Hi All -

I just recently got a 2000 Explorer Sport 4x4. Most everything works fine.

However it does have ONE weird problem I've never seen before.

The rear wiper and the rear wiper squirter work fine, another words, the spray comes out, and the wiper makes the full swath, each spead works, and it parks like it is supposed too.

However, on the passenger side of the rear window, the wiper blade AND arm lift up, and away from the glass, and it does NOT wipe the glass in either direction. What the heck can cause this? The arm is not bent, and I've already put on a new Wiper blade WITH the part that attaches to the arm. (Not a refill pack, the whole blade holder.)

It wipes when it leaves the dock for a couple of inches, then leaves the glass, and then comes back (past halfway) on the drivers side. The wiper blade does NOT touch the glass ANYWHERE in the area that it lifts, not even a partial in the "bad zone".

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking that something is broken on the inside of the gate, becuase it does wiggle a little. But, I've check about 10 other ones and they are all like mine.

Help,
Thanks,
-Chris

 

I also have a 2000 Explorer XLS. The rear wiper does the same thing. I also got this truck used so I don't know how long this has been going on. Everything seems to work fine. I will be interested in what others say as well. Maybe this is why the new Explorers don't have the window open seperate from the hatch.

 

jslane47 -

My 2004 Explorer still has the window that opens in the gate...

-Chris

 

My wife's old 98 Sport had the same problem. She commented a few weeks ago she saw another one with the same problem. We never had it fixed b/c it was out of warranty, but apprantly it's 'common'.

 

Ours did this as well but I noticed it right away when it happened. It occured after replacing the entire rear wiper blade. When I checked it against the old one, I noticeed the new one was an inch longer. I replaced it with another one the same length as the original and no poblem. I've noticed some discrepency in the refill books as to what the size of this blade is supposed to be and right now I can't remember if it's 12", 13", or 14". My recommendation would be to try using a blade 1" smaller and see if it helps. It did for me.

 

Any idea how that affects it? My wiper does touch the window, and the long arm actually pulls away from the glass in both directions?

Thanks,
-Chris

 

Can anyone tell me what is required to take off the plastic interior door panel so I can inspect the mounting?

 

I have had 3 Explorers and all had this same rear windshild wiper problem you describe to some degree. I found that if I applied a little pressure to the tip of the wiper arm to adjust it inward very slightly( a polite way to say I bent it inward), the blade tracked on the window more evenly. Don't 'adjust' it too much or it won't come to rest in the seat properly when it is turned off, so easy does it. Or you could take it in and have your Ford dealer bend it....errr I mean effect an official factory prescribed repair.

 

make sure you have a 13" wiper blade on the arm. That is original equipt.Should work like new

 

The blade mounts directly to the motor, no need to disassemble the trim panel. The repair is what 9explorer8 says, bend the arm ever so slightly, or replace the arm assy. Also use the right blade as above.

 

Wow Guys!

I put on a 13 inch blade. It made a huge difference. Then I had to tweak the arm a little bit, and now it works right!

Thanks!

-Chris

 

Exactly what mine did when I replaced it with what the refill book said to use. As you found out, going back to the stock 13" blade fixes it.

 

I'm puzzled....my 2000 still has the original wiper blade and it measures 13 3/4"....sounds more like 14" to me.

 

Okay, now for the real fix, remove the arm, you'll notice that the spring loaded pivot has hardly any travel. Hose it with penetrating oil and work it back and forth a few hundred times- kidding.But you'll see just how quickly the amount of travel increases and the spring seems to get stronger. Aerostars and exploders both do it, you must remove the arm for this fix to work which is fine coz it's easy. Happy wiping and merry xmas.

 

LOL...the spring seems to get stronger? What are you spraying it with....Viagra?