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Window wiper replacement Volvo 850

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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kaneelschep
Posts: 279
Joined: 19 June 2013
Year and Model: '96 850 2liter t5
Location: Holland
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Window wiper replacement Volvo 850

Post by kaneelschep »

Hi all.

I read a lot about the issue we all have I guess.
The wipers leaving wet spots.. Especially the left one.
Now I live in Holland and we have a lot of rain here, so I really need a permanent, real solution.
Unfortunately I could not find that amongst all the different answers.
Wich were about bending the arm. bending the thing before the arm. 97 v70xc arms wich might or might not hit the bonnet. v70 left arm on the right wich also might or might not hit the bonnet.
They all seem like not really great and permanent solutions.

I even tried bending the arm myself last year. It felt like i was about to break it at any moment.
It only worked for a few months and now its even worse.
The left middle part of the window. So half of where I actually want to see, never gets really dry.
Below and above it do sort of get stripy clean.
Just to be sure. I have practically new bosch wipers so that is not the problem.

So is there a real replacement wich will work with no problem and will not fail in a few years?
Or is there an improved version to buy out there?
Or if I just buy a new 850 arm, will there be any improvement compared to the old? Or am I buying the same arm with the same problems?
In other words. I need a real fix. Not a temporary one.

Thanks!!

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rspi
Posts: 7303
Joined: 5 November 2011
Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
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Post by rspi »

Don't take as much off as I did.

'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

cn90
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Year and Model: 2004 V70 2.5T
Location: Omaha NE
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Post by cn90 »

Three (30 separate issues:

1. Weak spring (underneath the wiper arm is the spring).

2. Curvature of the wiper arm (see video above).

3. Bad wiper. Use Bosch wipers for best results.
2004 V70 2.5T 100K+
2005 XC90 2.5T 110K+

JDS60R
MVS Moderator
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Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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Post by JDS60R »

Robert is right about the grinding. I grind a little and test. Once you have it right it will last forever. No reason to buy a new arm . Just modify, paint and enjoy.
Retired

rguzz
Posts: 591
Joined: 7 October 2015
Year and Model: 1996 850 turbo
Location: VA
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Post by rguzz »

S70 wiper (98) on my 850, as Robert describes, was fix for me. The arm is straight and hugs the windshield nicely. No bonnet problem. 3-4 bucks from the Pic-N-Pull. Less labor intensive than other options, for me anyway.

viper69
Posts: 446
Joined: 26 June 2004
Year and Model: 850GLT 1995
Location: USA
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Post by viper69 »

rspi wrote:Don't take as much off as I did.

Thanks for this one Robert. I always find your videos informative and helpful. I had not considered filing. I might try it, or go the passenger side S70 arm.

Question on the S70 arm, what year or years S70 model should one get the arm for??
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

viper69
Posts: 446
Joined: 26 June 2004
Year and Model: 850GLT 1995
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Post by viper69 »

JDS60R wrote:Robert is right about the grinding. I grind a little and test. Once you have it right it will last forever. No reason to buy a new arm . Just modify, paint and enjoy.
What paint did you use?
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

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rspi
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Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
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Post by rspi »

Any flat black will do. Just to cover the silver aluminum.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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dosbricks
Posts: 1116
Joined: 30 December 2004
Year and Model: '96 855, '98 S70
Location: South Texas
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Post by dosbricks »

JDS60R wrote:Robert is right about the grinding. I grind a little and test. Once you have it right it will last forever. No reason to buy a new arm . Just modify, paint and enjoy.
+1
After bending and fussing with this aggravation for years, grinding a little bit off those two tabs did it.
Sure is sweet to have a clean sweep!
'98 S70, 230k, purchased new in '98
'96 855 GLT, 163k, purchased lightly used in '99
Onceuponatime RIP '69 Shelby GT500 w/7.0 liter

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erikv11
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Year and Model: 850, V70, S60R, XC70
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Post by erikv11 »

A very common cause of the arms not wiping well, is simply that the nut that holds it on has come loose. Especially the left, for whatever reason. First step, tighten the nut. Better yet pull the arm, wire brush the post real well, and put it back together (be sure to tighten the nut!). If that doesn't fix it then go to the bending or grinding or S70 arm solutions.
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

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