Community Forums

dolsen58 · 10-22-2006, 12:31 PM

While driving through our first heavy wind and rain after buying our "07 the drivers side wiper went so far to the left that it got "stuck" past the rubber seal around the windshield. I found a place to stop and adjusted the blade so that didn't happen again but then when I stop the wipers, the drivers wiper is way down near the bottom of the windshield and looks really wierd. I pointed this out to the service department at Newmar. They "tested" it and adjusted it back to where it is level with the other one stating that they couldn't duplicate the problem. Well, of course not unless they have a large fan that can create an 80 MPH wind. (50 mph speed plus a 30 mph head wind)(No, I don't drive 80 mph) I have adjusted it back as I know when I hit a high wind with rain it will stick and I don't want to go through that scary, dangerous situation again.
My question is, has anyone experienced this and if so, what is the solution other than "living" with blades that are very uneven when parked.

dolsen58 · 10-22-2006, 12:31 PM

While driving through our first heavy wind and rain after buying our "07 the drivers side wiper went so far to the left that it got "stuck" past the rubber seal around the windshield. I found a place to stop and adjusted the blade so that didn't happen again but then when I stop the wipers, the drivers wiper is way down near the bottom of the windshield and looks really wierd. I pointed this out to the service department at Newmar. They "tested" it and adjusted it back to where it is level with the other one stating that they couldn't duplicate the problem. Well, of course not unless they have a large fan that can create an 80 MPH wind. (50 mph speed plus a 30 mph head wind)(No, I don't drive 80 mph) I have adjusted it back as I know when I hit a high wind with rain it will stick and I don't want to go through that scary, dangerous situation again.
My question is, has anyone experienced this and if so, what is the solution other than "living" with blades that are very uneven when parked.

Road Pilot · 10-23-2006, 02:08 AM

I haven't experienced exactly this but when our 07 Essex was less than a week old the drivers windshield wiper almost fell off in a driving storm. Also extremely foggy.

Drove thirty miles with no wipers to repair shop. They repositioned the wipers and tightened them down. They said they weren't tightened at the factory.

Now they seem to be positioned the way they originally were and work well. I would position the wipers the way Newmar recommends they be positioned and see if the problem recurs.

phototex · 01-23-2007, 09:10 AM

Dennis and Cathy,

Three days ago I had exactly the same thing you describe happen to me. I, too, stopped on the side of the road, but was unable to determine how to adjust the wiper so that it would function properly. I ended up driving in rain for an hour without wipers. I have scheduled service at my dealer. Were you able to get your problem fixed to your satisfaction? Thanks.

JavaJelly · 01-23-2007, 09:38 AM

Had the same problem last fall shortly after delivery. Only thing to do per this forum and the dealer is keep new "cones" in stock and replace them when they become "sprung".

Wasn't able to determine any other fix. Am going to factory Feb 7th and will ask them if there is any sort of upgrade.

Peter (Lug Nut) is the expert. He was going to show me in Frankenmuth, MI and I missed him. Hopefully he will chime in.

Route 66 · 01-23-2007, 09:46 AM

My wipers did the same thing on my test drive at delivery. The dealer and Coach Care (which is co-located at the dealer) were unable to comprehend how wipers work and told me I needed to go back to the factory. Made my day.

After 2 days of adjusting and Spartan consultations, the factory got my wipers adjusted so they work properly. They took test drives, and so did I using a couple of gallons of washer fluid to lubricate the windshield.

The wipers were not parked evenly, and I asked to have them adjusted to park evenly. The tech went out to the assembly line and asked how they adjusted them to park evenly. The answer was "we don't".

However, my wipers park pretty evenly and now work fine in the rain.

It seemed to be an adjustment issue all along.

Lug_Nut · 01-23-2007, 09:53 AM

The replacing of the knurled cones is the best answer. If they loosen at all in time or high pressure operation from time to time, they wear down the knurled edges allowing them to skip on ocassion. My DSDP did that after 3 years. Repeatedly tightening them will not last and therefore is not the solution. Replace the cones and tighten, you will probably be good for several years.
The cones can be purchased from a dealer hopefully. I got mine and extras at North Trail in Fort Myers. Their stock howver, is one of the best I've ever seen.

Peter

Lug_Nut · 01-23-2007, 10:19 AM

Do you think I could get the customary 25 - 27% off?

Peter

cwg · 01-23-2007, 11:30 AM

When we picked up our coach, the tech explained that there had been a service bulletin that the nuts were not being torqued correctly and some of the wiper arms were doing exactly what you experienced. He said the proper procedure was for the assemblers at the plant to initially tighten them, and later come back and retorque them again 15 minutes later. Some miscommunication had occured with a new vendor and this second step was being left out.

This was verified by the factory techs when I was at Nappanee.

Route 66 · 01-23-2007, 11:39 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">When we picked up our coach, the tech explained that there had been a service bulletin that the nuts were not being torqued correctly and some of the wiper arms were doing exactly what you experienced. He said the proper procedure was for the assemblers at the plant to initially tighten them, and later come back and retorque them again 15 minutes later. Some miscommunication had occured with a new vendor and this second step was being left out.

This was verified by the factory techs when I was at Nappanee. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Chuck, what date was that?

phototex · 01-23-2007, 11:51 AM

Thanks, everyone. I looked again and found a large bolt on the outside of the coach between the blade arm and the front of the coach, that was covered by a rubber "boot". I could turn it with my fingers!

I got a wrench and tightened it up, but I'm not sure just how hard to crank down on it. I will definitely have the dealer look at them for the proper torque. I've got my fingers crossed that this will take care of it, at least until I get to the dealer. Driving in the rain with no wipers was not any fun. I'll also mention the cones to the dealer, although I have no idea what or where they are.

If the service bulletin you mention was in force in December, 2006, which is when my coach was manufactured, it either was not implemented correctly or was overlooked. At least on the driver's side wiper. Thanks again for the help. I'll report back on what the dealer tells me.

cwg · 01-23-2007, 11:53 AM

We picked up our rig in November. That is when they told us that the wipers might fail in the first rain encounter. I was at the factory the week before Christmas when they retorqued them again for the third time.

I like Peter's solution of buying some extra knurled cones. I will be at North Trail within the next few days to pick up some.

Route 66 · 01-23-2007, 12:04 PM

My problem was in October, and no mention was made of a service bulletin then.

Is the knurled cone part of the shaft that protrudes through the front cap that the wiper arms are bolted to?

Lug_Nut · 01-23-2007, 04:37 PM

After removing the spring loaded wiper arm, of course after the nut has been removed, the cone is mounted on the shaft. It is longated inside and knurled outside. After the replacement it is a challenge to remount the spring loaded arm in the right position. It may take a couple of trys.

Peter