Bitch to get out.

Not even sure how it happened.
No real idea on how to put it back.

More later

 

Well here's a job I never want to do again.

I don't know if this thing is really supposed to come out with the motor attached to it but it is doable with a little persuasion of sheet metal.

Putting it back in was quite a bit easier. Part of the problem is there are two studs that go through the firewall which then receive bolts. It is thoroughly impossible to see them while contorting this contraption. They just kind of happen when you get it in.

So I have put it all back together only to find that although the wipers have full range of motion, when they get to their lowest position, they quickly pause and then dip down lower for about half a second, then return to their original stopping point.

All of the instructions I have come across stress the importance of attaching the linkage bar at 9:00 position relative to the motor as attached to its melting plate. I thought I did just that, but apparently not. It seems if you do not get this exactly right then all kinds of strange things can happen. Other people have mentioned full range of motion followed by wipers stopping in the middle of the windshield. I'm having a hard time understanding why the wipers are actually going past their set point and then returning. If they went past and stayed there, that would be one thing.

Thankfully I can remove the cowl and play with the adjustment of the linkage connection angle and figure it out by trial and error.

I'll post back whatever adjustment it was that I made in order to correct the behavior so the next person doesn't have to suffer quite as much.

 

Missed the step where you cycle the motor before you attach it to the transmission so that it goes to its home position. Pretty sure there is enough clearance for me to loosen the nut on the motor that attaches the two. Will then cycle the motor and reattach at 9:00. Will remove the wipers for safety.

 

Did some disassembly and motor cycling after disconnecting the transmission from the motor.

Then reassembled with the motor to transmission arm at 9:00. It's fun because once you get the nut started you can only get an open-end wrench on it and you have to tighten it down without moving the motor shaft while simultaneously holding everything else at 9:00. Only took me one try and now all is well.

An interesting fastener was used to hold the cowl upper surface to the car. It was a t15 torx screw with a 5 mm hexagonal head. The first two came out easy but the third had a lot of rust where the torx driver needed to go. Without realizing it, I just cursed some dude for substituting it with a 6 mm screw.

Turns out it's both. First time I've ever seen this on a Saturn.