Windshield Wipers hit cowl (when wet)
 

The windshield wipers on my 2008 Wrangler Rubicon (most of the time when it's raining) go too far down and hit the cowl pretty hard. This doesn't seem to happen if there's just a mist and I put them on for 1 or 2 wipes, but when it's raining, it seems they go too far down and make a rather loud 'bang' when they hit the cowl. Is this the sign of a future wiper motor failure or is their a stop of some sort missing?

I'm guessing that someone put the wiper arms on in the wrong spot. See this on how to pull them off and put them back on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJKgNXrqBvc

If they put them on set too low, then that would happen.. take them off and place them back on a bit more counter-clockwise.

What jedg said. My wiper arms have never been removed and the wiper blades don't even come close to the cowl. I would say the end of my wiper blade on the driver's side stops about 2 inches from the bottom of the windshield.

I'm fairly certain our wipers are indexed on the spindle so installing them incorrectly is near impossible. I've had them off a handful of times for post wheeling cleaning.

I thought they were indexed also. The thing is, they work properly sometimes, but when the windows are wet, they've started slipping down all the way to the cowl. It's just the down position that's too far. The 'up' position is perfect. I'd think if they were installed wrong, both eh up and down would be off. Is there a "stop" of some sort that fell off? Or, maybe this is the sign of the motor going bad.?.

I think moreso the motor. The motor does a complete turn and with the rods below the cowl, it just cycles over. It sounds like it isn't cycling and stopping in the right spot.

Problem found...
 

Once I took off the cowl, the 3 of the 3 bolts that hold the wiper housing to the wiper motor were missing...and the 3rd bolt was very loose. Installed 2 new bolts and tightened the 3rd and it's good to go. Total cost = $0 (except for my time).

thanks for the follow-up. That was a weird thing to be happening.....glad it was a simple fix.

Well that's pretty crazy.

Marc
 

I have the same problem. Did you find a solution yet?