor. find a replacement on ebay. get the motor and the wiper linkage as a unit, as the labor is going to cost more than the part.

There is a motor above the firewall in the engine compartment.(Not easy to get at). To that motor there is a gear that attaches the motor to the wiper arms. Tighten that connection. You may want to try to turn the wipers on then off. Thiss will put the blades in what it thinks is the rest position. Other wise they may be out of wack. So with the wipers off loosen the drive gear force the wipers down all the way and then tighten.

Good luck.

ash

sounds like you are right the only gears are in the motor

had the same problem with mine all you need is a windshild wiper bushing it bout 5 to 10 $ at auto zone there are about 2 or 3 bushing that may need replacing mine was simplest one the one on the motor its easy it justs snaps onthe motor arm and than to the arms of the windshild transmistion