Hi, I am new to the site and look forward to being a part of this group. I have an 03 Accord LX with about 48,000 miles.
I did a search and did not find a problem like mine. Went to use the wipers the other day and the driver side wiper was missing the top half of the windshield. Thought I needed a new wiper, got one, put it on and the same thing happened. The top half of the blade was not really making contact with the glass.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Larry

 

Welcome!

So does the wiper arm move through it's proper range of motion? It sounds like the blade (#17) doesn't pivot properly on the arm?

There's a funny bracket on the wiper arm (#14) that's supposed to help hold the blade in place. Check to see if that's interfering with the blade pivoting on the wiper arm. The blade has to go INSIDE that little bracket without getting stuck. If you got an aftermarket blade that's too fat, maybe you need to remove that #14 bracket?

 

Thanks Jim, The new blade did fit in the bracket but not sure if it is too tight. This is a Michelin replacement wiper and not the totally cheapo one. But it was happening with the old blade which previously had worked well. This problem seems to have just started.
Larry

 

It should not be tight AT ALL. The hinge has to operate freely.
Try removing the #14 bracket to see if that makes a difference.
That thing seems to be there only to prevent some chattering of the blade.

 

I did check that bracket and it was fine. Yesterday it was raining and when I turned on the wipers it still continued to miss the midddle of the driver's side. However, after about 5 minutes or so of operation, it was working fine again, clearing the whole side of the windshield? I am baffled but hope it continues to work. Should get some more rain today and we'll find out.
Thanks for your input.
Larry

 

Something bent or stuck right at the hinge itself? Like the metal bent around #18 so it doesn't move freely? What about bent metal around any of the other hinges in #17? It really has to be some hinge that isn't operating free.

 

Thanks again Jim for your quick responses. If anything, #18 may be the problem. The plastic piece does not seem to fit snug around the bent "hook" of # 16. I may have to replace the wiper to get a new one of those plastic pieces (#18 I think) I have Rainx wipers on now - does the brand of wipers matter?
Larry

 

If the brand does matter, Rainx should work fine. While I'm not as knowledgeable as Jim (which is really impressive, that someone is both helpful and knows exactly what's going on), I do know RainX windshield wipers work well on Honda Accords, as that's why I have on my '00 coupe ex-v6 accord, and it works fine.

 

The only way I know for the brand to matter, is if they're too fat to fit inside #14. ANY brand can get bent by a stone or ice or corrosion or whatever. Any pivot hinge that doesn't move nicely can be the problem.

ps... the fact that #18 has it's own number label, means you can buy it from a dealer. These pictures are from Honda's electronic parts catalog.

 

Thans for the responses.
Jim, wher can I find this electronic parts catalog and can I order part number 18?
Larry