There are clips that can be bought that will hold the ball in place in the cup, however these are a short term fix only. Can I supply my own parts? The windshield wiper linkage is designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, but like any other mechanical part it can break or malfunction when you least expect it. As soon as you begin to notice your wipers struggling to move across the windscreen, making strange noises or moving out of sync, you should have your wiper system, including the linkage, looked at by a mechanic and replaced.

Keep it dry:Base of the windscreen was cleaned to reduce water ingress past the intake moulding seal, and moisture-retaining leaves and debris were cleaned from the scuttle. Well worn:The main problem was that the two joints attaching the operating rods to the wiper spindles had all but fallen apart with wear – there should be minimal play. The wiper linkage is what attaches the windscreen wiper motor to the wiper arms and blades. How does the windscreen wiper linkage work and what are the components? Electrics:With the moulding clear, the wiper motor’s electrical plug is disconnected by pressing the release tab, then the harness is moved safely out of the scuttle.Crank nut:To ensure the crank nut is tight on the motor shaft, the crank is held firm with one spanner while tightening the 13mm AF nut with another. Typical Lead Time: 24 - 48 hours depending on part availability What does a windscreen wiper linkage do? The multimeter shows 12.38 Volt, but the motor doesn't run. This means the wiper motor is bad and needs to be replaced. Wobbly:The rogue stud (with five nuts) was there to support the wiper motor. In reality, the motor plate was holding the stud in place – all very wobbly.

Motor off:Three 10mm AF bolts passing through the motor plate into the motor housing are removed, and the motor can be detached from the mechanism and cleaned for refitting. Left in place:This rubber bonnet seal is secured through the moulding with plastic clips that protrude through the scuttle flange, but the moulding lifts out with these still in place. First sight:The forward edge of the moulding will now lift up from the scuttle, exposing the wiper motor and part of its linkage here on the driver’s side. Final job:On the outside of each hinge cover are two rubber tongues that need to be carefully pressed downward to locate underneath the edge of the wing panel. Botched:When buying this car, I’d noticed this overlong stud poking out of the scuttle, but was too busy assessing the rest of the car to investigate then.Initial assessment pointed to a serious engine cooling problem, but that was easily fixed. Then there have been leaking fuel pipes, a leaky injector seal, inoperative handbrake, new camshaft and fuel pump drive belts, new differential mountings and a professional interior clean to add to the bill. But we’re still comfortably within budget, including the parts for these jobs...

Best way:Because of its width, it’s a struggle to withdraw the moulding into the engine bay – easier to push it up the screen and withdraw it from the side. Wiper arms:The wiper arm caps are prised off (using fine screwdriver in slot), and the securing nuts removed. With the wipers hinged up, the arms will wiggle off.Mitsubishi recalled the 2007-2013 Outlander for wiper motor failures (recall SR-17-003). Another Mitsubishi recall (SR-16-010) covers a wiper motor in the 2011−2015 Outlander Sport / RVR.

Crumbling:Over the years, UV light had changed the composition of the rubberised hinge covers so much that bits broke away when they were lifted off. Easy to break:Six plastic clips secure the intake moulding. Two fine screwdrivers are used to lift the inner pin slightly, allowing the whole clip to be removed. Cost saving:The electric motor will be saved for fitting to the new wiper linkage. Removing this single nut releases the crank arm, which is part of the linkage.Fully functioning wipers are a key safety feature in your car so it’s vital that you get them fixed as soon as you notice a problem. What are the signs of a bad wiper linkage? How it works:Lifting that inner pin of the clip allows the three lower legs to fold in so the clip can be pulled out. Squeeze legs in when refitting later. Cleaning up:The remnants of the old hinge covers are lifted off and the underside of the moulding cleaned smooth, and debris removed from the holes. It is usually a set of rods with cup and ball bearings that manoeuvre the wiper arms across the windscreen when the motor is running.