How to Replace a Saturn Windshield Wiper Motor

by Robert Murkot

Windshield wipers--you’ll need them sooner or later no matter where you live. But if they stop working you have a problem. Here's how to replace the windshield wiper motor in your Saturn.

Step 1

Make sure that your wiper blades are in the down, or parked, position.

Step 2

Remove the cap off the wiper arm and the nut. This is the point nearest the car body. To find it, follow the wiper blade to its mounting point, the arm. Then follow the arm to its mounting point. The top of that point has a cap covering a nut. Remove the cap and nut and lift the blasé assembly away from the vehicle. Do this for both sides.

Step 3

Disconnect the negative battery cable, making sure that you do not connect the negative post to the positive post.

Step 4

Remove the cowl trim fasteners by the windshield side of the panel, then open the hood and remove the remaining fasteners. Remove the cowl panel. The cowl panel is the panel nearest the windshield, between the windshield and the hood.

Step 5

Remove the screws for the instrument panel top cover. You will have to remove the caps for the screws first.

Step 6

Slowly lift the cover, starting at the rear edge to disengage the retaining clips.

Step 7

Slide the panel out, away from the retaining clips.

Step 8

Disconnect the defroster duct from the HVAC unit, and carefully move it out of your way.

Step 9

Remove the screws on the wiper module and slightly move the module in-order to disconnect the wiring from the frame and the windshield wiper motor.

Step 10

Remove the windshield wiper motor and module assemble from the instrument panel.

Step 11

Remove the nut, called the crank arm nut, from the arm’s mounting point--the one that is offset for its range of motion. Remove the arm.

Step 12

Remove the wiper motor screws and remove the wiper motor from the module.

Step 13

Before installing the new wiper motor, ensure the wiper motor is in the park position. You can connect your wiper motor to your electrical connections and connect your negative battery cable to park them with the wiper switch if you need to. Ensure you disconnect your negative battery cable when finished.