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My 2003 SC has just developed a noise (“pop” or “click!”) in the windshield wiper on the passenger side. When it begins to sweep up the glass, it makes the sound. If (between wipes) I manually pull down the wiper arm toward the bottom of the windshield, it does not pop on that swipe, but the noise returns when cycling on its own. This is new - never experienced this before... Any ideas? Thanks in advance...
Sounds (pardon the pun) like a worn (1)wiper arm or (5)worn wiper transmissions which is the assembly that attaches to the wiper motor. You may need to take the passenger side wiper arm off to see if you can replicate the noise with the arm off, indicating a problem with the transmission mechanism.
I was afraid you'd say that, VVTiBob! The car is scheduled for a visit with the dealer next week to check/replace batteries in the TPMS, so I'll add this to their "To Do" list. Of course, if I were still living in San Diego, it wouldn't be as much of an issue. But here in the Northwest, where it rains almost every day, I don't have that option! Thanks again.
Sometimes, especially in climates where that heavy snow accumulates on the windshield, the wiper are run without clearing the debris first. That in turn causes wear and tear on the splines on the shaft and wiper arm. If the splines are worn down, rounded edges, the arm can slip causing a popping sound or if it’s bad, one or both arms will not move while the shaft still spins. If it’s the former a simple inexpensive solution is just applying some locktite after removing the arm from the shaft. However, if it’s too worn then replacing the part is the proper repair.
No slippage, the arms are moving smoothly and in unison. But I have determined (using a stethoscope) that the sound is coming from the passenger side wiper transmission. It may be as simple as the need for lubrication or (likely) something more expensive... I'll check back when the issue is resolved. Thanks again.
My 2004 with 37k miles just developed what sounds like a snap when the wipers changed direction. The sound is coming from the rubber wiper itself on the windshield. I just found that my son had waxed the windshield. Let you know how I make out after I clean the wax off.
Just to close out this chain... When the Lexus dealer's service folks replaced the wiper blades, they used "new" Lexus inserts that do not properly fit the curvature of the SC's windscreen. They replaced the blades with older an design and the noise disappeared. They have made note for future replacements on any/all SC430s and both apologized for the error and made the correction at no charge, of course.
Hmmmmm... even with leaf spring force applied by the arm the blade would not conform to the curvature of the windshield???
Well at least they admitted to, and apologized for, their mistake. The dealer I used in the past would have made up some ridiculous story. Glad that it was nothing more “new”, more likely, wrong blades installed. Good info and thanks for sharing the outcome with us.
Glad that you got it resolved and thanks for giving us a heads up about it.
That is kind of concerning when new replacement parts don't work. I had that happen on a previous car that I owned, the distributor condenser replacement wouldn't work on my car, just the old one. I wound up selling the car not much longer after that.
04-11-19, 03:59 PM
Wiper “Popping” Noise
