General Talk me through how to adjust drivers side wiper arm so it doesn’t wipe B pillar please

[Cheetah]

Good evening all, I hope life is being good to you.
I’m hoping someone may be able to help me please. I noticed yesterday that the drivers side wiper blade was also wiping the pillar. Going off the windscreen by about 1.5cm. I was hoping to adjust it myself, but on closer inspection there looks to be a plastic cover that looks to be part of the window ?scuttle…and this is preventing me from accessing the bottom of the arm.
I presume I just remove this plastic piece…but wanted to ask if there a knack to taking it off so I don’t break it.
Have any of you got any helpful tips please?
Thanks very much in advance…

 

[bugsymike]

Good evening all, I hope life is being good to you.
I’m hoping someone may be able to help me please. I noticed yesterday that the drivers side wiper blade was also wiping the pillar. Going off the windscreen by about 1.5cm. I was hoping to adjust it myself, but on closer inspection there looks to be a plastic cover that looks to be part of the window ?scuttle…and this is preventing me from accessing the bottom of the arm.
I presume I just remove this plastic piece…but wanted to ask if there a knack to taking it off so I don’t break it.
Have any of you got any helpful tips please?
Thanks very much in advance…

Do you actually mean accessing the bottom of the arm?
Normally on many cars theses days the end of the wiper arm furthest from the blade has a plastic cover that you flick up releasing a 13mm? nut, once that is slackened or removed, it is often possible to push down on the arm a few inches from the nut end this usually causes the arm to come of the tapered spline allowing you to move the arm to a better position. Make sure only to move it enough to not go off the screenor it will tangle with the other arm causing damage.
Note be careful to re engage the spline onto the arm correctly before tightening the 13mm nut again, if you don't fit it on the spline then as the nut is tightened it breaks the arm as the idiot who replaced my daughters windscreen found to his cost, luckily I was there or he would have just told her the arm was faulty.
The photo below may just about show the tapered spline end I mean that the wiper arm sits on.
Note if after adjusting the arm it still fouls either side then worn linkage may be the cause, in which case you will need to remove the plastic scuttle panel and fit the part in my photo.
They do sell a wiper arm removal tool, but I have never need one.

 

[The Panda Nut]

The wipers clash unless properly adjusted. On most but not all screens there are reference marks on the screen where the tips of the blades should touch when off and parked. otherwise its trial and error. See if you have marks. On mine these are circles in black about 1cm across. Adjust both to avoid risk of damage/ clashing. Mike has explained how to slack the arms to allow them to be moved as needed.

 

[jrkitching]

I presume I just remove this plastic piece…but wanted to ask if there a knack to taking it off so I don’t break it.

There is indeed a knack to removing them, and they often get damaged by folks who don't know the trick. If this has happened to yours as a result of some previous owner's hamfistedness, replacements are readily available on eBay.

Put your fingers behind and give a firm pull straight out towards you. Do not twist it when removing or you will break it.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so click on the image below and take a look at the underneath, which shows the securing clips.

Once removed, it's easy to access the nut holding the wiper arm in place.

OEM windscreens have small dots in the correct position for setting the wipers, but careful trial and error works too.

 

[bugsymike]

Now there is something I have just learnt, I have honestly never noticed any alignment marks, just relied on trial and error.

 

[jrkitching]

I have honestly never noticed any alignment marks

Not always present on aftermarket 'screens.

 

[Jockstrap]

Get yourself a wiper arm removal tool or small puller.
If the arm has been replaced by a gorilla or the spline damaged. Do not twist or you can damage the drive mechanism.
Note that the wiper end is in a recess so buy a narrow puller. The horseshoe looking will not fit underneath.

 

[Cheetah]

Thank you so much for your replies guys. I’m a bit scared to do it now! But I do need it adjusting, as it drives me mad to see it go off the windscreen…especially as I’ve just put new blades on!
I’m a visual learner so I really appreciate the photos you’ve posted. I was surprised not to be able to find any videos on doing this.
Jockstrap…would you be able to post a link to a puller you think would be appropriate please?

 

[Cheetah]

Do you actually mean accessing the bottom of the arm?
Normally on many cars theses days the end of the wiper arm furthest from the blade has a plastic cover that you flick up releasing a 13mm? nut, once that is slackened or removed, it is often possible to push down on the arm a few inches from the nut end this usually causes the arm to come of the tapered spline allowing you to move the arm to a better position. Make sure only to move it enough to not go off the screenor it will tangle with the other arm causing damage.
Note be careful to re engage the spline onto the arm correctly before tightening the 13mm nut again, if you don't fit it on the spline then as the nut is tightened it breaks the arm as the idiot who replaced my daughters windscreen found to his cost, luckily I was there or he would have just told her the arm was faulty.
The photo below may just about show the tapered spline end I mean that the wiper arm sits on.
Note if after adjusting the arm it still fouls either side then worn linkage may be the cause, in which case you will need to remove the plastic scuttle panel and fit the part in my photo.
They do sell a wiper arm removal tool, but I have never need one.

Can you tell me the name of the part in your photo please…just in case I need to get one? Thanks very much

 

[Cheetah]

Get yourself a wiper arm removal tool or small puller.
If the arm has been replaced by a gorilla or the spline damaged. Do not twist or you can damage the drive mechanism.
Note that the wiper end is in a recess so buy a narrow puller. The horseshoe looking will not fit underneath.

Do you mean something like this?

 

[jrkitching]

Amazon.co.uk

But you may not need it. Just depends on whether the arms come off easily once the nuts are undone.

Fold the arms out (like when you wash the windscreen) and rock from side to side, without turning them - that often frees them off. They're easier to remove when they're not pressing against the 'screen.

Pull off the covers and take it from there.

 

[Jockstrap]

Do you mean something like this?

Yes and no. Exactly what you don't want.
See the picture in the advert in on a flat surface.
I first bought the horseshoe one and cursed.
I'll get black to you.

 

[Jockstrap]

Couple which should do:

Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07WDVDWVG/ref=vp_m_fuw_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=bb4ea00b-3e8a-48eb-b8dd-768a772cfa34&pf_rd_r=0JFJVYNA6JE0WH0PZSXW&pd_rd_wg=FBbTf&pd_rd_i=B07WDVDWVG&pd_rd_w=7fQfe&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb4ea00b-3e8a-48eb-b8dd-768a772cfa34&pd_rd_r=49bdcf10-7080-4b5c-bdf5-474e5d08faa0&psc=1#

 

[bugsymike]

Do you mean something like this?

The one one the right in your photo may fit behind easier, but to be honest I have never needed to use a tool to remove them, I simply push down on the wiper arm roughly 4 inches from the nut and that is sufficient to release the arm from the tapered spline.
The other item I put in the original photo was the wiper arm linkage, which in that photo includes the motor, but unless linkage is worn causing the arms to slop too much in both directions then there is no need to replace them at this point.

 

[Cheetah]

I’m a bit overwhelmed…you’ve all been so helpful, thank you! I will just have to grow a pair and have a proper look when it’s not raining! Thanks again, I’ll keep you posted!

 

[A3jeroen]

And I am sure you mean the A pillar. B pillar is the one after the door.

gr J

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Now there is something I have just learnt, I have honestly never noticed any alignment marks, just relied on trial and error.

Me too Mike.

 

[Jockstrap]

Me too Mike.

And me.
Spot on by the oyster catcher guano .

 

[Cheetah]

And I am sure you mean the A pillar. B pillar is the one after the door.

gr J

Thank you…I agree with you, I do mean the A pillar.

 

[Ralf S.]

The most difficult part will be removing the "hatch" covers without breaking the curved "hook".

Just tease each cover up from the right hand end until the long thin prong that breaks comes out of its locating clip. Then the hatch can pivot out, around the left "hook"... like opening a door.

Don't, don't, don't pull the hatch forward and down (like opening a glove-box) since this is how the long thin prong that breaks, breaks.

Ralf S.