Volvo V50 Passenger Wiper Not Working | Nearside C30 S40 Windshield Wiper Linkage Fix
In this Volvo V50 video, I tackle an unexpected but apparently common issue with these Volvo cars, including the V50 S40 and C30.
My Volvo V50 passenger wiper was not working, and in the middle of winter too. The nearside windshield wiper arm was suddenly floppy, almost like it'd lost its bite on the spindle.
Here's the Windscreen Wiper Arm Puller I used: ebay.us/HmMRP3
Looking it up, I suspected the culprit was the V50 wiper linkage which has a tendency to fail prematurely. It's a pain, but at least it wasn't the driver's side wiper, so I could still see ahead and drive the car despite the rain.
In order to fix the linkage, I first stripped away the cowl, disconnect the linkage and remove it (4x 8mm bolts). With it removed and on the workbench it should be easy to see where it has failed.
There is an arm with two articulating joints on either end connecting the passenger spindle as a slave to the driver's side. This arm has rubber cups on either end which pop onto metal nipples. They are an interference fit and over time wear, releasing the grip of the cups and eventually disconnecting the passenger wiper from the wiper motor.
It's a relatively crude design, and in my opinion, these are always destined to fail prematurely. The most likely side of the arm to fail is the one closest to the driver's spindle, this is because it has gravity working against it too.
as a good semi-permanent repair, the trick is to drill a hole into the metal nipple, and a corresponding, slightly larger hole through the plastic cup on the arm, then screw a strong self-tapping screw through both holes so it bites into the nipple while still leaving some slack for the arm to articulate. As shown in this video, a plastic washer wouldn't go amiss either, along with a regreasing and some thread locker on the self-tapping screw.
This guide should be handy for a lot of people as the same or very similar wiper arm linkage is fitted to a wide range of Volvos including the V50 C30 S40. But I also believe it's fitted to some Fords and Vauxhalls too.
For more helpful how-to guides and restoration project logs, visit our blog: www.spannerrash.com/
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