Removal: windsheld motor & door locks

[rodrigo]

It all started with my wanting to remove the rubber gaskets where the wiper motor stubs come out under the windshield. Since the car is getting a full re-spray these rubbers need to come out. I removed the blower motor assembly, all the cowling and plastic covers. I cannot get the wiper motor assembly out of the plenum tray (the area where it sits when bolted in place). The passenger side wiper stub always hits the remains of the blower motor mounting bracket and will not sink into the hole under the windshield frame, and on the driver side there does not seem to be enough room. Any suggestions to get this thing out?

Also, I need to remove the door locks, so any advice is appreciated.

[redhatpat]

If you're just painting, you can probably leave the wiper assembly in place and work around the little stubs poking out.

If you really want to take out the wiper motor and linkage, you're halfway there with the blower motor assembly out. Unbolt the wiper motor from the wiper linkage and take it out by itself. Then you can get the linkage out without too much trouble. Don't try to force it. It will come out easily if you lower it and rotate it clockwise while viewing it from the driver's side of the car (pull the bottom forward while lowering the posts through the cowl).

I found it a bit tricky to get out (and then back in) but once it's out you have one of those "aha, so that's how it's removed" moments.

[rodrigo]

ooo....the bentley said to pull out motor and linkage together, unless I read wrong (which is probable). i just wanna get in there to vaccuum and clean...tidy upa bit.

[redhatpat]

Yeah, the Bentley says to pull it out as one piece. I think the Pelican write up says the same thing. Ha ha, assholes! :D There's no way it's coming out in one piece.

Motor out first by itself gives you much more room to work with. I've done this. Trust me. You'll thank yourself and save a lot of frustration. You'll need to correctly clock the wiper arm to the wiper motor when you put it back in, and that's tedious, but it's much easier than trying to pull it out and put back in as one unit.