Windshield Wipers - Chatter and/or Wipe Unevenly
Bulletin No.T 87-90File in Group 8
Number 56
Corp. Ref. No. 711502
Date April '87
SUBJECT: WINDSHIELD WIPERS CHATTER AND/OR WIPE UNEVENLY
MODELS AFFECTED: 1985-1987 DE VILLES 1977-1987 BROUGHAMS 1982-1987 CIMARRONS 1986-1987 ELDORADOS AND SEVILLES
Some vehicles may exhibit a condition where the windshield wipers chatter and/or wipe unevenly. Several items may contribute to this condition. To completely repair this condition, ALL items listed in this bulletin should be checked and repaired as necessary.
CLEAN WINDSHIELD GLASS
Clean windshield glass with GM glass cleaner, Bon Ami, or equivalent. The cleaner used should be one which will not harm paint finish or scratch glass. The glass is clean when water no longer "beads up", but "sheets" across the entire glass surface.
CLEAN WIPER BLADE ELEMENTS
Remove wiper blade assembly from wiper blade arms. Clean rubber elements with a cloth which has been saturated in a solution of 50% water and 50% GM Opti Kleen, or a solution of 50% water and 50% methyl alcohol. Rinse blade assemblies with water and reinstall on wiper arms.
Figure 1 - Installing Reveal Molding on 1985-1987 De Villes:
CHECK FIT OF WINDSHIELD REVEAL MOLDING, FIGURE 1
On vehicles equipped with depressed park (hidden) wiper blades and a windshield lower reveal molding, check the fit of the reveal molding across the base of the windshield. The lower reveal molding must fit uniformally along the glass surface to allow the wiper blades to move freely from the glass wipe area to the park position when the wipers are turned off. Gaps in excess of 1.0 mm (.040 in.) should be corrected using the following procedure.
1. Remove both wiper arm assemblies.
2. Remove self drilling screws (7 mm) which retain the reveal molding.
3. Clean the underside of the lower reveal molding and the windshield glass. Remove any obstructions which prevent the reveal molding from matching the glass contour.
4. If necessary, the lower reveal molding should be reformed as required to improve the fit. Care should be used to prevent marring the molding surface.
5. Install the lower reveal molding. On 1985-1987 De Villes and Fleetwoods, check to see that the center screw is aligned with the slot on the cowl vent screen, (Figure 1, Item 6). If not, fill the old holes with sealant and use the slot on the cowl vent screen as a pilot for the center screw. Install new self-sealing screws (P/N 20564495) starting with the center screw and work outward. Use over sized screws if necessary.
Figure 2 - Checking Wiper Arm Tip Pressure:
CHECK WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM PRESSURE, FIGURE 2
1. Turn on ignition switch and wipers. When the right hand wiper is in the middle of a wipe stroke, stop the wiper system by turning off the ignition switch. (The driver's door should remain open on vehicles equipped with retained accessory power.)
Proceed with the following steps to measure right hand arm pressure. Prior to measuring left hand arm pressure, be sure the left hand arm is in the middle of the wipe stroke.
2. Remove the wiper blade assembly from the wiper arm.
3. Attach a scale to the wiper arm (Figure 2, Item 1) attaching pin and measure the force required to lift the wiper arm perpendicular to the windshield to the normal working height (i.e., the height with the blade attached).
4. If the force required is not within the specifications given below, the wiper arm assembly should be replaced.
Tip Pressure -
Car Line Newtons (Ounces)
C 7.6 to 9.4 (28 to 34)
D 7.2 to 8.8 (26 to 32)
E/K 7.6 to 9.4 (28 to 34)
J 5.9 to 7.2 (21 to 26)
V 7.0 to 8.6 (25 to 31)
Figure 3 - Checking Wiper Blade Attack Angle:
CHECK WIPER BLADE MOUNTING ANGLE, FIGURE 3
With the right hand wiper arm assembly in the middle of a wipe stroke and the wiper blade assemblies removed, visually check that the blade assembly mounting pin on each wiper arm is parallel to the windshield. Replace the wiper arm if necessary.
Figure 4 - Checking Blade Set:
CHECK FOR BLADE SET, FIGURE 4
Remove the wiper blade assemblies from the wiper arms being careful to note orientation for reassembly. Look down the length of the blade element. The rubber element which contacts the glass must be on the center line of the blade assembly +/- 15 degrees. Replace the element if necessary.
Figure 5 - Wiper Arm Position Adjustments:
Figure 6 - WIPER ARM POSITION ADJUSTMENTS:
CHECK WIPER ARM AND PARK POSITION ADJUSTMENTS, FIGURES 5 AND 6
When the wipers are shut off after operating on wet glass, both, wiper arm and blade assembly should be fully seated on the park ramps (except Cimarron). In the full left stroke position, the tip of the blade element must be no more than 78 mm (3-1/16 inches) for D, E, K and J cars and 98 mm (3-7/8 inches) for C-cars, from the piller. If wipers require adjustment, refer to Section 8E of the appropriate Service Information Manual.
For warranty purposes, use the following labor operations as required:
Carline C D E J K
N3615 Blade, Windshield Wiper, .2 .2 .2 .2 .2
One or Both, Replace
B7560 Molding, Windshield, Lower .2 -- .2 -- .2
Reveal-R&R or Replace
N3620 Arm, Windshield Wiper, .2 .2 .2 .2 .2
One or Both, Replace