Screeching Wipers.

[Wonko_The_Sane]

After the monsoon we had earlier, I've reached my limit. New wiper blades, clean, SOAKED screen...turned the wipers on, and they streak a little...but more annoyingly they groan, screech and make the most IRRITATING noises. Just what you don't need in a rainstorm while stuck in traffic..:banghead:

My question is...WHY????? I rainex'd my screen so I don't have to use the damn things...it's that annoying. I resort to LONG intermittent wipe if I have to..:mad:

As I say..it's all new...and it's DEFINETLY the blades, not the mechanism. The oldest bits are the wiper arms...I know they're spring loaded...bearing in mind they're 14 now...would new arms help?

Also..any ideas on what after market arms may fit, maybe off other cars?

I remember a discussion on the old forum about this...but..that was some time ago!

(while on the subject, my rear wiper is, and always has been, utter :censored:...never wiped cleanly, and looks fairly naff...any recommendations? Clio ones look..nice..)

[e692wtt]

I'd say 'rainex' the screen, so there goes that idea... try wiping the new blades with rainex as well, and if there is any sort of 'film' on the blades that'll remove it. My latest set of blades are Unipart, whereas I normally use Champions and refills, and the rubber seems to be 'softer' than on the Champions.

My wipers used to 'screech' when the screen had first been rainex'd (the regular re-treatments), but they've been ok since a new screen was fitted and rainex'd - and the Unipart blades fitted, some to think of it! I only ever use my wipers on 'long intermittent' anyway unless I'm in standing traffic, when I might set them to a quicker intermittent setting... at speed, the rain just runs off.

The other other Rich.

:confused:

[tony]

when i had that problem ,i in the end got a pair of pliers and bend the wiper arms so they wiped at a angle ,that worked for me;) hope it helps

[e692wtt]

Or try bending the wiper arms so as to either increase or decrease the spring pressure acting on the wiper blades and see if this makes any difference (ie bend the arms approx 1/2 way along their length, away from the screen to reduce the pressure and vice versa).

Worth a try...

The other other Rich.;)

[Wonko_The_Sane]

Thats a damned good point! :eek: I can't believe I didn't register that as a possibility..:laugh:

I tend to keep my screen and lights Rainex covered..I'm just a sod for watching the water roll up the screen and soak the car behind..;)

I admit I often remove my wiper blades and give them a treatment of "Dubbin"..makes them nice and pliable again..and doesn't seem to hurt..:)

Wigs me off something terrible when the screech though..:laugh:

[Simon]

Spring pressure in the arms will have steadily decreased over the years and this can cause the screeching and poor wiping performance, this more than likely compounded by a weakening wiper motor and mechanical wear in the linkage. I use Bosch wiper blades and these do wipe efficiently, they are the best. WTT mentions angling the arm - a good tip to employ. I often wondered whether it was the design of the arm itself and the angle that the blade presented itself to the screen that led it to screech and judder, wonder if a Montego arm on a Maestro might help things by changing the angle/position slightly?

I supervised a work experience student at Trico last Thursday funnily enough. What a fantastic firm!