How to Remove Replace Windshield Wipers Motor on a Ford Fiesta MK7 ST, by Auto Repair Guys on YouTube. 9 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 90 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground, switch off the ignition and disconnect the negative battery terminal so the motor cannot move while your hands are in the linkage.
Prise off the plastic caps at the base of both wiper arms, undo the nut on each spindle and lift the arms off their splines.
Remove the clips and screws along the front edge of the plastic cowl panel below the windscreen, then ease the panel up and off.
Press the release tab on the motor's electrical connector and pull the plug free. Never pull on the wires themselves.
Undo the bolts holding the wiper linkage assembly to the chassis, usually 10mm or 13mm, then lift the whole linkage and motor out.
Separate the old motor from the linkage frame by undoing its mounting bolts, then bolt the new motor on in the same position.
Reconnect the motor harness, switch the ignition on briefly so the motor cycles to its park position, then switch off.
Refit the linkage assembly and bolt it down, then press the wiper arms onto the spindles at their park marks and tighten the nuts.
Refit the cowl panel, reconnect the battery and test slow speed, fast speed, intermittent wipe and the washer jets.
Tips and common mistakes
Stick tape on the windscreen and mark the arm tips before removal so you can refit them in the same spot.
Check the linkage spindles for stiffness first, since a seized linkage can mimic a dead motor.
Do not overtighten the wiper arm nuts, or you may crack the spindle housing.
Keep the cowl screws in a labelled tub so they go back in the right holes.
Questions
Do I have to replace the whole linkage as well?
Only if the spindles are stiff or the arms wobble. If the linkage moves freely by hand, swap just the motor.
Why do my wipers stop in the wrong place afterwards?
The motor was not parked before the arms went on. Cycle the motor once with the linkage connected, then fit the arms.
Can I do this without disconnecting the battery?
It is not worth the risk. The motor can move suddenly and trap your fingers in the linkage.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
