One wiper working
 

Just driving home from work and the passenger wiper ceased to work. there was no noise or anything. driver one is still working fine. i got out as i thought the captive nut may have come loose but it is still firmly in place. any ideas?

Well there's only one motor so it sounds like the linkage has broken or something has come loose.

Fairly easy to get at, just a few screws to remove the cowl.

Thanks, I did wonder as much. Can they be repaired or is it a replacement?

You've probably fixed it by now but this happened on my S40 last year and I came up with a much cheaper fix than buying a new linkage ...

The passenger side wiper arm runs from a linkage on the driver side. It's like a ball and socket arrangement which breaks and the linkage falls off. If you drill a 3 mm hole or so through the linkage joint where it has snapped and push a split pin through it to reconnect it - voila - much cheaper fix! Has lasted no problem on mine fixing it that way.

@ MikeLB; I've got the same problem, to much clearance on the uni ball, i was just wondering, if you put a split pin in it, aren't you fixing the link where a knuckle joint movement should be?!?! (250euros for a new piece so i really want to give this a try)
(sorry for my language, I’m Dutch :P)

DIY Wiper Fix, linkage, arm, el cheapo !
 

Cause I definitely didn't want to give Volvo 300 Euros for something really simple I decided to fix it;
-first remove wipers, just use a flat screwdriver to whip out the caps than undo the bolts off the wipers (hold the wipers when the nuts are really tighten)
they should just pull off, but in my case I used a pulley puller as an aid cause they were really stuck after 9 years

-than remove plastic cover, can be a hassle, take out plastic plugs, and turn plastic screws 90deg. counter clockwise
Then you need to feel and look a lot in order to not break any clips

-now remove 4 bolts,
http://s9.postimg.org/q87a4av4f/2013_06_25_141410.png

-remove electric plug, your now able to remove the linkage with motor all together

Drill a hole in the ball, than drill a hole in the plastic cap (I did a long hole but the cap can rotate, I thought it was glued or something but at the end it turned :P)

http://s23.postimg.org/e5gu503kr/2013_06_25_141640.png
http://s17.postimg.org/izu9t96b3/IMG_1264.jpg
http://s16.postimg.org/dz3nf3cth/IMG_1263_1.jpg

easy peasy ! job done in 45min... and only 3 Euros for a spline and a 3mm drill

Just did this :)
Thanks! Saved me a new linkage....
Note that the part says "ford" on it....no surprise