For some reason, the wiper arms won't budge. The motor still works, and the arms i can move manually. Is this something like a window coming off it's tracks? I haven't tried to remove any heavy snows, or ice, from the windshield so there was no over bearing load on them.
It's raining now and will be tomorrow...does anyone have any thoughts on this?
2002 Protege 5 wagon

 

bump ^

 

^
Rain is coming, anyone?

 

Yup, it is. It sounds like the cam arm nut has either come loose from the motor and is therefore spinning on the motor shaft (needs tightening up,) or the master linkage has come off the cam arm.
Since you indicate that the arms move together when pushed manually, the motor works, and there is no resistance, I would bet the second is the truer guess.

 

I'm sorry. I meant to say that the arms move freely, not linked together when I move them by hand. Also, my son admitted to playing with them, which happens to be the last time they worked.
And thank you for your response.

 

Well, have you tried tightening them up @ the arms themselves... where they attach to the cowl? Usually it's a 10mm wrench or socket will do it for you there.
Can you see or hear the linkage moving down below? It's unlikely that both arms would move independently of each other but neither would be driven by a working motor unless they were loose there. That would require a separation of two connections at the link ends.

 

I really appreciate your replies. I will first try tightening them tonight. I may try to photo the whole process to post here for a first hand account. Again, thank you.

 

Your welcome. We try to help when we can, and I wish you luck.
This is really a general problem though, not centered on Mazdas. Any car might experience this issue.
Hope it turns out to be just that simple.

 

I'd rather get the information from folks who have Mazdas, just seems right to patron a website such as this....so thanks.

 

Bolts were tighter than a nun's....
Must be the linking rod or the gears then...looks like I'll be taking it to the shop in the morning. Thansk for your advice.