Hi all, my friend has a 1997 Volvo 960, and the windshield wipers have ceased to function. I tried to take a look under the hood, and I do see this long metal rod right below the wipers is broken in two places. Any idea what that part is called and where I might get one?

 

Are you sure it is broken or just disconnected? The terminology is not that exact, the way you describe it is just fine. You can get it in a junkyard cheaply, or at a dealer expensively. I'd first take it out and look to see what you got, then go after replacement parts.