Visibility is a requirement for efficient and safe driving. While drivers depend on wiper blades to clear away rain, hail, mud splashes, many vehicle owners replace them only until they find it absolutely necessary. It is crucial to know how to properly maintain your vehicle’s wiper blades on a regular basis to ensure visibility and reliability on the road.
Wiper Blade Inspection
- Check for Broken frames or any detachment of frame arms at connection points and joints.
- Detect any metal corrosion especially at the claws and joints.
- Check for any visible cracks, tears, or missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge. Flex the squeegee back and forth to determine whether it’s still flexible or otherwise. Worn squeegees will have a hard time conforming to the shape of your windshield resulting in streaks when in operation.
- Check the squeegee’s wiping edge for any round edges that can prevent the wiping blade from keeping in contact with the windshield, thus reducing its wiping performance.
- Give the wiper blade a gentle tug to ensure it is securely installed on the wiper arm.
Common Wiper Blade Issues
- Streaking
Streaking occurs when the rubber squeegee cracks, dries, or completely hardens. This is typically caused by the presence of chemicals found in tree sap, road tar, and other foreign objects that may have collected on the windshield or the wiper blade.
- Skipping
Skipping typically happens when the blade develops a curvature from irregular use. If you haven’t used your vehicle for an extended period, skipping is a common wiper blade issue that arises.
- Wearing
Wearing happens as a result of extensive use and when the rubber edges start to become more rounded instead of squared.
- Splitting
Splitting occurs when the sun’s UV rays penetrate the rubber squeegee resulting in breakdown or deterioration of the frame.
Tips on How to Avoid These Common Wiper Blade Problems
There are many tips on how you can extend the life of your wiper blades. Here are some of them:
- Make it a habit to clean your windshield every time you fill your petrol tank. Wipe the rubber squeegee gently using a damp paper towel to get rid of loose dirt and oil.
- To soften up the wiper blades, dip a cloth into a small amount of petroleum jelly and wipe along the entire length of the rubber part of the blade. Do not wipe off the blades to allow the petroleum jelly to air dry completely for at least ten minutes.
- To enhance the performance of your wiper blades, try using a new wiper fluid. Make sure to clean the windshield and wiper blades before replacing the wiper blades. To clean the wiper blades, simply wipe them with a clean cloth dipped in hot water. Once the wiper blade is cleaned, wipe the edge of the blade with rubbing alcohol.
- To stop your windshield from squeaking, clean the wiper blades gently. Using a damp towel to remove dirt build-up. It is recommended to keep your windshield as clean as possible at all times to prolong its lifespan.
Here are Specific Fixes for Common Wiper Blade Issues
- Wiper Blades Smear Water All Over the Windshield
There are a few reasons why your windshield is smearing water all over the windshield:
- Worn wiper blades should be replaced immediately.
- Ideally, wiper blades need to be replaced every six months.
- If your wiper blades are relatively new, you should clean the windshield thoroughly. The accumulation of dirt and grime can affect the wiping performance of the blades.
- Try cleaning the new wiper blades with warm, soapy water to improve its performance.
- If you are still having the same issue with your wiper blade smearing water across the windshield, experts recommend upgrading your wiper fluid.
If your wiper blades are chattering against the windshield:
If your wiper blades are making a noise while in use, you will most likely be left with smears and streaks on the windshield. The most common causes include a dirty wiper blade, bent wiper blade, and your wiper blade might need immediate replacement.
- Perform deep cleaning of your wiper blades.
- Clean the windshield with a commercial-grade glass cleaner.
- Clean the rubber blades with warm and soapy water.
- Cleaning the wiper blades and windshield will greatly reduce the unusual sounds and boost the wiper blade’s overall performance and efficiency.
Lastly, if the wiper blade does not make full contact with the windshield, it is best to take a closer look to ensure that the blade is parallel to the glass. If it isn’t, use pliers to bend the arm back into its original shape or have a skilled auto mechanic to resolve the issue right away. If you’ve performed all these care and maintenance tips and your wiper is still not working optimally, it is best to seek the expertise of seasoned car mechanics. At HP Automotive, we offer full-service car maintenance and repairs on all vehicle makes and models. With years of industry experience, you can rely on our team of car mechanics to get your wiper blades in optimal condition. To schedule an appointment, you may call our direct line on 02 9979 8372 today.