The wipers hit the cowling and the linkage appears loose at the connections- but I don;t know what normal is. The motor has no play when I try and move the motor arm by hand. The wipers will move about 2-3 inches manually by hand. Is it hard to replace the linkage? Are there instructions in any of the public manuals? Is there a way to determine whether its the linkage or motor that's bad?

 

Your quoted 2 - 3 inch of movement is not excessive, and I believe that the individual wiper arms can be adjusted for your "Hitting the Cowl" complaint.
The wiper arm(s) are secured on a tapered shaft by nut #19.
the drill is:

Turn Igntion Key on.
Turn wipers on/off and let them park and turn off
Turn Ignition Key off
Looses nut "19"
Realign arm
Tighten nut "19"

If it should get really sloppy, and you start hearing strange untoward noises from the wipers, in most cases it's the Wiper Transmission or the wiper pivot itself which causes this problem - although it is NOT a common problem with Honda's.

Here is an illustration of your suspect system. The whole thing is controlled (and serviced) by item #8, the Wiper Link Assembly. It may be but one ball link, but Honda sells it in one package.
I doubt it will come to replaceing anything

http://www.hondaautomotivepart...WIPER

P

If your

 

Thanks P - I'll try adjusting them per your suggestion. In slow speeds they dont hit, and at high they seem to be hitting the pillar and the cowel so I'm concerned its more complex.

 

Is there any associated noises from under the qowl or dash?
A loose motor crank arm might do that, as would a loose link in the wiper transmission.
If it were just hitting on the bottom, that would be just an adjustment.
We're into different territory here.

P

 

I have noticed the problem on my '98 Civic. There are snap on caps that go over the swivel studs at either end of the drive arm on the transmission and they have a plastic washer that I think snaps up on the caps to keep them tight. The washers seem to have come loose and the caps will no longer hold tight into the arm allowing the slop. The caps are worn where they hold the washers and one of mine is cracked. I don't know if parts are available yet. That is all that is making the thing loose because once the washer drops, the arm drops off a step in the cap and it starts floating on the smaller part of the snap cap. Crummy design.