Stripped windshield wiper
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Stripped windshield wiper
I got a 2021 f350 dually and had some ice frozen on the side of the windshield where my wipers stop. Well my drivers side wiper came up and hit it and kinda skipped. Then I noticed when I turned my wiper off it went too far and hit my hood. I popped my wiper off and moved a few teeth dn put back on. Problem solved right....... got a 1/2" of snow on my windshield and when I got in and turned my wipers on it stripped the teeth out of my wiper arm. They are on back order and cant go without a wiper so I put the passenger wiper on the driver's side but the first time I went to use it it skipped too. Took the wiper arm off and the teeth are starting to get stripped. I don't get what's going on, it's a brand new truck. I've never even heard of a wiper arm stripping out. Here in northern michigan you sometime forget to turn your wipers off and when you turn the key on the wiper motor is no match to the 6"-8" inches on the windshield. Anyone info on what I can do or what to look for would be greatly appreciated.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 202
Likes: 44
From: Extreme Northwest, Pa.
As you know the first thing you should do when parking "any" of your vehicles (especially in the region you and I live) is to lift your wipers off the windshield when you get out so they don't stick. Also before getting out shut them off or you run the risk of damage that will equate to you possibly spending money for this reason. Now for the real reason your talking about I would put both wipers back on, go to your dealer and ask them to figure out what's happening on their dime because your truck might (should) still be under warranty. If it's out of warranty you can go to a salvage yard and get wiper arms off another truck and fix it yourself. If you do you need to make sure the wiper arm is fully seated on the shaft of the wiper drive, that means you wiggle the wiper slightly as you are pushing it down on the shaft so it seats correctly all the way down, or you may strip the replacement out also. There's a chance it could be something in the linkage as your wipers should have been installed correctly and tested prior to delivery. Dealer first !
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 749
From: Texas
my wiper arm j drivers side jumped off twice, each time found the woodruff key laying on the cowling under the arm attach point
it kept falling out when i lift blade to clean under it. i finally glued the key in place,
i would look around and see if the key fell out. ITH
it kept falling out when i lift blade to clean under it. i finally glued the key in place,
i would look around and see if the key fell out. ITH
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1,221
From: Southern Crescent
Old Class "A" RVer trick... Wedge a tennis ball or a styrofoam cup under the wiper arm (not the blade) before the storm. Also makes the blade last longer in long term storage.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 216
Likes: 107
From: Ruther Glen VA
Thats a issue that I just had a 2 weeks ago. Raining on my way home from work and driver side wiper started hitting the hood on down stroke. The keeper key was laying right there. Dealership I stopped by on way home had 3 other super duty trucks with same issue. Same side drivers. Mine is a 2021 F350. Dealership is ordering a bunch of new wipers arms. I going to get my new one this week. Mine is working again for now. But its twisted. I have never seen anything like it before.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
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This ^^^^^ even us southerners know this...cause the TV weatherman reminds us every time we get ice storms. Old Class "A" RVer trick... Wedge a tennis ball or a styrofoam cup under the wiper arm (not the blade) before the storm. Also makes the blade last longer in long term storage.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
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my wiper arm j drivers side jumped off twice, each time found the woodruff key laying on the cowling under the arm attach pointit kept falling out when i lift blade to clean under it. i finally glued the key in place,i would look around and see if the key fell out. ITH
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my wiper arm j drivers side jumped off twice, each time found the woodruff key laying on the cowling under the arm attach point
it kept falling out when i lift blade to clean under it. i finally glued the key in place,
i would look around and see if the key fell out. ITH
it kept falling out when i lift blade to clean under it. i finally glued the key in place,
i would look around and see if the key fell out. ITH
On one of the F-150 forums a photo from a manual was shown with wording that calls it an alignment key used for production only, and says that it does not need to be reinstalled. However, looking at the wiper arm and the splined shaft, it looks like the key could also add some strength (even if not intended to be).
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
Had a wiper issue after snow as well. Put wipers on to see if they could clear the windshield
nope, so I turned off right away
cleared the snow by hand and tried again……could hear them trying to move but they wouldnt
Thought it blew a fuse…..nope wasn’t that
removed the wipers for the threaded stud they attach to on the cowl……replaced/reseated them and viola they worked again
i Thought they were broken but a reseat fixed mine.
but I agree with others this must be a ****ty design because I’ve NEVER EVEN ONCE BEFORE had a windshield wiper issue on any vehicle I’ve owned my entire life
nope, so I turned off right away
cleared the snow by hand and tried again……could hear them trying to move but they wouldnt
Thought it blew a fuse…..nope wasn’t that
removed the wipers for the threaded stud they attach to on the cowl……replaced/reseated them and viola they worked again
i Thought they were broken but a reseat fixed mine.
but I agree with others this must be a ****ty design because I’ve NEVER EVEN ONCE BEFORE had a windshield wiper issue on any vehicle I’ve owned my entire life
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 156
interesting. I found what i thought was a woodruff key sitting under my drivers side arm the other day...
luckily i held onto it
what "glue" would be best to reinstall it with?
where does it even go, I don't see its home?? 🤷🏻♂️
luckily i held onto it
what "glue" would be best to reinstall it with?
where does it even go, I don't see its home?? 🤷🏻♂️
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 810
Likes: 34
From: Sarasota, FL
When I took my 21' in for the windshield recall, I picked it up and went home to clean the windshield. I found the driver's side wiper arm key laying in the cowl and tried to reinstall it with and it kept falling out. I then checked the passengers side and there was no key in the arm or in the cowl. I called the dealer to let them know of the issue, specifically because I didn't want there to be an issue when it snowed as the key aligns the arm on the wiper transmission and helps to keep it from stripping out with a heavy load on the arm. They replaced both arms under warranty. Not sure if you had the recall done and the issue occurred then but it seems to be easy for they keys to loosen up and fall out.