In my first RX-7, the windshield wipers moved really freakin slow, then they quit working and broke and one windshield wiper went flying up next to the mirror as i drove down the highway...

And now with my 2nd RX-7, the wipers were ungodly slow, and I was clearing some snow off the windshield, and the wipers just quit. I mean nothing.. with the wiper blades on the middle of the windshield...

So now, once again, not only do I have manual locks, windows, transmission, etc... but I have manual wipers. I.E. roll down the window, reach out, and move wiper blades by hand.


So, what makes RX-7 wipers such an amazing hunk of crap? And what can I do to fix it so the problem wont happen again? Anybody else experience this problem?

 

yes, i also have had the same problem in my FB and it's been annoying as f*ck... however, it's a good thing that i don't drive her when it rains here in Los Angeles

just take it out and reduce weight in your car... LoL
(not like it matters though)

i think the FB wiper motors are really weaksauce and not that good

 

I've never had any trouble with my wiper motor, although the stock SA wiper blade length is too short on the driver's side. I replaced the driver's side blade with one a couple of inches longer and it works much better.

 

I haven't had any problems with mine. Some suggestions would be:

A) Get out of Michigan, go where there's no snow. Also avoid California, because there is either too much sun or too many people putting things on your windshield, which also mess up your wipers. (see d0 Luck, above).

If you can't do A), then:

B) Get one of those plastic window scrapers to remove the snow from your windshield, the wipers weren't meant for this.

C) Use the defroster to help remove ice and snow.

D) Attach a rod between the wipers arms and add a handle to the rod so that you can operate the wipers from the driver's window. Wear gloves in the winter and make sure your heater is working because it will get real cold with the window down.

E) Get some of those long wiper blades like Wankelguy suggests, they look really cool, even if the wipers don't work.

Hope this helps!
Ray

 

The problem is that the wiper arm shafts corrode, taking up the clearance between the shaft and its bore. Gets harder and harder for the motor to move the wipers, until one day they just sorta grind to a halt.

Somewhere in here I detailed how to tear down and rebuild the wiper linkage. All you need is time, patience, and plenty of penetrating oil (for disassembly) and a *good* waterproof grease (for reassembly). A wire wheel to clean the shafts and a small rifle brush are also useful for cleaning the corrosion from the shafts/bores respectively. (Neat tip: Cut the handle off of a rifle brush and chuck it into a drill. It's like a wire wheel only it cleans out the *inside* of stuff)

 

Mine did that, so I just pulled the assembly, cleaned and lubed it, and re-installed... Works perfect!

Dan

 

im not too sure but i think u could pull the whole thing out and replace the motor with a motor off a domestic or anythign else....last time i checked all those pumps looked pretty similar.....worst case scenario u'd have to modify it to fit but it'll be well worth it! my 2 cents

 

I see... well, guess I'll be looking for a whole wiper assembly from someone in a warmer climate so its not rusted to ****.

I hate michigan.

 

and i in the same way hate toronto.....lol

 

When i was driving to lexington i was passing a semi, and a huge chunk of ice flew off the top of it and hit my passenger side wiper. It bent the hell out of it....

Being a cheap bastard i bent it back, but it definately took one for the team.

 

One. Wiper. Conversion.

 

Hang onto your rusted racks - they are not available from Mazda or Mazdatrix anymore, so if yours goes out and you can't repair it (unlikely), it's a trip to your local parts yard.

I've had no problems replacing mine and regreasing it for years of further service,

 

mine are fast like ****'s

 

Age

I took mine out and did a little restoring here and there with new bushings, grease, cleaning, etc. It helped A LOT!

~T.J.

PS - The trick to getting the rack outta the car is to turn the ignition on, turn the wipers on, and when theyre vertical, shut the key off so they stay there. It comes out really easy that way.