Passenger Side Wiper Arm Broke, Again

[Doc Mark]

About a year ago, we left for an extended trip, and the first day out we hit a torrential downpour. Wipers went on high speed - and less that 2 minutes into the mission, the passenger side wiper arm stops moving and then disappears below the edge of the windshield.

Pull off - get drenched opening the front and find that the splines on the wiper motor shaft are wiped slick! Take arm off and make the rest of the trip with drivers side only. Newmar replaces the arm & motor shaft under warranty at the factory in June 2007.

Last Wednesday we leave on another extended trip, same rainstorm, and the passenger wiper does it again! ! ! !

Has anyone else had this problem?

It has taught me one thing - check the weather report before I leave ever again!

[Doc Mark]

About a year ago, we left for an extended trip, and the first day out we hit a torrential downpour. Wipers went on high speed - and less that 2 minutes into the mission, the passenger side wiper arm stops moving and then disappears below the edge of the windshield.

Pull off - get drenched opening the front and find that the splines on the wiper motor shaft are wiped slick! Take arm off and make the rest of the trip with drivers side only. Newmar replaces the arm & motor shaft under warranty at the factory in June 2007.

Last Wednesday we leave on another extended trip, same rainstorm, and the passenger wiper does it again! ! ! !

Has anyone else had this problem?

It has taught me one thing - check the weather report before I leave ever again!

[Lug_Nut]

Mark, I've had similar issues with 3 or 4 MH's. Windshield wipers are not their expertise. Not Newmar, all of them.
The internal bushing that drives the wipers, is interfaced with a cast aluminum knuled bushing. If your wipersa ever over or under sweep, on either side, replace them. Tightening them after they slip, will not last for that long. Replace the bushings. They are not expensive.

Peter

[Horsevoice]

Hey Cuz...where to this time? I hope this trip is not to be another extended stay in Newmar's lot!
We've not had to use the wipers on the Bounder since it hasn't rained on any of our trips - but then we don't get out of California! Actually we don't move it unless a show is paying the expenses!
I'll keep monitoring this thread to see what the cure is and fix mine before I need it...(I hope).

[Route 66]

Newmar replaced my wipers (again) 2 weeks ago, and the tech advised to periodically check the tightness of the shaft nut.

25 ft. lbs. is the torque.

I agree that Newmar's wiper systems are way too weak for job they are expected to do.

[Doc Mark]

Hi Lug_Nut - how do you replace the bushings? It appears that they are integral to the motor assembly.

Horsevoice - we're in Hershey PA with the grandkids then on to Michigan & Indiana. And yes, we're headed to Camp Newmar for the last warranty stint in September.

[h moffitt]

I suggest that everyone who has had and or continues to have problems with wipers failing while driving in the rain ( Of course that is the only time they are needed) post a complaint with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. (NHTSA)Start with NTSB.gov and search for the Office of Defects Investigation to file a report If enough people have the problem and an investigation dteremines it to be a safety hazard it can result in a recall for a permanent fix. Mine have failed twice and I am currenty sitting and have been waiting for nearly two weeks for Newmar to find someone to even work on mine. Thus far everyone referred me has declined to look at them. Newmar customer service guys say there is really no problem with wipers and once fixed usually never have another problem. Mine worked one sweep the first use, replaced both arms and the motor and they worked approx 24 sweeps the second time. Not fun when they quit during a down pour while I'm in the middle of a bunch of semi's throwing additional muddy rain water off the high way. Send in the reports if you have had a failure that you think placed you in an unsafe situation.

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Newmar customer service guys say there is really no problem with wipers and once fixed usually never have another problem. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not the ones I've talked to, as they've worked on mine (and many others) several times.

[mercerc44]

This is why I RainX my windows. The motorcoaches I drive are done as well, for safety.

[Doc Mark]

Good suggestion h moffit.

Here's the URL to get you to the right page.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

We're due back at Camp Newmar on Sept 2. They will be hearing about this issue.