I changed the wiper motor out.  They worked without the blades on, but after installing the blades they tried to move down toward the hood.  I think the motor still works but it seems the shafts are just turning in the wiper arms.

check for correct linkage hook up and or damage

Sounds like it would a issue around the motor to arm assembly.Maybe a adjustment.Pull both wiper arms off...then move them down.Try them again...Then adjust if needed..

Take the wiper arm and try to move it if it's easy to move then ....we call it the transmission between wiper arm and motor itself. little teeths are gone wiper arm side or transmission

or transmission arms are disconnected

hope it help

loosen the nut at the bottom of the blades so that the wiper motor will work without moving the blades. cycle the wipers and allow the motor to come to the rest position. Fit the blades and tension the nut. Pull the arms off the windscreen and cycle the wiper motor to run until it stops put the wipers back on the screen and see where they are. IF parked properly then OK but if any where then replace the wiper motor as the sequencing gear inside is out of sync with the wiper action.

If you can move the wiper blades by hand, you probably broke-stripped the gear in the wiper motor.

1. Open Hood.
2. Remove wiper arms by removing cap nuts. they are a tight fit . there is a puller for this.
3 Remove cowel cover . once cover is off you will see the wiper motor and transmission assy. Possibly a snap joint wore out oa nut holding motor drive arm in place loosened up.

does the motor not run? check the operation rods connected to the arms and the motor, see if they are bent

According to the Haynes repair manual Chapter 12:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable
2. Detach washer hoses, lift the wiper arm covers and mark the wiper arm locations on the pivot shaft for later re-installation. Remove the wiper pivot nut and remove the wiper arms.
3. Remove the cowl cover (from chapter 11)
3a. Remove the wiper arms then remove the screws that hold the lower area of the cowl cover to the wiper module.
3b. Disengage the quarter turn fasteners that hold the outer ends of the cowl cover to the wiper module.
3c. Open the hood and release the wing nuts that hold the front of the cowl cover to the wiper module.
3d. Close the hood but do not latch it. Now remove the outboard screws and lift the cover up enough to get to the washer hose.
3e. Disconnect the washer hose from the right washer nozzle. Close the hood but do not latch it. Lift the cowl cover toward the windshield and off the vehicle.
3f. Installation is the reverse of removal
4.Open the hood. Disconnect the wiper motor electrical connector.
5. Disconnect the windshield washer hose from the coupling inside the unit. Disconnect the drain tubes from the bottom of the wiper unit.
6. Remove the wiper unit mounting bolts. (Picture appears to be three (possibly allen head) bolts)
7. Remove wiper unit.
8. Installation is the reverse of removal. Wiper blade and wiper arm adjustment is measured with the wipers parked; correct adjustment is the lower wiper arm approximately 1.5 inches distance from the cowl cover and the upper arm approximately 2.5 inches from the lower arm. Operate the wiper motor and check that the wiper motor parks when the wiper switch is OFF.

The motor is usualy central to the wiper arms and either bolted to the firewall or inside the plenum chamber at the bottom of the windscreen.If you can hear the motor you can find it, track it down by listening.Your probly right about linkage however if that is the case you should be able to move the wipers with your hand and they should move freely if they dont you may have other problems.

you have to remove the whole wiper arm both sides...under hood remove 5 -5/16 screw from vent panel .. remove panel .. under panel on drivers side you will see where arm attach to wiper motor ..remove nut... then remove 3 bolts that hold wiper motor to firewall .