Hi, I'm what one would call an idiot when it comes to anything cars

My wiper on my 2005 Fiat Punto Active keeps falling off the arm in the bonnet, see here:

Picture in next post...

I assume it's just a bolt which has fallen off due to age?

What size bolt do I need and do I need any particular tool to screw it on?

Bit of a pain to keep attaching it after a few wipes.

Chers.

FiatActiveRadioHelp said:

Click to expand...

Its a super super common issue on puntos

Several options....
1 - new wiper motor linkage (most expensive)
2 - 2nd hand set but im yet to find a punto in a scrappy without thisnissue
3 - Wipex linkage repair kit, this is a semi permemany fox as ive heard people saying they so fail again shortly after......
4 - a antidrop off repair, off ebay its a clip that prevents it dropping off but the slop in the linkage will remain (overshooting and often wacking the scuttle pannel trim)
5 - a diy fix, either weld a penny washer on the underside to prevent it dropping off (slop remains)
What i did was drill through the ball joints and fitted a long screw and washers again the slop remains but uve been driving for a good few years now like it.... it prevents it dropping off

So the options yours....

Ziggy

FiatActiveRadioHelp said:

Hi, I'm what one would call an idiot when it comes to anything cars

My wiper on my 2005 Fiat Punto Active keeps falling off the arm in the bonnet, see here:

Picture in next post...

I assume it's just a bolt which has fallen off due to age?

What size bolt do I need and do I need any particular tool to screw it on?

Bit of a pain to keep attaching it after a few wipes.

Chers.

Click to expand...

Basically there is a metal ball and a plastic socket..

Plastic sockets wear away.. intil it will drop off.

I actually got lucky with a budget ebay motor and wiper set.

It sounds like yours is REALLY worn.. so a clip is only a temporary fix.

Charlie

I had this same issue in the snow on a motorway last Christmas... it had happened once before and had popped right back in.. but this time in the snow..no chance.. kept coming back out:bang:

I needed a quick repair to get it back home so I got some washers welded on (I took the mechanism out following a youtube video)

first garage said it was impossible due to the metal type and advised me to go their mate the fiat parts specialist down the road.... until I told them I'd seen it done before.. so they directed to another garage and as soon as I walked in the bloke pointed at the wiper mechanism in my hand and said.."fiat!", he welded some washers on for £20 .. still going strong now


plenty of videos on youtube of this problem, how to remove/replace the part

eventually they wont stay in at all if you don't sort it in my experience

good luck mate

This
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/x2-Chrom...h=item233284f87e:g:73oAAOSwPhdVEukj:rk:2:pf:0
clips can do the repair. Slightly fiddly but will work. I have got my fixed like this and it still works.

dumbledore said:

This
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/x2-Chrom...h=item233284f87e:g:73oAAOSwPhdVEukj:rk:2:pf:0
clips can do the repair. Slightly fiddly but will work. I have got my fixed like this and it still works.

Click to expand...

Oops. "s and b" already mentioned this fix. It does work and should be considered.

I welded washers onto my old one.. but the heat got to the plastic bushes..

I think part of the problem is that the plating on the ball of the joint flakes off and the metal corrodes and tears at the joint rubber/plastic.
I bought Wipex, lasted a bit, they replaced them, lasted another bit, glued on two pennies at the back, lasted a longer bit, drilled a 3mm hole axially in the end of the pin and fixed a big washer with a stainless self tapper with a cheese head. That's been on there four or five years at least.