Wiper Reversal Project Failure

rrpjr · 04-04-2005, 04:53 PM

An attempt at one of the more modest projects in Wayne’s book met with initial failure. After removing the cover to the blower in the upper trunk space, then disconnecting the blower hoses and removing the blower, as per book, I discovered a black metal piece (in which the blower sat) still in my way. This piece looks very solidly in there. Has anyone made this modification to a Carrera (mine’s a Euro if that matters), and can he tell me if and/or how this is removed to gain access to the windshield wiper motor?

Nitrometano · Nitrometano's Garage

To gain access to remove the wiper motor, you need to remove the tachometer and the speedometer and behind those you will gain access to the wiper motor bolts.

rrpjr · 04-04-2005, 05:54 PM

Thanks. However, just to clarify, I don't want to remove the wiper motor just reverse the motion and parked position of the arms so they rest out of driver's view. The guidebook I'm referencing does not mention removing anything other than the blower.

john walker's workshop · 04-04-2005, 06:17 PM

that plastic housing needs to come out. take the 4 screws out that hold the screen to the fresh air intake. then 2 more screws underneath that hold in the box. remove the side hoses and disconnect the drain hose enough to slip the box past. normally you leave the fan attached and take out the whole unit.

rrpjr · 04-04-2005, 06:26 PM

Many thanks.

5speed · 04-04-2005, 06:44 PM

That was one of the first mods that I did and I followed the tech article and read the posts on Pelicans. The blower plus housing has to come off to gain what little room there is to get to the nut that holds the pivot arm onto the wiper motor. There is not much room and you will be blind to what you are doing. But Nitrometano is correct if you remove the speedometer and tachometer you will have better access to the nut. You will have to remove two nuts that hold a fiber strap in place. I was working on my gauges after I already did the mod and when I removed the tach there was the pivot arm right in front of me.

DavidI · 04-04-2005, 06:59 PM

When I did the reversal on my 83SC, I did not remove the gauges. I did as JW said and removed the housing. Once you get access to the bolt, you will have to twist and contort a little to loosen it.

Good luck, David

rrpjr · 04-04-2005, 07:40 PM

Thanks 5speed and David. I have a good idea now what it entails. What would a Porsche project be anyway without a little twisting and contorting. I will tackle it again next weekend.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Probably the only Porsche project that I have ever done trhat was actually as easy as advertised.

304065 · 04-05-2005, 05:21 AM

So I have a 1966 911, and the wipers park on the starboard (passenger) side. When you wipe the windshield, when they return to park over there, there's always a bunch of slush and water and wiper juice on the drivers side. Realizing this, Porsche switched the parking position over on the LWB cars and the rest is history. I can't imagine why you would want to switch them to the other side.

Then again, until recently LA had never seen that liquid water stuff that fell from the sky. . .

RoninLB · 04-05-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by john_cramer
. I can't imagine why you would want to switch them to the other side.

Didn't James Shira have an issue with his wipers being reversed ?

Jim Garfield · 04-05-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john_cramer
So I have a 1966 911, and the wipers park on the starboard (passenger) side. When you wipe the windshield, when they return to park over there, there's always a bunch of slush and water and wiper juice on the drivers side. Realizing this, Porsche switched the parking position over on the LWB cars and the rest is history. I can't imagine why you would want to switch them to the other side.

I'm glad that I read that John. I have to think that the wipers don't work very well no matter where they park.

I was thinking of switching mine, which stop on the drivers side, because they always leave a streak of water right in front of the driver's view as the passenger's side wiper is on it's way down to park. The view out of the passenger side is perfect at this point. I was figuring that if i switched them the streak would be left on the passenger's side, but after reading your post,
it sounds like it might be a waste of time.

Does anyone have wipers that don't leave streaks when they stop?

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

I was thinking the other day.... I hate the wipers parked in my view on the drivers side, I'm going to have to check into moving them. Then it hit me.... hell, I don't need wipers for 7 straight months, why don't I just park them in the trunk and get the ugly things off the car completely for the summer.

My question? Is there a nice black cap to cover the bare wiper splines? I could probably scrounge a couple up with some searching, but thought I would ask.

rrpjr · 04-05-2005, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TerryH
I was thinking the other day.... I hate the wipers parked in my view on the drivers side, I'm going to have to check into moving them. Then it hit me.... hell, I don't need wipers for 7 straight months, why don't I just park them in the trunk and get the ugly things off the car completely for the summer.

My feelings exactly. I'm sick of staring at them, and through them.

And yes, John, it's a far cry from Hell's Kitchen. The only slush out here comes in 12 oz. containers.

arerrac · 04-05-2005, 04:01 PM

I have had mine reversed for over 3 years now. Given our Northern Californis weather, we do get some rain!
I have had no problems living with how the wipers work when parking on the passanger side. I will say that with my seat on the floor for the lowest driving position, I do prefer looking through a clean windshield when driving the twisties as it's a MUCH cleaner view. (You can also put a 14" wiper on the driver side wiper arm.)
Go sit in the passenger seat and adjust it exactly like your driving position and see if you like the view. I did!

-Wade

304065 · 04-05-2005, 04:03 PM

Why give the police something to write you up for?

I grew up in PHX. . . drier than distributor felt out there, but we still used wipers for the occasional dust devil. It's not good for the glass or the wipers, but then again neither is impact with immovable objects if you suddenly find yourself 0/0.

rrpjr · 04-11-2005, 02:39 PM

I can report success. Wayne’s instructions were fine but not idiot-proof enough for me. I had been stumped by how to remove the blower assembly. So thanks to John Walker for the decisive tip. Amazingly I even came in under Wayne’s 3-hour estimate. The wiper motor was a little thing of beauty, and reversal was not difficult – one 10mm nut. Such a pleasure now to have a clear view down the front of my car. The only problems – when I turned on the blower there was a minor, intermittent rattling. And I seem to have lost a screwdriver. Could that rattling be...?

This board is great. Even though half the time I don’t what people are talking about, I’m always inspired. Thanks to all.

Before...

and after...

89911 · 04-11-2005, 02:43 PM

Having the wipers at the original position is great for expired inspection stickers.

fastpat · 04-11-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Sounds like the wipers are like the proverbial grass . . .

I can kinda' understand, but I'm tall enough that the wipers aren't blocking the view when parked, but the sun visors that stick straight out towards the back of the car aren't too my liking at all. They have me looking for a way to lower the seat about 1/2 inch.