My '89 RS has a windshield wiper chattering problem with the drivers side wiper. It only chatters when the rain is light, but lately that's most of the time. It's really annoying and is just about to drive me nuts. I've reached the point where I'm about ready to rip the damn thing off if I don't figure out how to fix it.

I've replaced the blades and even replaced the entire wiper arm but nothing helps. I was told to just put some Rain X on the windshield and that would stop it...but I don't like Rain X on my windshield.

Has anyone else had this problem with a Third Gen. F-body? Any ideas on how to stop it? I'm baffled.....

Mike

 

rain x on the windshield. and why don't you like it? it helps sheet water off the windshield. or you could go cheap and use car wax on the window.

 

I've got the same problem with my car.

Changed the wiper blades, and also use Rain-X.
and it still chatters.

Is the wiper motor going out and needing replaced?

I'll be waiting for some good replies on this one.

And I do like the effects of using Rain-X, I use it on all my glass.

 

You need to replace the wiper arms. The springs in them lose their tension over time and cause the chatter.

 

You could also be sure all three bolts are holding the wiper motor. I had one go missing into the depths of the engine bay as I was changing parts and it chattered a bit.

 

f1ls1 wrote: "You need to replace the wiper arms. The springs in them lose their tension over time and cause the chatter."

As I stated in my original post, I have tried another (used) wiper arm and it chattered also. This, plus the fact that the passenger side arm doesn't chatter leads me to believe that the problem is not in the wiper arm.

As for why I don't like RainX...In my experience, when using it with windshield wipers, it causes a smearing effect as the wiper goes across the windshield sort of like an oily film was on the glass. This mainly shows up at night when I already have some problems seeing clearly. I guess I'm just partial to using wipers and can't get used to just letting the rain sheet off.

 

You're probably not buffing it well enough after applying it to the windshield. Rain-X is a lot like wax; it fills in imperfections in the glass to allow the water to sheet off, but if you don't buff it, it just looks hazy. If it smears with the wipers on, there's too much on the window, meaning it wasn't buffed enough. You shouldn't need the wipers at all if it's raining, anyway.

 

Like you said (USED) wiper arm. What makes you think the springs in it are any better than your old one? If you want the chatter to go away you have to replace it with a new one. We used to replace the wiper arms all the time for the same problem when these cars were new!

 

I have the same problem. What is the part number for the wiper arm? also how do i take it off?

 

Taking them off is a little awkward. You have to tilt the arms off of the glass, slide a tab out at the pivot point as far as it will go, and wiggle the arm up and off its axle. If you try to force the arm off, it won't come off, but they will slide off surprisingly easy with even pressure or slight wiggling.

 

Before replacing the wiper arm try using ajax or comet on the windsheild, When I worked at the Cadillac dealership I was told to use that and it removes the wax build up on the windsheild. Since I did that I have not had any people coming back to say it didn't work.

 

Try the easy things first. Clean the windshield as Aaron said. But use something like Bon-Ami powder instead of Ajax or Comet. Bon-ami isn't abrasive like Comet/Ajax and works well. You'll know the window is clean when water sheets off of it instead of beading.

I think you're going to end up replacing the wiper arm, though. If the windshield does have something on it, why would it only effect one wiper arm?

FWIW, I don't care for Rain-X either. When it wears off it does make the wipers chatter, at least in my experience. Usually this happens when it's not convenient to clean the glass and re-apply. I've also found that Rain-X will freeze dew that's on the windshield; the windshield will be wet, one wipe of the wipers and instant sheet of ice.