Can a windshield be replaced on a 1998 dakota without removing the wiper arms

there are 2 ways to tackle this! your local auto supply store has a tool for this its made by k.d tools or you can use a large flat bitted screw driver and a 1 inch piece of wood ,place the wood nex tto the wiper arm put a rag under it not to scratch your paint now lift your wiper arm up as you would to change the blade, put the blade of the screw driver under the edge of the arm at the cowl end and using the wood as a fulcrum gently pry up the arm , you may have to do this on both sides to get it to pop off!

REMOVAL

1. Raise and support the hood.
2. Remove the windshield wiper pivot arms.
3. Remove the cowl top vent panels.

1. Disconnect the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft.

1. Remove the access cover from the dash panel.
2. Remove the mounting arm and pivot shaft retaining clip.
3. Disconnect the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft from the windshield wiper motor.

1. Remove the windshield wiper motor.

1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
2. Remove the three bolts.
3. Remove the windshield wiper motor.

INSTALLATION

1. Install the mounting arm and pivot shaft retaining clip on the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft.

1. Install the windshield wiper motor.

1. Place the windshield wiper motor in the dash panel.
2. Install the three retaining bolts.
3. Reconnect the electrical connector.

1. Reconnect the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft.

1. Press on the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft after it is aligned with the windshield wiper motor.
2. Install the access cover in the dash panel.

1. Install the cowl top vent panels.
2. Install the windshield wiper pivot arms.
3. Adjust the windshield wiper pivot arms.

This is technically for the V6 4.2L but I'm sure those Ford E250's have the same setup for windshield wiper motor. Let me know how it goes.

LOL YEAH CAN BE TRICKY NOT TO BREAK WINDSHIELD . NEED A PULLER SMALL 2 JAW PULLER,(WILL WORK) THEY MAKE ONE JUST FOR YOUR PROBLEM OTC PATR # IS 4676 DO A SERCH OTC#4676 AND YOU WILL SEE

Autozone.com. Look up replacement.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
(see Figures 1 and 2)

To remove the arm from the pivot, lift the arm to permit the latch to be pulled out to the holding position and remove the arm from the pivot with a rocking motion.

Fig. 1: Mount the wiper blade/arm as shown-Dakota models

Fig. 2: Mount the wiper blade/arm as shown-1994-96 Pick-ups

When installing the arms, the at-rest position of the blades should be determined before pushing the arm onto the pivot. For Dakota trucks, the tip of the driver's side blade should be 0.51-2.63 in. (13-67mm) above the cowl panel and the passenger's side blade should be 0.94-3.06 in. (24-78mm) above the cowl panel. For 1989-93 Pick-ups and Ramchargers, the driver's side blade should be 1.84 in. (47mm) above the windshield weatherstripping at the heel of the blade; the passenger's side blade should be 2.24 in. (57mm) above the weatherstripping. For 1994-96 Pick-ups, the wiper motor must be in the PARK position and the wiper blade should be about 0.85 in. (22mm) from the upper edge of the black-out areas at the base of the windshield.


Hope this helps to solve it.

Remove Wiper Arms,Metal Grill, Nut on Motor Arm,3 Bolts holding wiper motor.
Dealer has a reman. About $59.00
Remove mounting plate from yours. 3 bolts,turn in old core at dealer

remove wiper arms and then you can raise the hood to remove screws that hold down the vent panel.
now carefully remove vent panel.

the lock releases when the arms are pulled away from windshield then you can pry the arm off the post use a towel under the screwdriver to keep from scratching paint.

SECTION 501-16: Wipers and Washers 1999 Town Car Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Mounting Arm and Pivot Shaft Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Remove the windshield wiper pivot arms (17527).
   1. Remove the nuts (one each side).
   1. Remove the windshield wiper pivot arms.

1. Remove the LH and RH cowl top vent panels.
   1. Remove the hood weatherstrip.
   1. Remove the screws.
   1. Remove the retaining clips.
      • Disconnect the LH and RH washer hoses.

1. Position the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) assembly aside.
   1. Remove the nuts.
   1. Remove the bolt.
   1. Position the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly aside.

1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly.
   1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
   1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly.

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Motor —Windshield Wiper Removal

1. Remove the windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft (17566) assembly; refer to Mounting Arm and Pivot Shaft .

1. Remove the windshield wiper motor (17508).
   1. Remove the output shaft bolt.
   1. Remove the bolts.
   1. Remove the windshield wiper motor.

Pivot Shafts and Linkage
The windshield wiper assembly is mounted below cowl top extension (021A36) . Linkages are connected with non-removable plastic ball joints. Windshield wiper mounting arm and pivot shafts are an integral part of the windshield wiper and are serviced as one unit. Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301). Refer to Section 14-01 .
   

1. Remove antenna mast from the antenna base.
   

1. Remove cap on LH and RH windshield wiper pivot arms to expose nuts retaining the arms to pivot shafts.
   

1. Remove two nuts, one from each of windshield wiper pivot arms . Lift wiper arms to service position, carefully rocking them back and forth to loosen them from the pivot shaft. Lift off windshield wiper pivot arms .
   

1. Remove seven screws retaining the cowl top vent panel.
   

1. Disconnect windshield washer hose (17A605) at LH side of vehicle just ahead of where it enters cowl top.
   

1. Remove hood cowl seal.
   

1. Carefully remove cowl top vent panel from vehicle.
   

1. Remove three retaining screws to cowl drain tube that is connected to top cowl.
   

1. Disconnect wiring harness leading to windshield wiper motor.
   

1. Remove five screws retaining cowl top to vehicle and remove cowl top and windshield wiper from vehicle.
   

1. Remove two screws and two nuts retaining windshield wiper to cowl top and separate the two parts.
   

1. Remove drive linkage from motor shaft linkage.
   

1. Remove remaining screws attaching windshield wiper and separate the two parts.
   

Item Part Number Description 1 02010 Cowl Top Panel 2 N621906-S2 Nut (2 Req'd) 3 17508 Windshield Wiper Motor 4 N805605-S36 Screw (2 Req'd) 5 17500 Windshield Wiper Assembly A — Tighten to 9-12 Nm (80-106 Lb-In)