It just got through snowing here today and I was getting in my car after work and didn't clean my windshield. I turned the wipers on and they worked fine but I had some snow in the way and after getting home and clearing the cowl and windshield of the snow the wipers no longer park all the way under the cowl but just at the bottom of the windshield. Is this normal? I read somewhere that some cars have like 2 positions for the wipers depended on if something is in the way or not. I've never had this problem all winter long and was just wondering where everyone else'* wipers park when off. I know that when I turn them on they move up about 4 inches and when I turn them off they used to go underneath the cowl.

Sadly, I don't have a solution, but I share the problem. :?

Way back in the day, my wipers parked below the cowl, and all was well. Then for a while, they parked just above the cowl. I could still push them down, but they didn't go on their own. Now, they park about 4 inches above the cowl (measured at the end of the wiper) and now they can't be pushed down to the cowl. My little bro was driving the car durring the period of time when this happened, so I don't know the circumstances surrounding it.

<-- You can actually see the wipers on my avatar

Anyone know what'* wrong, or how to fix it? It'* not that the wipers have slipped on their spindles, because they have reduced travel (they aren't going off the other end of the windshield). I really don't know what has caused the problem though. I hope somebody here does. -jon

Yeah my 88LE has the same problem with the wipers. Long time ago they used to go under the cowl. I think maybe all the snow and ice that has gotten stuck in there in the South Dakota winters screwed them up.

i dont know if this helps but i just got over having a problem where my wipers were going almost of the car on the left side and they were not parking on the right spot i also could have pushed them down. check the wipers posting just under the posting you made for the solution

I have the same problem-I also can push them down below the cowl. I was thinking--maybe I could pull the complete wiper arm off the gear--make sure the wipers are seated properly-so-after pulling both arms off turn the wipers on and then turn them off(so they go down as far as they will) then once they go all the way down just pop the arms back on. Sounds easy enough!!
I haven't had the chance to try it myself tho---but I will!

all you gotta do is take the whole arm off which is easily done by just putting ur wipers in the 90 degree angle by turning the car on turning them on to slow speed and once they are perpendicular to the car turn of the car they stop. then u gotta pull them of the windshield use a screw driver to push a little level or clip rather on the base of the arm. once u push it out let the wiper down you will notice its not safely on which is good cuz all u gotta do now is just lift it off easily then do same for the other arm. once thats done turn on the car turn of the wipers that way the mechanism will get back to park position. once thats done. u gotta position the wipers back onto the base but put them a little lower than the cowl. once both are on pull them on to the cowl and vuala like new

Good idea, but it'* not that simple, at least for me. I have actually lost travel. My wipers don't go down nearly as far as they should, BUT they still only go as far as they should to the side. If I were to reposition them, they wouldn't go far enough up the windshield. Not to say it wouldn't work for others with less of a problem...

It looks like the wipers staying up is a very common problem.
I've had that issue for years with my 91, and I just push them down when I get out of the car.

I wonder if it has somethig to do with the wiper motor not "pulling down" hard enough to get it past the "lip" on the windshield. It seems that'* were my blades get stuck on.

I've noticed sometimes if it'* really wet outside (or icey) the wipers will go to their proper "parked" position under the cowl. Almost like they slipped over the windshield lip.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has recplaced the motor, and if that fixed the problem.
Or if anyone has found a solution, other then pushing them down under the cowl once you park the car.

Could it be that the motor is just aging and can't pull the wiper arms done the past the windshield cowl?

I don't have this problem yet...knock on wood, but it will be something I will keep an eye out for. Those wipers are so damn big you figure gravity would help. Somthing must be locking it in place above the cowl

I tried doing what everyone suggested but I can't do it cause my wiper arm has a notch in it where it slips on over the shaft. So I guess I'll be getting myself a new motor to see if that solves the problem.