Wiper woes

[Dollywobbler]

Howdy folks

In the whole time I've owned by BX, the wiper has been rubbish. It got so bad during a trip to Scotland in January that on a particulary wet and dark night, I was driving along at 5mph (we were in the middle of nowhere, on teeny tiny roads) as my vision was so bad.

After that, I lobbed one of those trendy flat blades on, but there's no difference.

Over the past nine months, I've tried all sorts of potions and cleaners and have been unable to get rid of the problem. It still smears, especially at about a third of the length from the furthermost tip - ie right in my eyeline.

At the moment, I'm using Rain-X which has caused a bit of an improvement, but I'd really rather get this properly sorted - especially as we're moving to Wales!

So, what is it? Is there still something on the screen or has the spring in the wiper arm got too weak? It still seems to be pressing the blade onto the screen - doesn't seem much stronger/weaker than the CX, which is absolutely fine.

Thoughts?

[richardd1652]

Is the screen warped?I remember being a teenager and my Mum was running a Cx,the screen had to be replaced as it had like a hollow patch and no wiper blade would touch it.If you moved your head up and down /round etc you could see the view through the glass distorting slightly?
Just a thought,Richard.

[Dollywobbler]

Balls. That's a thought. Can't see anything wrong, but doesn't mean that nothing is wrong. I'll stop the wiper there and see how the blade is sitting.

There are signs of repair around the screen, and it's got some cracks, so I'm not against the idea of pulling it out, getting it repaired properly and slapping a new screen in - just not thrilled at the potential cost of this exercise!

[Tim Leech]

Whats the tension like on the spring for the wiper arm?

[MULLEY]

Have you tried fitting one of those wind blades to the wiperblade? If you've exhausted everything else that might be worth a try?

[Dollywobbler]

Arm tension seems ok, but I'm not really sure how strong it should be.

I did discover that I can move the wiper arm through its arc by hand very easily though! That's peculiar.

[Linegeist]

I did discover that I can move the wiper arm through its arc by hand very easily though! That's peculiar.

THAT'S more than peculiar ..... it sounds like your wiper arm boss has worked loose on the spindle and has lost its internal teeth through chatter or wear.

Possibly the securing nut is bottoming our on the spindle before it clamps the boss tightly - I'd be inclined to take the arm off complete and see what you're dealing with beofre going any farther.

I have a spare if you need one.

[Dollywobbler]

It's wierder - I can see the spindle rotating too, so it's not just that the arm isn't grabbing the spindle.

[KevR]

If the wiper's describing its complete arc when it's in use, then presumably no problem with the actual mechanism. Weak spring might be an issue, but maybe it's just that the windscreen itself is worn out. Pretty sure mine is - 150k miles' worth of dust abrasion, scrapes, miniscule stone chips etc. An occasional serious clean - polish with T-cut or similar followed by a damn good wash, seems to help. Also, the occasional wipe down the blade with a baby wipe or similar helps a lot - doesn't take much build-up of crud/insects on the edge of the blade to cause it to skate over the surface rather than wiping the water off.

I have wondered whether a proper polish by one of the companies that does stone-chip repair might restore the surface of the glass... - any opinions?

[Dollywobbler]

Could be worn screen. Maybe I should just save my pennies and get the screen pulled out. This car has become something of a keeper after all...

[Philip Chidlow]

Yes, keeper for the 2012 Challenge !

[Linegeist]

But the guy still shouldn't be able to move the wiper mechanism 'easily' by hand, surely?

I still think something's awry with the linkage somewhere - perhaps it's corroded almost through at its joint with the inner arm ............. enough to move the blade but not enough to do so at speed?

As for cruddy screens - I suggest the biggest enemy of a clear screen is the humble carwash - with its cheap wax additives and recycled water.

It used to be that Methylated spirits was the concoction of choice for smeary screens. A good rub down with a CLEAN cloth soaked in meths, plus a scrub of the wiper blade(s) using the same fluid, used to restore visibility like magic. This is still part of my autumn pre-winter service ritual for each of our cars - and I don't get smeary screens.

I'd use it on my specs - but I'd smell like an alcoholic on a cheap bender.......

[Defender110]

As for cruddy screens - I suggest the biggest enemy of a clear screen is the humble carwash - with its cheap wax additives and recycled water.

It used to be that Methylated spirits was the concoction of choice for smeary screens. A good rub down with a CLEAN cloth soaked in meths, plus a scrub of the wiper blade(s) using the same fluid, used to restore visibility like magic. This is still part of my autumn pre-winter service ritual for each of our cars - and I don't get smeary screens.

Or vinegar is a nice cheap glass cleaner, I used to know a bloke who swore by his method of cleaning his windscreen by using half an apple. Apparently the acitic acid in the apple makes a screen sparkle. I have been saying for years I will try it but never actually got round to it.

[mat_fenwick]

Plus you can eat it afterwards. That's a win win!

[rayfenwick]

Plus you can eat it afterwards. That's a win win!

Eat a windscreen? That's hardcore!