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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    West Coast USA
    Posts
    325

    Default headlight wipers

    Seems one wiper is stuck in midposition; maybe wiper motor going out?
    Estimated cost of repair?
    Are these critical, or not?
    Can I leave inactive in the horizontal position and if so how to do that?
    Or can I remove them and how?
    09 Toyota Prius, Sprectra Blue
    01 Volvo V70XC, Ice Blue, 7-seater, built 4-01
    85 Ford Country Squire, Beige Woody, V8, ~79K mi [RIP]
    70 Chevy Malibu, Forest Green, V8 (ret)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Virginia Beach
    Posts
    4,116

    Default

    Super useful when you get sand and slush on the road which dries on the headlights, obscuring vision.

    Rarely needed in Virginia Beach, for example. Very handy in Vermont.

    The motor is expensive. Like $275 for new. Used are getting hard to find but I would try Erie Vo-Vo.

    Takes a bit of effort to change a motor. Have to remove bumper cover and headlight to get at the motor.
    Current Fleet:
    2016 Tundra Crewmax 4WD 1794
    2005 MB S600 (126K, Michelin AS4, HPL 0W40)
    2005 MB SL600 (55K Michelin AS4, Mobil 1 0W40)
    2004 V70R (143K, six speed M66, HPL 5W40)
    2004 XC90 (235K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-XC (295K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-T5 (225K, IPD bars, Bilsteins)
    2001 V70-T5 (125K, IPD downpipe, cat back and other mods)
    1932 Packard Sedan (straight 8, dual sidemounts, original paint and interior, Shell Rotella 15W40)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    West Coast USA
    Posts
    325

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro14 View Post
    Super useful when you get sand and slush on the road which dries on the headlights, obscuring vision.

    Rarely needed in Virginia Beach, for example. Very handy in Vermont.

    The motor is expensive. Like $275 for new. Used are getting hard to find but I would try Erie Vo-Vo.

    Takes a bit of effort to change a motor. Have to remove bumper cover and headlight to get at the motor.
    Thanks for your reply.
    I hear you on their utility. I do clean down the headlights when I fill up on gas.
    I do not think it will be worth the repair cost.
    How can I move that one wiper that is stuck in midposition to a horizontal position or just remove?
    09 Toyota Prius, Sprectra Blue
    01 Volvo V70XC, Ice Blue, 7-seater, built 4-01
    85 Ford Country Squire, Beige Woody, V8, ~79K mi [RIP]
    70 Chevy Malibu, Forest Green, V8 (ret)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    GA
    Posts
    1,420

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AKAMick View Post
    just remove the arm nut under the black cover and reposition the arm.
    And disconnect the power wire behind the headlamp so it can't move again

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    15

    Default

    btw, how are these activated? i cant find the controller for them... or do they come on with the wipers automatically?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    15

    Default

    also i have figured out how they work, cleaning, and my passenger side is out, i just found a used one on fleabay for 25 bux there are a bunch for xc v70's ,both sides.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Northeast
    Posts
    584

    Default

    I think they're activated only when you hit the wash function (pull the right stalk towards you) for your front windshield. On my 02, my headlight wipers started acting wonky after awhile. I'd look at the front of the car and notice that one or the other was out of position. It hadn't returned to the "rest" position after I had washed my windshield. It's not that hard to reposition them by rotating up the black end cap, loosening the nut (but leave it on the bolt), and then using needlenose pliers to squeeze the wiper arms forward enough on the bolt so they can be moved to the rest position.

    I was having to do this on a regular basis. My only question with a used replacement motor is how long before that motor goes on the fritz? Maybe for $25 you give it a shot.
    2007 XC70, 206,000 miles
    2002 V70XC, 130,000 miles, parts car

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    West Coast USA
    Posts
    325

    Default

    Following up on the above suggestions, I returned the wipers to the resting horizontal position, and disconnected wire powering the motor (no bumper removal necessary). Thanks again all.
    09 Toyota Prius, Sprectra Blue
    01 Volvo V70XC, Ice Blue, 7-seater, built 4-01
    85 Ford Country Squire, Beige Woody, V8, ~79K mi [RIP]
    70 Chevy Malibu, Forest Green, V8 (ret)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    16

    Default windshield wiper motor failes locked

    Quote Originally Posted by rhauptschein View Post
    Following up on the above suggestions, I returned the wipers to the resting horizontal position, and disconnected wire powering the motor (no bumper removal necessary). Thanks again all.
    Wonder if anyone had any more ideas on this one? One of mine failed locked in the 11 oclock position. On the bench, it worked fine. Took it apart and found nothing obvious. Put it on the car and it failed again the same way immediately. I disconnected the motor and reattached the arm in the resting position.

    New ones are dear, and I suspect used ones are a waste of time.

    I may take it out again if the weather improved and make another inspection.

    Thoughts?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Virginia Beach
    Posts
    4,116

    Default

    I put a used one in. I got it from Erie Vovo - great folks. So far, it works just fine.
    Current Fleet:
    2016 Tundra Crewmax 4WD 1794
    2005 MB S600 (126K, Michelin AS4, HPL 0W40)
    2005 MB SL600 (55K Michelin AS4, Mobil 1 0W40)
    2004 V70R (143K, six speed M66, HPL 5W40)
    2004 XC90 (235K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-XC (295K, HPL 0W30 Euro)
    2002 V70-T5 (225K, IPD bars, Bilsteins)
    2001 V70-T5 (125K, IPD downpipe, cat back and other mods)
    1932 Packard Sedan (straight 8, dual sidemounts, original paint and interior, Shell Rotella 15W40)

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