Passenger Wiper stopped working?

[laslivajr]

My son was getting ready leave home early Monday morning in the 240D.
He cleaned the windows of ice but didnt get the passenger wiper un stuck completely. After warming up the car he turned on the wipers, the driver's wiper worked but the passenger made some funny noises then stopped. The drivers wiper works fine but the passenger wiper doesn't now and can be moved freely with your hand manuallly.What should I do first? Is everything accesable from the upper hood compartment? It looks to have some screws just behind the upper lip of the hood when the hood is open? Could it have just come off the linkage?

Any advise would be appreciated....I have never worked on the wipers

Thanks!

[VLayton]

I would say the connecting linkage has busted. The 4 retaining plugs are not re-serviceible, I'd get another linkage and swap it out. You'll need to pull the air induction vents too, which do have reuseable clips.

[laslivajr]

Thanks so much for the reply. How do I get to the linkage? Thru the compartment behind the hood? Is that where the air induction vents are? or do you get at that from the top...my son is away so I don't have a clear visual of the area? He'll be home tonight so I can look at it Is the connecting linkage a junk yard or available part?

Regards, Buddy

[VLayton]

How do I get to the linkage? Thru the compartment behind the hood? Is the connecting linkage a junk yard or available part?

Regards, Buddy



Yes, under the panel behind the hood, between the cabin air induction vents, the driver wiper goes the the driver vent. Since the failure is so rare, I'd bet with a jukyard one. I don't know what a new one costs, probably a couple hundred, likely a dealer only item. I'm pretty sure I have one laying around, as an option, but it will cheaper to find one in a junkyard and pull it yourself. You can email or PM me.

Good Luck,

[lkchris]

I'd bet--rather than linkage--that the splines where the wiper arm meets the linkage are now stripped. This comes apart from outside engine compartment, of course, and save buying a new linkage could possibly be (inelegantly) repaired with JBWeld.

http://mb.braingears.com/123_DISK1/program/Chassis/82-610.pdf

[VLayton]

That could be very possible as well. I imagined (never experienced) since the one was working, part of the linkage was busted that controls the pass side. Your idea seems more probable.

[laslivajr]

Gentleman,

Thanks for your help...I got the wiper working...once I started taking the arm off,found out it had just loosened up. A little tightening..a couple new wiper blades and she works like a charm. Boy..I like the my 79 240D, it's a 4sd,White with Blue MB Tex and runs and looks great. It was a commuter for me the past couple years and now its the safest,slowest and most economical car for my teenage son for his school commute. Thanks again for your help!


Buddy

[VLayton]

Gentleman,

Thanks for your help...I got the wiper working...once I started taking the arm off,found out it had just loosened up. A little tightening..a couple new wiper blades and she works like a charm. Boy..I like the my 79 240D, it's a 4sd,White with Blue MB Tex and runs and looks great. It was a commuter for me the past couple years and now its the safest,slowest and most economical car for my teenage son for his school commute. Thanks again for your help!


Buddy


I'm glad for you. I hope your son understands it's his diligent reverence that's needed to keep the machine alive, it's not an Escort, she deserves respect.

I don't know you and your son, of course, just thought I'd say something as I have heard all too many "teenager driving killed my W123" stories.

NOT that there aren't proven examples to the contrary, a certain MBCA/Club 123D Member bought his at 17, and 8 years and 77k mi later, it still looks and sounds excellent.