Out of sync windshield wipers

[reedcon7]

We recently had a heavy rainfall here. When I got in my 08 4Runner the next morning, my left side wiper was stopping a few inches short in the upward position. When I got to a place to stop and make sure nothing was physically blocking it, it stopped working all together. The right side wiper still works fine, but no movement at all from the left one. Any ideas of what could be the problem? Thanks for any help.

 

[DC runner]

Jumped teeth. There is a moon shaped gear, or something similar, that controls the movement of the wipers. If they are out of sync then you have either lost a few teeth or jumped teeth.

 

[reedcon7]

Is this a gear in the wiper arm(s) itself or where would I find this?

 

[DC runner]

Each wiper will have its own in the motor. Probably cheap to replace the motor as a whole. Attached the pdfs from service manual on how to get to them. I bet you can replace the bad one for cheap.

 

[emoore924]

Be sure to check that the nut at the base of the wiper arm hasn't come loose.