Rear wiper motor

[kukukachoo72]

Hi.
Firstly, I have to say I do love my car... a '97 Outback wagon. Some
repairs have been on the costly side but that's another story.

My rear wiper motor quit years ago (around 2001). It's not been a
huge deal, but it would be nice to have it work but I just can't bring
myself to agree to pay the $400 I was quoted to have it repaired.
I've tried finding a used one online with no luck (so far). Any
suggestions where a good place to find one at a reasonable price might
be and what anyone else would consider a reasonable price?

I've read some old posts on here and there are suggestions on how to
dismantle the assembly etc. but I suspect it's been so long that it'd
be beyond salvaging at this point. What do you think?

Is this a common problem with Subaru's? There are more tales of pooped
out rear wiper motors on here than I expected.

Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks!
Maggie

 

[johninky]

Hi.
Firstly, I have to say I do love my car... a '97 Outback wagon. Some
repairs have been on the costly side but that's another story.

My rear wiper motor quit years ago (around 2001). It's not been a
huge deal, but it would be nice to have it work but I just can't bring
myself to agree to pay the $400 I was quoted to have it repaired.
I've tried finding a used one online with no luck (so far). Any
suggestions where a good place to find one at a reasonable price might
be and what anyone else would consider a reasonable price?

I've read some old posts on here and there are suggestions on how to
dismantle the assembly etc. but I suspect it's been so long that it'd
be beyond salvaging at this point. What do you think?

Is this a common problem with Subaru's? There are more tales of pooped
out rear wiper motors on here than I expected.

Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks!
Maggie

If you post over on www.ultimatesubaru,org you'll have no problem
finding a used one. Never replaced one but it just can't be that
difficult. Have to believe one from at least 95 through 99 will
swap. You probably should first determine if the problem is the motor
and not something else like a blown fuse or bad relay. Another source
is www.car-parts.com. A used motor from a private seller isn't worth
more than $30 so keep that in mind

 

[Dominic Richens]

Is this a common problem with Subaru's? There are more tales of pooped
out rear wiper motors on here than I expected.

mine has twice quit on me and been revived by removing the wiper arm and
spraying WD-40 down the sides of the shaft.

 

[kukukachoo72]

If you post over onwww.ultimatesubaru,orgyou'll have no problem

finding a used one.  Never replaced one but it just can't be that
difficult.  Have to believe one from at least 95 through 99 will
swap.  You probably should first determine if the problem is the motor
and not something else like a blown fuse or bad relay.  Another source
iswww.car-parts.com.  A used motor from a private seller isn't worth
more than $30 so keep that in mind-

Hi... I'm late in replying... I've been away but wanted to thank you
for the advice. Time to go do some online shopping after I try the
WD40 thing!

 

[S.Hansen]

do you have any junk yards in the area? Should be a common item, as they
don't fail a lot.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi... I'm late in replying... I've been away but wanted to thank you
for the advice. Time to go do some online shopping after I try the
WD40 thing!

WD-40 is mostly Stoddard Solvent (deodorized kerosene) and is a good
cleaner and of course displaces water. It is not a great or long-lasting
lubricant. I'd follow it up with something else - maybe a medium/heavy
weight silicone oil?

Carl

 

[Stewart DIBBS]

...You probably should first determine if the problem is the motor
and not something else like a blown fuse or bad relay.

Here's some generic advice. A simple check is to pull the rear hatch trim
cover to access the motor and see if you are getting power to the motor when
the switch is on. Motors usually have 3 connections: +12V, GND and a third
for the intermittant operation (might be +12 or GND) . I recently fixed my
93 Mitsubishi Expo rear wiper: the problem was the harness where it passed
from the body to the rear hatch: years of flexing finally broke the +12v
wire.

Motors also run slow (and then burn out) if the wiper arm pivot shaft rusts
up, increasing the load on the motor.

SD

 

[Tony Hwang]

WD-40 is mostly Stoddard Solvent (deodorized kerosene) and is a good
cleaner and of course displaces water. It is not a great or long-lasting
lubricant. I'd follow it up with something else - maybe a medium/heavy
weight silicone oil?

Carl

Hi,
Lubriplate grease or Teflon based lubricant.

 

[S.Hansen]

Here's some generic advice. A simple check is to pull the rear hatch trim
cover to access the motor and see if you are getting power to the motor
when the switch is on. Motors usually have 3 connections: +12V, GND and a
third for the intermittant operation (might be +12 or GND) . I recently
fixed my 93 Mitsubishi Expo rear wiper: the problem was the harness where
it passed from the body to the rear hatch: years of flexing finally broke
the +12v wire.

Motors also run slow (and then burn out) if the wiper arm pivot shaft
rusts up, increasing the load on the motor.

SD

Sheesh, I feel like such a noob for not thinking of it (broken wire) have
replaced/repaired several subaru's for that problem. On my defence, I
wouldent have replaced the motor in my shop without checking power and
ground.
Steve

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Hi,
Lubriplate grease or Teflon based lubricant.

This is the best I've found yet...I hope GM doesn't go under!!

http://www.merchant-automotive.com/heatvalvelubricant.aspx

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Hi.
Firstly, I have to say I do love my car... a '97 Outback wagon. Some
repairs have been on the costly side but that's another story.

My rear wiper motor quit years ago (around 2001). It's not been a
huge deal, but it would be nice to have it work but I just can't bring
myself to agree to pay the $400 I was quoted to have it repaired.
I've tried finding a used one online with no luck (so far). Any
suggestions where a good place to find one at a reasonable price might
be and what anyone else would consider a reasonable price?

I've read some old posts on here and there are suggestions on how to
dismantle the assembly etc. but I suspect it's been so long that it'd
be beyond salvaging at this point. What do you think?

Is this a common problem with Subaru's? There are more tales of pooped
out rear wiper motors on here than I expected.

Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks!
Maggie

When you say it quit, did the motor itself quit? If you can hear the motor
running, the plastic gear may have shed some teeth and isn't engaging
anymore.

http://www.car-part.com

 

[S.Hansen]

Just had one today that was just froze up, hotter than hell to and unknown
how long it's been like this.
Steve

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Just had one today that was just froze up, hotter than hell to and unknown
how long it's been like this.
Steve

Froze up from rust, or the motor seized?

I'm sure YOU know a wiper motor is kind of like an alternator, with an
armature, stator, etc. I had a blower motor that stopped working in a
Corolla, and when I checked it it was hotter than hell. I took the motor
apart, and one of the brushes had worn down so far it slipped between the
housing and the collar. Still delivering current, but locked the motor in
place. $2.50 for new brushes and it worked fine for another 10 years!

In my case, the broken gear did it in...you can't get just the gear. I'll
save the motor for a spare...

 

[S.Hansen]

Froze up from rust, or the motor seized?

I'm sure YOU know a wiper motor is kind of like an alternator, with an
armature, stator, etc. I had a blower motor that stopped working in a
Corolla, and when I checked it it was hotter than hell. I took the motor
apart, and one of the brushes had worn down so far it slipped between the
housing and the collar. Still delivering current, but locked the motor in
place. $2.50 for new brushes and it worked fine for another 10 years!

In my case, the broken gear did it in...you can't get just the gear. I'll
save the motor for a spare...

I'll take it apart for Sh*ts and giggles after we get the new one in, But
working in a shop, it isn't cost effective to repair such parts.