The windshield wiper mechanism arm fell off (disconnected from moving assembly). Passenger wiper moves but the driver side doesn't. Reattached arm underneath leaf guard but fell off again after operating wipers. What component do I need to replace and where can I purchase the replacement part? This is on a 2004 Grand Am with a 3400 engine. Thanks

If drivers wiper arm will not move by motor operation and can be easily moved by hand ( with wiper on or off ) suspect disconnected/broken linkage. If wiper arm will not move by motor and takes effort ( With wiper on ) by hand... suspect seized wiper pivot

You must remove the wiper arm to make sure the serrations on both the arm and where it mounts to are not damaged. Turn on the wipers and see if the nub that the wiper arm mounts to is moving.

If it isn't, there is a mechanism called the Wiper Transmission. It is located in the cowl at the bottom of the windshield. The device has a number of arms. The arm that connects the right side to the transmission is off. This is usually the fault of a small round plastic piece at the end of the arm. Simply putting it back on is nit recommended because it will probably fall off again. This plastic piece is attainable at most good auto parts places.

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

Your wiper transmission is bad or disconnected. The part with the arms that are moving under the windshield cowling is called a wiper transmission. The main connection to these arms is a pin on the wiper motor which has a clip. The cowling is the area directly under the windshield. You may be able to unscrew the cowling and remove it to access the shaft arms on the wiper transmission.

You may need to remove the wiper motor to get at the clip on the motor. Then each arm is mounted to the base of the cowling. These are the stubs which the wiper arms attach to. Usually the shaft arms are a permanent part of the piece which fits over the motor. But is worth a look at what broke to see how it used to be attached.

If the transmission arms were in a pressed-on fitting, you will either have to replace it or improvise a new connection. The connection will have to be secure, yet not drag on the wiper, and not make noise. That kinda makes a new part or Salvage yard part your options.

By going to a Salvage yard first, you will learn how the part comes off. Gather extra screws for the ones you may drop reinstalling the part. And if you break something on the Salvage car, you will know better when you work on yours.

I hope you found this solution helpful.

1992-98 Vehicles

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the rear hood seal. Remove the wiper arm assemblies by raising the wiper blade off the windshield. Move the slide latch away from the pivot shaft and slowly lower the arm onto the latch. This unlocks the arm from the pivot shaft and holds the blade off the glass. Pull the arm from the pivot shaft.
3. Remove the cowl vent screws and disconnect the washer hoses from the washer jets.
4. Detach the electrical connectors from the wiper motor.
5. Remove the wiper assembly attaching screws, lift the assembly out and disconnect the washer hose.
6. Unsnap and remove the linkage cover.
7. Remove the wiper module assembly retaining bolts and remove the module from the vehicle.
8. Remove the linkage retaining clip from the motor operating arm by lifting the locking tab and pulling the clip away from the pin.
9. Remove the motor retaining screws and remove the motor from the vehicle.
10. The installation is the reverse of the removal.

Fig.: Lift up to release the clips and remove the hood-to-cowl weather strip



Fig.: Remove the cowl panel-to-firewall retaining clips



Remove the driver's side then the passenger side cowl panel from the vehicle






Fig.: Detach the electrical connector for the wiper motor

Release the wiper motor retaining clips and remove the cover from the vehicle






Fig.: Remove the wiper module assembly retaining bolts and remove the module from the vehicle






Fig.: Remove the wiper motor retaining bolts and ...





Fig.: ...remove the wiper motor from the vehicle




Hope helps (remember comment and rated this).

Hello

The windshield wiper linkage comes as an assembly. The assembly comes with the two rotating splines that the wiper arms attach to. you must remove wiper arms. Remove cowl trim and remove bolts that hold the pivot points to the body. The new linkage that snaps to the wiper motor should come with a new retaining clip. You have to fish the linkage assembly through the access holes in the body by un bolting the wiper motor.

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.

motor only drives one arm to wipe. the passenger side arm might be disconnected. you have to reomve parts and visulally inspect. you might need a bolt or a washer, but should be an easy realignment fix.

if you open the hood look towards the base of the windshield, you should see the linkages for the wiper arms. make sure the linkages are all in-tact and nothing fell off. if the linkages are all good, see if you can move the passenger side wiper with your hand, if it moves freely or with little resistance check the nut/bolt that hols it on at the end of the wiper arm. see if the nut/bolt is loose. tighten if needed. also you can remove the nut/bolt and check the splines on the wiper arm where it presses onto the stud and see if they are wiped out.

turn your wipers on and turn the key off when the are about 1/4 to half way up on the winshield and try to pull them one way or the other and see if they move
It really sounds like the wiper transmission arm has gotten stripped the only to fix it is to replace trasmission arm assembly you can get them from your local junk yard cheap!
generally where wiper arms push on there is an additiona part you will have to pull off in order to change the wiper arm assembly