# Wiper blades don't return to home position **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 10, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464 "2008-02-10T16:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kbanaszy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac8455/32.png) [@kbanaszy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kbanaszy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464/1 "2008-02-10T16:48:09Z")
To make room for my annual garage party last fall, I parked my 2002 GM Envoy on the street. After cleaning the garage the next morning I hopped in the Envoy to move it back into the garage. It was raining softly so I needed to use the wipers. Rather than returning to their home position at the bottom of the stroke, the wipers instead stopped at about 30 degrees – kinda right in my line of sight. I pushed the wipers down, but the rest position has not reset back to the correct spot. 1. Do I need to replace my wiper motor? 2. Why would a night outside have made the wipers forget their proper rest position? ---
**Author:** ![pj1071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@pj1071](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pj1071)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464/2 "2008-02-10T16:54:28Z")
The most common thing I would suspect is the wiper arm linkage is loose and has moved from its normal position on the motor. I especially would lean toward that if you were able to move the arms down by hand. The second most common thing I would suspect is the motor itself. If all the nuts and bolts are tight, you really shouldn’t be able to move the arms down by hand. ---
**Author:** ![kbanaszy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac8455/32.png) [@kbanaszy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kbanaszy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464/3 "2008-02-10T16:59:18Z")
Thanks. I’ll check the linkage. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464/4 "2008-02-10T20:53:55Z")
Your original post said the wipers would not park normally. I take this to mean BOTH stopped half way on the windshield. BTW, its not wise to manually park the wipers, damage will/can result. Try this: If the wipers at the position they are in when the switch is turned off (fail to park),disconnect the multi-function switch electrical connector. (Under drivers side dash close to firewall and steering column) If the wipers now park, replace the multi-function switch. If the wipers still don’t park, check the wiring from the wiper motor to the switch for a short circuit. If the circuits are good, replace the wiper motor. If replacing the wiper motor follow the proper procedure: when installing the crank arm on the wiper motor shaft maintain a gap of 5/32 to 5/16 inch(4 to 8mm) between the V-notch in the crank arm and the tab. DO NOT rotate the the wiper shaft. ---
**Author:** ![charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@charles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/charles)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wiper-blades-dont-return-to-home-position/10464/5 "2008-02-11T01:02:20Z")
there should be a control box by the motor in older cars you had to replace the motor the newer cars has chip control