Windshield wipers were invented almost simultaneously with the car - in 1903, and they began to be installed on production models already in 1908, after which they became an integral part of the design of any car. Any car enthusiast knows that driving a car with poorly functioning wipers turns into torture, and in rainy weather the danger for passengers and others increases significantly. When they fail, windshield wipers can creak, smear rather than remove water and dirt, leave streaks that interfere with visibility, or even scratch the windshield, which will have to be polished again. Nevertheless, the problem that has arisen can and should be solved independently.
The most common reasons for the wipers not working properly
If the wipers do not clean the glass well, this indicates wear or deformation of the structure, which is why they do not adhere well to the surface. As a result, we see stains and sometimes scratches that will have to be eliminated. There are several main reasons why windshield wipers do not work properly:
- The presence of an oil film and other serious contaminants on the glass surface.
- Loss of mobility of the frame rocker arms, which are responsible for uniform pressure to the surface.
- Looseness in fixing the adapter and leash.
- Reducing the stiffness of the spring that presses the wiper to the glass.
- Damage to the working edge of the brush.
If the glass gets dirty, just wipe it with a special liquid and streaks will no longer appear when the wipers operate. If the movement of the rocker parts is lost, you just need to work them out by hand and, if necessary, add a little lubricant, making sure that it does not get on the glass.
This will ensure that the brush edge is pressed evenly to completely remove dirt. To fix other problems, you will need to do a few simple procedures, and if these do not help, you will need to replace the wipers.
Windshield washer
Champion winter windshield wiper blades
To increase the efficiency of the windshield washer, it is advisable to:
If your car has single-jet windshield washer nozzles, it is recommended to replace them with two-jet ones. This will increase the uniformity of wetting of the windshield; adjust the direction of the washer nozzles
so that the entire area of the windshield cleaned by the brushes is moistened. You need to check the direction of the nozzles at a speed of 50-70 km/h, since the air flow deflects the stream of water when moving;
in advance, before the weather gets colder, fill the washer reservoir with antifreeze fluid
and remove water from the system by running the windshield washer for 10 seconds.
What to do if the working edge is damaged
Any wiper blade ends with a special working edge, which removes water, dust and dirt from the glass. But due to the abrasiveness of dust and mud particles, microscopic damage appears on its surface over time, and if measures are not taken, it ruptures and requires replacement.
When the edge is worn, but not completely destroyed, you can refuse to replace it, restoring its functionality. If the wipers do not wipe the glass until it shines, you don’t even need to remove them from their leash - just move them away from the glass and treat the edge with fine-grained sandpaper glued to a small wooden block. But this method has several serious disadvantages - it is too labor-intensive, in addition, it is difficult to choose the right angle, since the rubber edge constantly falls in different directions.
The solution to the problem is an industrial wiper cutter, which you can buy at the store. Inside it there is a diamond-coated strip that easily grinds the rubber edge. A special metal jig directs the edge to the grinding cutter, and it does not fall off anywhere. This allows you to quickly and accurately grind the edge of the rubber, extending the life of the wipers. After such grinding, the windshield wiper should not leave streaks on the glass.
Windshield washer does not work well
“Bad” means that the pump hums, but the liquid almost does not reach the glass or splashes in different directions. Causes:
- clogged injectors, tubes, filter, check valve
- the tubes may have come off the injectors or connectors
- breakdown of pump fittings, connectors, nozzles
Start troubleshooting by disconnecting the tube leading from the pump to the injectors. If the jet pressure is good, then inspect the nozzles and pipe connections. Otherwise, “go down,” i.e. to the tank, and check the condition of the pump outlet fitting and tube, and also turn on the washer and evaluate its performance by eye. If the fitting is broken, compare your skills and the cost of the part. At times, repairing a fitting is useful and provides good savings in money and time - although sometimes you have to wait quite a long time for the ordered spare part.
Windshield washer nozzle
Briefly about how to remove windshield washer nozzles to clean them. If the object (mote) is larger than the diameter of the nozzle, then the obstacle from the outside can be pushed deeper into it, and it will “come back”. The injectors are usually fixed with elastic latches that need to be squeezed. It is convenient when the injectors are installed on the hood - the latches can be squeezed from the inside.
Alternately prying the nozzle on both sides, pull it out along with the tube. If you are not sure what will happen, remove the overlay (“frill”). It is not at all necessary to remove the wiper arms - just bend the trim.
After removing the nozzle, use a pin or something similar to remove the blockage and blow (rinse) the nozzle in the opposite direction. You can also clean and wash the windshield washer fan nozzles, just try to remove dirt from all the jets. You can soak them in a soap solution, or better yet, soda ash. If the injector body is detachable, disassemble it, but be careful - there may be a check valve with a ball and a spring. The valve holds water in the tubes, so that when the washer is turned on, the liquid is immediately supplied to the glass and the wipers do not scrape dry dirt. When you put the nozzles in place, use a pin to adjust the direction of the jet, just do not damage the hole.
Pressure spring problems
It happens that windshield wipers do not press against the glass with sufficient force to effectively clean the surface. Very often, the springs become deformed when the car is left outside in winter, and so that the wipers do not freeze to the glass, they are raised. As a result, the tension spring or retaining bracket is stretched and the edge is not pressed against the surface with the required force.
To solve the problem, you need to remove the wiper by unscrewing the nut that secures it. The spring and the bracket securing it will open from below. To tighten, you will need a small diameter cable or nylon twine, a screwdriver, a towel, a vice or a hammer.
The string is attached to a spring on one side and a screwdriver on the other, after which it is forcefully removed from the mount. To prevent it from hitting your hand or flying off into your face when it jumps off, it is better to wrap it in a towel. The removed mounting bracket must be pressed in a vice, and if there is none, do this with a hammer. To avoid corrosion, it is better to paint the removed wiper arms and tension brackets with black spray paint. Installation is carried out in the reverse order; when working, you need to be careful not to injure your hand with a broken spring.
After installing the wipers on the car, you can check the downforce developed by the spring. This is done using a simple culinary scale. They are placed under the wiper rubber, and the optimal reading on the scale should be around 1000 grams; if it is less, the spring needs to be further tightened.
After such repairs, it is better to abandon the practice of bending the wipers when parking in cold weather without a garage. It is enough to start the car and wait a few minutes until the glass is warmed up by a stream of warm air blowing across the interior. In this case, there will be no risk of damage to the wiper rubber, and the springs will remain intact.
In severe frost, turning on the heated wipers, which are installed on some models, can lead to cracks in the glass, especially if it already has chips. It is better to first use airflow from the passenger compartment and only then turn on the electric heating.
Repair - modernization
The janitor and the leash are all in my house, then what should I do? To begin with, I decided to evaluate the spring; if you move the ear away, you can even feel it with your hand - that it has weakened, it is not as stiff as before! Apparently this is the whole reason. Well, you need to replace this spring with a new one, but first you need to remove it.
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Removing this is also a “pleasure”, it sits very firmly, it is UNREALISTIC to remove it with pliers (I tried, but I tore off the spring). However, everything is simpler than it really is.
Look - the spring hooks on one side to the “bar” of the main part, on the other to a metal bracket that fits onto the “ear” of the wiper. We need to take a copper cable with enough (1)1.5 mm for 2 cores, thread it through a metal bracket and pull it towards us. It is advisable to place the windshield wiper itself on a chair and press it with something. Personally, I wrapped it in a towel and pressed it with my foot.
IT IS WORTH REMEMBERING that the spring is very stiff and can “shoot”, so we take precautions, remove watches, rings, etc. It is advisable to cover your eyes with safety glasses! Or somehow neutralize the spring, for example, wrap it in fabric (if it shoots, it will hit it).
Thus, everything is removed - then we need to find a similar spring, but shorter, a few turns, so that the rigidity is higher.
Courtyards do not adhere to glass
Over time, when you turn on the windshield wipers, an unpleasant sound appears; they begin to vibrate and twitch, leaving water and dirt on the glass. Moreover, often the problem does not disappear even after replacing the windshield wiper itself. In this case, we can conclude that the wiper does not adhere to the glass with its rubber edge.
Solving this problem is quite simple. First of all, you need to carefully inspect the wiper; its rubber edge will not be perpendicular to the surface, but at an angle. This leads to the fact that the windshield wiper works more or less normally in one direction, but in the other it begins to creak and skip because the rubber edge cannot turn in the normal direction.
The wiper is removed from the leash; after inspection, you need to make sure that the leash is parallel to the surface of the glass; if it is located at an angle, its position is corrected with pliers. After this operation, the wiper is put back in place and its operation is tested. The operation must be repeated until the edge becomes perpendicular to the glass and the unpleasant sound stops. To avoid damaging the leash, it is better to clamp it with pliers through a rag.
Video: Windshield wipers/wipers do not work. Car Lada Kalina
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Squeaking windshield wipers are a familiar phenomenon to almost every car owner. Perhaps the whole issue is a faulty mechanism or it is the result of natural wear and tear. In any case, the cause must be eliminated. An unpleasant sound is not so bad; the quality of the road view depends on the “quiet” operation of the windshield wipers.
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The feeling of compression may be due to the following reasons:
- Echo of an empty stomach. The symptom appears at night, during sleep, or immediately after waking up. Unpleasant sensations arise suddenly. The left side of the sternum begins to feel pinched, although palpation in this area does not hurt at all. If at the same time a person turns on hypochondria and begins to wait for a heart attack, the echo of an empty stomach can easily turn into a panic attack. And not just turn around, but gain a foothold at the subconscious level. If this happens, then every time the stomach “asks for food,” an adrenaline crisis will occur. No need to panic. Unfortunately, the nervous system of the VSD person is too sensitive and reacts in this way to an empty stomach. Do you want to solve this problem? Go to the kitchen and drink a couple of glasses of clean water. The stomach will be full and the feeling of internal compression will disappear.
- Premonition of adrenaline. Remembering his panic attacks, the VSD person is more afraid not of organic sensations, but of his all-consuming panic. Physical suffering is nothing compared to the moral hard labor that the patient experiences every time. Often, at the slightest suspicion of an approaching crisis, a person overexerts the muscles of the peritoneum, as if trying to become smaller and “hide” from the attack. But this, of course, doesn’t work out. First, a wave of fear rolls in, then everything shrinks inside, and panic begins - this is already part of the program that the patient sets for himself. But it is quite possible to stop an impending attack - do not allow yourself to shrink, but rather sit down comfortably, relax, take a deep breath of air. It’s good if you have caring household members nearby who you can initiate into all the shades of your feelings. It is known that an attack experienced in the company of loved ones passes much easier and faster than if the patient is alone with him.
- Phobia situation. The feeling when everything inside shrinks with fear also overtakes healthy people in a situation of danger. And a VSD student, who comes face to face with his phobia, simply cannot remain calm. This usually happens when a hypochondriac suffering from agoraphobia (fear of crowded places) is forced to go to the store or to an important meeting. Stress will immediately make itself known from within with serious spasms. And then everything will develop according to the same scenario - a panic attack and reinforcement of the phobia. Apart from a psychotherapist, no one and nothing will solve the problem. Self-exorcism of phobias rarely ends in success and free walks.
- Muscle tension. When the vegetative system becomes overexcited and fails, unable to cope with its own games, the blood vessels begin to suffer. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, preparing the body to fight or flee (which was not intended at all), and the blood vessels constrict, sending all the blood to the heart and brain. The belly naturally freezes, and this gives rise to that same feeling when everything shrinks inside. The organs of the gastrointestinal tract begin to contract, trying to make up for lost heat, and the person worries that some strange processes are going on inside him. An ambulance in this situation will be the immediate supply of heat to all vessels. To do this, you need to wrap yourself in a warm blanket and put your feet in a basin of warm water. But you should understand that without proper treatment you cannot cope with the feeling of internal compression.
Hard rubber
Situations often arise when windshield wipers squeak, vibrate, or “jump” on the glass while driving. Moreover, this phenomenon does not directly depend on the appearance of contaminated areas on the windshield. In fact, the reason lies in the hardening of the rubber of the brushes. This problem is solved in different ways.
The simplest option is offered by folk craftsmen who recommend keeping the rubber bands inside boiling water for an hour.
You can also soften the rubber elements of the wiper using gasoline. This liquid is partially absorbed by the working surface of the wipers, so the softness remains even in the cold.
How to treat wipers so they don't freeze in winter
The windshield should always be clean.
This is especially true in winter, when daylight hours are short. In addition, it often snows, and during the thaw period slush flies. To ensure safety, it is necessary that the windshield wipers are always in working order, otherwise they will not be able to clean the glass at the right time. After reading this article, you will learn why wipers freeze in winter and what to do to avoid it. The wipers are cleaned until they are crystal clear.
How to treat the wipers to make this true.
