How to Change the Windshield Motor in a 2001 Lincoln Town Car

by Leonardo R. Grabkowski

The 2001 Lincoln Town Car's windshield wipers are powered by a windshield wiper motor. This motor is mounted between the engine and the windshield. It is an electric motor that delivers power to the windshield wiper arms. Because it's electric, things can go wrong. If the motor fails, you'll need to replace it if you want to have functional wipers. Do the repair yourself to save some money.

Step 1

Turn the Town Car's windshield wiper switch to "Off." Shut off the engine and open the hood. Find the battery in the front passenger side corner of the engine compartment. Loosen the nut around the black (negative) battery cable, then pull the cable away from the post to unhook it.

Step 2

Access the panel between the windshield and the hood hinges, in the rear part of the engine compartment. You'll see a rubber seal running horizontally along the panel. Grasp either end of the rubber seal and pull it away from the firewall to remove it. Close the hood.

Step 3

Remove the four Phillips screws between the rear edge of the hood and base of the windshield. This is the cowl cover. The wiper motor is beneath it. Pull the cowl cover up and unhook the rubber hoses from the underside. These are for the windshield washer spray jets. You'll see the wiper motor on the driver's side.

Step 4

Unplug the electrical harness from the windshield wiper motor. Push the tab on the wiper linkage arm attached to the outboard edge of the motor. Pull the wiper linkage arm away from the motor to unhook it.

Step 5

Remove the three bolts from the windshield wiper motor with a ratchet. Pull the motor out and set it aside.

Step 6

Set the new windshield wiper motor in its place. Insert and tighten the three bolts with the ratchet. Attach the linkage arm back to the connection point. Push the tab and push the linkage arm firmly against the connection point to snap it back on.

Step 7

Grab the cowl cover. Attach the rubber hoses to the underside of the cowl cover. Set the cowl cover back in its place. Insert and tighten the four screws.