Wiper motor

[RetardedRascal]

ok i got a 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix. With all the snow we got recently my wipers froze up. i chipped away all the ice but my wipers still wont work. i can hear the wiper motor humming. i just want to verify that that is the problem before i go buy a replacement... or is it something else? thanks for any help

[Peryn]

humming....humming like its spinning up and the blades aren't moving, or humming like its trying to move and cant?

Try taking of the blades, and see if the motors turn without the blades. i dont live anywhere near snow, but try and take a blowdryer to the motor..i guess maybe melt out any ice that could be inside the motor?

[MSD]

It's the wiper transmission, not the motor, if you can hear it spinning.

[grumpyolddude]

MSD and Peryn are on track. It's possible that your wiper arms are stripped and the drums are just spinning. If this iis the case, you'll probably just have to replace the wiper arms. If you remove the arms and can see the drums rotating, you've got your answer.
If it's damage to the transmission, which is under the cowl, parts and labor will be more expensive.

If you are hearing a humming, your motor is probably OK.

For future reference: clear all of the snow, ice or other debris from the windshield before you turn on the wipers. If they are stuck to the glass, or burdened with a heavy snow, you're likely to cause damage.

[RetardedRascal]

thanks, ill look at it tomorrow and find out.

[RetardedRascal]

turns out the linkage just came off the motor. so it was fairly ease and free to fix