2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUSE WAS REMOVED TO PREVENT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM OPERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

DRIVER'S REMOTE CONTROLS OF FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR JUST STOPPED WORKING. AUTO IS OUT OF WARRANTY (2003). *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS ACORNS HAVE ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE HOLES SURROUNDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. THE HOLES ARE TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE CONTACT LIVES NEAR AN ACORN TREE AND THE ACORNS FUNNEL THEMSELVES DOWN INTO THE HOLES. THERE WERE 50 OR MORE ACORNS INSIDE THAT CAUSED THE MECHANISM TO BIND. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THIS CAUSED THE WIPING MECHANISM TO BIND AND STRIPPED THE GEAR IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

GRAN MARQUIS LS DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WILL NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE CLEARING OF RAIN OR SNOW UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY ROAD SPEEDS. THE WIPER ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT CLEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE ADEQUATELY TO PROVIDE GOOD VISIBILITY. THE PASSENGER SIDE ARM PROVIDES PROPER CLEARING UNDER ALL ROAD CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT CLEAR PROPERLY ABOVE SPEEDS OF 40 MPH; LESS IF THE WIND CONDITIONS ARE HIGH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVERS WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY WITH A 2002 ASSEMBLY WHICH HE INDICATED PROVIDES A HIGHER PRESSURE ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS THE TENSION WAS REDUCED IN 2003 MODELS. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS AT MY EXPENSE AND HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT STILL PERSISTS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE WIPER BLADE SYSTEM OR A DEFECT IN THE CURVATURE OF THE WINDSHIELD ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT APPARENT THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS THE PROBLEM.