Wiper - weak in operation

[ivanslotusexcel]

My '87 Excel's wiper activates but windscreen/windshield coverage is randomly poor (varies at each sweep, some of which barely move the wiper arm). The wiper arm drive spiggot seems to operate correctly with the arm removed (ie. not under load) - suspect there is slippage in the drive gear/train below. How does one access the wiper motor assembly for removal/maintenance? Have looked up under the dash & behind the glove box panel to no avail. From the engine bay there may be an access if one removes the cabin air intake - don't want to do that without some confidence that this is correct or necessary! Most grateful for any guidance/assistance.

[robertverhey]

http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... highlight=

[ivanslotusexcel]

Mny tks Robert. I now will go for instrument panel removal to access the wiper mechanism/rig. Do we know if there is any 'play' or slack in the speedo cable so that the panel comes into the car - sufficient to allow wiper mech removal? I felt stiff resistence when exploring this route earlier, so stopped as uncertain if it would (then) let me access the wiper rig.

There were some good tips in the forum discussion U kindly advised - especially to use string for the re-installation!

Cheers/Slainte, Ivan

[Steve C]

I think you'll need to detach the speedo cable before attempting to pull the dash forwards ... IIRC there's a short intermediate cable with virtually no "give" ..

[ivanslotusexcel]

Yikes! OK I must remove the speedo cable - there seems so little room/access from 'up & under' in the driver's footwell. Help please - perhaps I should 'jiggle' the instrument panel to see if it will come back into the car a little more; to reach & then disconnect the speedo cable?

Thanks to the info kindly provided in this forum, I now know where to start to gain access to the wiper assembly/mechanism.

[robertverhey]

Hi

My experience was a little different, ie there was enough "give" in the speedo cable (particularly after releasing the clip that attaches it to the brake pipe near the M/C). Then I was able to push / pull it far enough through the bulkhead grommet to get my chubby hands behind the dash to unscrew the cable from behind speedo.

No doubt each excel is different in its own special way

Robert

[robertverhey]

Sorry just to clarify, that meant I could pull the dash forward and slide my hand behind it: no need to reach up from below the footwell.