smeary windshield wipers

Jason wrote:

> I've tried all the other cleaning suggestions with some success, but the
> problem always returns. I will discuss with the dealer whether there's a
> less drastic way to increase the tension (and will probably wind up
> bending the arms...). My case is slightly different - the problem has
> existed since the car was new. I guess it could be a design or
> manufacturing flaw.

Or you just live in a nasty dirty polluted area and there's nothing you can
do but clean your windows constantly.

Increasing tension isn't going to get you clean. It'll mask the problem with
brute force and your blades will last a fraction of their normal lifetime.
 >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers 

A year on...no problems and blades as new.
I get a perfect wipe with no smears or drag.
Think about it...the blade is held on the screen
by spring tension. Springs lose tension over time
and some (older) systems allowed tension adjustment.
Bending the arms 1mm or so towards the screen works.
WRX UK


"k. ote" wrote in message

> WRX UK wrote:
>
>> I cleaned the screen with every solvent
>
> This is probably your problem. You shouldn't have used *any* solvents.
> Anything people need to know about cleaning glass--they just have to call
> professional glass cleaners and find out what they do for a perfect clean.
>
>> I had in the garage...spent hours polishing
>> the screen with special glass cleaners...
>> tried every washer additive in the store.
>
> Argh!! Never use additives! Especially never mix additives! Now you don't
> know what the hell kind of gunk is sitting on the microscopic scratches..
>
>> Then I cracked it.
>> I bent the wiper arms forward a tad to increase
>> the blade pressure on the screen.
>> Bingo...problem solved.
>> In time the spring arm tensioners lose some tension
>> is my guess.
>> It worked and I'm happy!
>> 4 yr old WRX BTW
>> SB
>
> ... and now your wipers, if you activate them when it's too dry, will last
> significantly shorter than factory. Rubber's going to come off and you'll
> have to replace them more often.
>
 >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers 

k. ote wrote:
> Ron N. wrote:
> >> On the inside, it's almost impossible to use a real window cleaning
> >> technique.
> >
> > Why not? I bought a small squeegee and a misting bottle for inside
> > windows. Cover the dash or window sills with a big towel, mist the
> > interior glass, rub off any grime with a paper towel, mist again,
> > then squeegee dry. With a small enough squeegee, only the bottom
> > edge, and maybe the spot behind the rearview mirror, need to be
> > wiped dry. A squeegee'd interior windshield seems to fog up a
> > bit less than one which has been wiped dry.
>
> .. I don't know any place locally here that sells squidgees small enough to
> do that.

I've found cheap 6" squeegee's in generic housewares stores and
hardware stores. I think they're meant for bathroom mirrors and
such; but, when new and clean, they seem to work well enough on
car windows .


IMHO. YMMV.
--
rhn A.T nicholson d.0.t C-o-M
 >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers 

Ron N. wrote:

> k. ote wrote:
>> . Cleaning the windshield:
>>
>> Use pure, clean water with a touch (smidgen!) of soap for grime, and
>> a healthy dollop of either borox or vinegar. Buy a *new!* window
>> washer/squidgee with a straight edge on its rubber.
>
> I'm surprised you didn't also specify using distilled water, and
> only cleaning the windshield in the shade or in the garage when
> the temperature is moderate.

Distilled water isn't strictly necessary unless you live in a place where
it's necessary. Also, the only way you're going to get a good look at
the rainbow greasy colours while still having enough time to actually wipe
the windshield before it dries out is in indirect light or the garage. My
comments have built-in failsafes.

>> On the inside, it's almost impossible to use a real window cleaning
>> technique.
>
> Why not? I bought a small squeegee and a misting bottle for inside
> windows. Cover the dash or window sills with a big towel, mist the
> interior glass, rub off any grime with a paper towel, mist again,
> then squeegee dry. With a small enough squeegee, only the bottom
> edge, and maybe the spot behind the rearview mirror, need to be
> wiped dry. A squeegee'd interior windshield seems to fog up a
> bit less than one which has been wiped dry.

... I don't know any place locally here that sells squidgees small enough to
do that. The real window-washer ones (bronze/brass with no cloth pad on
them) aren't available around here either.

I find it extremely difficult to reach into the tough spots even with just
my hands with a few layers of paper towel wrapped around them.. I just
assumed that, at least for me, a squidgee would be even more difficult,
which would lead to over-wiped surfaces (leaving nasty streaks.)

But hey, if you can fit your hands down there with a mini-squidgee..
 >> Stay informed about: smeary windshield wipers