Wipers will not move.

If upon turning the switch, you hear either a buzzing or a noise coming from the wiper area but no movement of the windshield wipers, then it becomes likely that there is a mechanical problem. In front wiper systems, there are two moving parts, the wiper motor and the wiper transmission. In rear wiper systems with a single wiper, there’s a single moving part, the wiper motor.

If you hear a buzz, it could be a motor straining to move a jammed wiper transmission or a locked motor gear. If you hear a grind coming from the wiper area, it could be a stripped gear in either the motor, the transmission or where the wiper arm splines to the wiper motor in the rear. Don’t let the term transmission fill you with dread; it’s simply a term for a multi-lever set of arms and hinges that turn the circular motion of the wiper motor into the side to side motion of the wiper arms. It is also possible that the spline on the post of the front wiper arms is stripped.

Generally speaking, you can reach the motor and transmission by removing the wiper arms, all the screws that hold the cowl beneath the wiper arms and the weather stripping. Once exposed, you should be able to remove the motor from the transmission and check to see if the transmission is binding or if the motor is the culprit. Simply, replace the culprit, and reassemble.

If the problem is with the rear wiper system, getting to the wiper motor can be more difficult with far more trim to remove than with a front system. You may elect to consult your mechanic for help.

It Sounds Like, Either The Arms Are Loose ,If You Can Hear Something Moving Behind The Dash,
Or The Linkages Are Seized ,If The Motor Just Hums No Movement Heard,In Which Case Try Spraying Q 20 On The Linkage And Try Moving The Wiper Arms By Hand To Get It Going Again,
If Not The Motor May Just Be Burn;t Out.

Check to see if the nut is tight on the wiper down at the bottom, secondly turn the wipers on and put your ear down by the wipers to see if you can hear the motor moving. If you hear the motor moving the arms under the plastic sheathing have seperated. Try the nut first see if that fixes your problem then try the rest.

does the wiper arms move free if so the linkage assembly has come apart you have to take the plastic part under the windshield off along with the wipers arms to have access to the linkagage ,if the arms ar hard to move possible motor damaged or fuse burnt do basic first check fuses then do the process of elimination ,motor ,linkage good luck

remove the cover at base of the wiper arm, where it connects to the vehicle. usually all thats wrong, is the nut which attaches the arm to the stem on the wiper transmission, has come loose. this usually happens when the wipers are turned on while the blades are frozen to the windshield. check to see if the stem turns and the wiper arm does't move. turn the wipers off, and position your wiper arm in its' parked position. then tighten this nut. if this isn't the problem , then it.s furthur inside, either the wiper transmission, or the wiper motor, and you will probably need to have it looked at by a pro. good luck!

sounds like a loose nut. there are nuts that hold the wiper arms on, they may be under a cover but theyre at the base of the wiper arm. also there's a nut that holds the wiper linkage onto the wiper motor. if you can move the wipers independently, it's the nuts connecting the wiper arms.if you move one arm and the other moves with it, it's the nut holding the linkage to the motor.

Does the wiper motor run? If you can hear the wiper motor run, the wipers arms may have disconnected from the wiper motor,you will have to remove the wiper arms,and the plastic cover to access the wiper motor,and check for damaged parts.If your wiper motor does nothing at all, you probably blew a fuse do to the resistance on the arms,refer to your owners guide for fuse panel, and fuse locations. hope this helps

why do you think the motor still works if the wipers don't move? Can you hear the motor run or can you see a little movement when you turn the switch on?

What happens when you activate the washers?

go to a salvage yard that allows you to remove the parts yourself. Then you can see how the motor and linkage assembly comes out.


don't have 1983 info, but here is 1994:

Section 01-16A: Wiper and Washer System, Ranger/Explorer 1994 Ranger and Explorer Vehicles Workshop Manual
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Windshield Wiper System, Ranger/Explorer The windshield wipers are actuated by a permanent magnet, rotary-type electric windshield wiper motor (17504) . The two windshield wiper pivot arms (17526) and windshield wiper blades (17528) are mounted on a pivot shaft, one at each side of the windshield. The windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) are connected to the motor by windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip (17531) . Ranger and Explorer vehicles are equipped with an interval wiper and washer (IWW) system featuring a lever-type turn signal and windshield wiper switch (13K359) mounted on the steering column. The IWW windshield wiper governor (17C476) uses a relay contact to control current to the windshield wiper motor . The governor electronic circuitry controls the contact to supply current to windshield wiper motor . A rear wiper/washer system is available on Explorer vehicles. The rear window wiper system consists of a windshield wiper motor mounted inside the liftgate (40010) , an articulating windshield wiper pivot arm and windshield wiper blade , a windshield wiper/washer switch (17A553) and an inline circuit breaker. The front electric windshield washer system consists of a control switch, integral with the turn signal, a windshield washer reservoir (17618) and windshield wiper motor and the necessary windshield washer hoses (17A605) , windshield washer nozzle jet and brackets (17603) and attaching parts.
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Pivot Shafts and Linkage Removal and Installation
NOTE: The left and right pivot and windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip assemblies are serviced separately.

1. Perform Steps 1 through 9 of Windshield Wiper Motor Removal as described in this section.

1. If servicing left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip , remove left windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade assembly.

1. Remove left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip access cover.

1. Remove left pivot nut, lower windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip and slide it out through left access opening. For installation, follow removal procedures in reverse order. Tighten nut to 10-13 Nm (7-10 ft-lb). Make sure the clip is fully seated in the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip . Do not try to install clip with windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip on motor crank pin.
   

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Windshield Wiper Motor Windshield wiper motor are not serviceable. If worn or damaged, the windshield wiper motor must be replaced as an assembly. Removal

1. Cycle windshield wiper blades until in straight-up position and turn ignition switch OFF.

1. Disconnect battery and wiper motor electrical connector.

1. Remove the right windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade .

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Remove the right pivot nut and allow the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip to drop into the cowl top outer panel .

1. Remove the linkage access cover, located on the right side of the dash panel near the windshield wiper motor.

1. Reach through the access cover opening and unsnap the wiper motor clip.

1. Push the clip away from the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip until it clears the nib on the crack pin. Then, push the clip off the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip.

1. Remove the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip from windshield wiper motor crank pin.

1. Remove nut and ground strap.

1. Remove three attaching nuts from windshield wiper motor. Remove the windshield wiper motor .

Installation

1. Position the windshield wiper motor and install the three attaching screws. Tighten to 13.6-19.0 Nm (10-14 ft-lb).

1. Install nut and ground strap.

1. Connect wiper motor electrical connector.

1. Install clip completely onto right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip. Make sure the clip is fully seated. Do not put the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip on the motor crank pin and then try to install the clip.

1. Install the left windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the wiper motor crank pin.

1. Install the right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the wiper motor crank pin. Pull the windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip onto the crank pin until it snaps into place. The clip is properly installed if the nib is protruding through the center of the clip.

1. Install the right windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and nut. Tighten the nut to 9.5-12.5 Nm (84-110 in-lb). NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 10 miles or more to relearn the strategy.
   

1. Connect the battery ground cable and turn the ignition switch on. Turn turn signal and windshield wiper switch off so windshield wiper motor will park, then turn ignition switch off. Replace right windshield wiper adapter and connecting arm clip access cover.

1. Install the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft and windshield wiper blade assemblies on the pivot shafts to dimension X. Dimension X is the distance between the centerline of the blade saddle and the top edge of the cowl top outer panel grille. The value of Dimension X for each vehicle is given in the Dimension X chart in the Specifications portion of this section.

1. Test the system.

Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
3. Remove the wiper arms.
4. Remove the 8 plastic retainers and the 6 clips holding the cowl vent screens to the inner panels. Turn the retainers 1⁄4 turn counterclockwise to remove.
5. Remove the cowl vent screens.
6. Disconnect the electrical connector from the wiper motor and remove the 4 bolts that mount the module assembly to the cowl.
7. Remove the windshield wiper module from the vehicle.
8. Rotate the wiper operating arm in a clockwise direction to gain access to the bolt retaining the arm to the motor. WARNING
   Always rotate the wiper operating arm in a clockwise motion or damage to the motor could occur.
   
9. Remove the nut retaining the wiper operating arm to the wiper motor.
10. Remove the three wiper motor-to-wiper module assembly retaining bolts and remove the motor from the vehicle.

To Install:

1. Position the wiper motor on to the module assembly. Install the three wiper motor-to-wiper module assembly retaining bolts. Tighten the bolts to 115-151 in lbs (13-17 Nm).
2. Position the wiper operating arm on the wiper motor output shaft. Install the mounting nut and tighten to 22-29 ft-lbs (30-40 Nm).
3. Position the windshield wiper module onto the cowl. Install the mounting bolts and tighten to 106 in-lbs (12 Nm).
4. Connect the wiper motor electrical connector.
5. Position the cowl vent screens onto the inner panels. Install the 8 plastic retainers and the 6 clips holding the cowl vent screens to the inner panels. Turn the retainers 1⁄4 turn counterclockwise to install.
6. Install the wiper arms.
7. Connect the battery ground cable.
8. Adjust wiper arms if necessary.

Here is the picture of the motor....it is the round object in the middle of the picture that looks like a can and has a square block on the end of it.

You have to remove the cowl vent panel....just under the windshield. $64.00 for a new motor.

Under the cowl (it is a plastic piece that the windshield wipers come out of) are the wiper arms that connect to the wiper motor. There are plastic parts that hold the wiper arms to the wiper motor. Lots of time these plastic parts dry out and break and the wiper arm will fall off the wiper motor. I would bet if you tried to move one of the wipers by hand both of them would move with little resistance. This would tell me that the wiper arms are disconnected from the wiper motor. The parts to fix this are easy to get. I know the motormite HELP line of parts used to have the plastic bushings to fix this problem.