w123 wiper not sweeping far enough
 

My 1980 300td driver side wiper doesn't sweep the windshield to anywhere near the driver's side edge, it's 2-3 inches short right now.

Is this a linkage binding or lack of lubrication issue?

The wipers park perfectly and the passenger side seems fine. I don't want to just move the arm up/around on the pivot so I'm staring at it all the time.... :eek:

Tks

bump :eek:

Does the wiper touch the window seal when its "parked"? If so then the arm needs to be loosened and adjusted upwards 1 notch as it shouldn't be touching the seal.

Ah yes it does. But I thought that was the desired 'park' position. Oh well....

Tks for the input.

I've just checked through the FSM and Haynes and I can't find anything that says about adjustment... may be I've missed it though.

If repositioning doesn't help then I think it might be worthwhile having a look at the linkage under the removable panel between the two grills. Have you tackled that before?

Well that was my first instinct but then my search dug up a post from someone saying at all costs don't try and pull that panel off (though with no reason why supplied) so I figured I would do better to ask the general question and take it from there....

This is an ex-Texas car that sat in baking heat for years unused, so it has all manner of odd problems associated with that. This might be one.

If you are impatient you could potentially bend the panel a bit during removal! And then you need to go an buy another one...

There are four(?) little plastic fasteners that sit on the front lip of this panel - hidden by the bonnet (er sorry hood).

Inside these plastic fasteners you'll see a little pin like in a pop rivet. Push this through into the cavity behind with a shank of a drill bit (or such). You need about a 2mm or 3mm bit. You'll then find 2 (?) cross head screws on the top side of the panel. These are under the grills.

The problem with this panel is that it is held in place on the back end by pressure of the windscreen rubber. This is where you'll bend and potentially bugger the panel.

However underneath - if you live near to some trees - you could indeed find some crud you'll be glad you scraped out! (So there's another reason to take a butchers)

EDIT - to put this panel removal back into context - if you need to reach the windscreen wiper motor, the linkages or the intake side of the fan blower then it is worthwhile risking this removal. If you are worried about crud you'll be better off shoving you finger up the little pinched rubber drain bits behind the front anti-roll bar in the engine bay.

Channeling Terence Stamp today, are we :D?

Extreme OT: I think The Limey is one of the greatest films of all time....