I have a 2003 Ram 1500. This morning I turned on the wipers without realizing that they were frozen to the windshield. The studs on the wiper motors turned but the arms did not. I turned off the wipers, thawed the windshield and same result when turning on wipers. I removed both arms, inspected them and repositioned them, still won't turn. If I leave the arms in the "up" position bent at the elbow they seem to grab the studs but when I lower them, the tension lefts them away from the studs, yes the clip is in position but that doesn't seem to matter.

Question. I see what appears to be a keyway in each arm and in the stud but no key. Should there be a key? If yes, is this a simple metal ir hard plastic key or something special? If not, is it possible that the arms are simply shot (stripped maybe or tension or retaining clip problem??) and should be replaced?

By the way this happened once before about one year ago. After resetting the arms they worked fine and I do not recall see keys.

Thanks.
Mike

 

All I have ever seen on vehicle are small ribs all the way around on the studs that the wiper arm slides over. The arm would slide over it and either a clip form the bottom(common on Fords) or a nut over the arm to hold it on tight(many makers). If that nut gets loose, you will strip the studs inside the arms and need to replace the wiper assembly.
I'm unsure about the Rams without taking them apart

 

Thanks. Yes, mine has the clip, no nut. It's also has the ribbed stud. I'm wondering if it's possible that the arms can go bad when subjected to what I describe and therefore need replaced. I suppose I'm saying that I hope that is a possibility rather than the studs being stripped. I still see ribs on them.........

 

Sounds like you stripped the splines on either the arms or studs.

 

Yeah I suspect you're right. The splines on the studs seem a bit "smooth", Can those studs be replaced or do I need to replace the entire unit?