Hello from a Newbie!


I have a 2013 500, and I'm having a problem with the rear wiper... I think it's something very small so hoping I can fix quickly instead of taking it to the dealer.


My rear wiper motor IS working - I can hear the mechanism and when I lift off the plastic cover the screw and nut are moving. But the actual wiper itself gets stuck and is very erratic.


I have tried tightening the screw but this makes it worse - the wiper feels like it is bending and gets stuck, so when the mechanism finally catches it sometimes moves the wiper to a downwards facing position over the boot of my car.


Has anyone else had this issue? Should I have a play around or not touch it as it would risk the warrantee?


Any advice welcome, cheers!

The wiper arm fits onto a tapered spindle with the nut on top. It pushes on, then the nut tightens it onto the taper, which also has small teeth.
When the nut becomes loose, the wiper will slip, damaging the arm or spindle or both. Sometimes re-tightening it will fix it. It seems more likely that you will need a new wiper arm.
When the motor stops, it should always arrive in a "park" position. It needs to be in this position before the wiper is fitted to it. From your description it seems you have tightened it in the wrong position and the wiper is now trying to wipe the panel below the window.
Remove the nut, and the wiper arm.
Carefully inspect the spindle for damage. If it is damaged, it will mean a replacement wiper mechanism, a lot of pennies unless you can source one from a breaker of Ebay.
If the spindle is ok, check the wiper arm to see if it might grip if replaced in the correct position. Try it, there's nothing to lose.
Before refitting the wiper, watch the spindle as the wiper is turned on, then off. Do this a few times. See which way it goes, and check it always returns to the same position.
Then once off, replace the wiper in it s normal parked position, tighten the nut and test it.

2013=under warranty=take it to a dealer and don't tell them you've had a fiddle.

Thank you for all your help!


I had another look at the spindle and wiper arm and nothing looked broken to me. It just seems like the spindle teeth aren't catching the arm properly to move it.


I have booked it in with the dealer for a diagnostic next week, fingers crossed it's easy and will be covered by the warranty, cheers!