Wiper blades

[nigel bickle]

I've MOT'd 17 cars so far this year. To-date, 15 of them have failed because of smearing wipers....

 

You'd think I'd get wise, and replace any dodgy looking ones wouldnt you? Well I have- I now replace EVERY wiper blade- whatever the condition. Yet still they fail..

2 today -despite both having all new, unused blades this very morning. I've even tried 'windolene-ing' the screens to remove grease etc;-to no avail.

 

Three seperate MOT stations - in different towns. Think a local VOSA rep has a specific bee in his bonnet?

 

Time to start bulk buying- methinks.

[dollywobbler]

I though wiper blade operation wasn't actually part of the test? Though this is based on 'knowledge' that's ages old. I know they check for blades falling apart and washer operation.

[Alpineandy]

Or splash out on one set of treble bladed silicon wipers (if they exist...) or whatever the very best modern wiper is, and then move them from car to car as the MOT test schedule requires.

[trigger]

I've used Bosch and PJ wipers which have all ended up being crap, I now use Halford's own ones they so far seem to be the best and last the longest.

[scooters]

Im a big fan of the Halfords wiper rubber refills - always seem to be very good an a lort cheaper than the arms.

 

The other thing I've been doing is checking the spring that holds the wiper to the window and adjusting the tension where possible - this has worked very well with the 240.

 

for keepers I also find that a coat of Rainex or Crystal Vision works wonders for sticky wipers

 

understant what you mean though nige - I did use some very fine sandpaper on the edge of the old moggy ones and that worked a treat

[Justin Case]

 

We recommend a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and warm water

[scooters]

 

We recommend a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and warm water

 

 

with those rubber gloves they should be on that thread about the dodgey looking mysterious tool set!

[ashmicro]

Autoglym Glass Cleaner and Valeo wiper blades work for me.

[nigel bickle]

I check my blades before every test. Non eo f those had splitys, tears or were worn.Severla sets were brtand spanking new- fitted an hour before the test. Screens swept immaculately -I cant see how they fail.

Guess i'll have to wait for a wet day...

[ashmicro]

Show the tester the receipt, and keep the old ones in the car? "Look mate, those are brand new, I haven't even had time to bin the old ones yet". Adding "you fucking twat" is optional, and possibly counterproductive.

[nigel bickle]

I do.Old blades & new wrappers in the passenger footwell. if it was just one tester- I'd kinda accept it -but its 3, at differning stations , varying towns.

hence my view that it must be a local VOSA thing.

 

Bleeding annoying

[mnde]

15 cars failing due to smearing wipers? That's just wierd, stupid. The closest I've come to a wiper fail (on a long fail sheet ) was "NS wiper insufficent pressure on screen". Someone's taking the piss here...

 

With regard to brands, I've also found Bosch ones are crap, the Halfords ones are much better. Valeo is my brand of choice - I've currently got a retro-fit flatblade wiper on the BX. I also use Rain-Ex and think it's good stuff.

 

Mark.

[Danblez]

I was only thinking about this today. It is a complete con, just a way for the garage to make an extra tenner every test. This used to happen to me a lot but the last 3 years I have sent both of my vehicles for test via a friendly mechanic. Yes it costs an extra tenner but not had any silly failures and not a sniff of a wiper blade issue. It used to really get my goat.

 

Oh and Champion blades are where its at. Bosch are shit, halfords ok especially with trade card.

[Shep Shepherd]

Never had any problems with Bosch wiper blades, myself. I always fit them to the Volvos

[RobT]

I've MOT'd 17 cars so far this year. To-date, 15 of them have failed because of smearing wipers....

 

 

That is weird. What car shampoo do you use? Most of them will give you a coating of wax on the windscreen, which goes some way towards smearage. I always have trouble with the screen on my Rover 114, I've tried vinegar, Windolene, meths, everything but still get smearing to point of being dangerous driving in the rain at night.

 

Maybe give retro fit wipers a go. I have them on my Montego and they are excellent, they give a good clean consistent sweep.

[lovejoy]

RobT, if you've tried Windolene, Meths AND Vinegar (all at once?) then it's no wonder you can't see clearly out your windscreen.

I think Nigel sticks to more recognised refreshments

[myglaren]

I went to my local guy for some new wiper blades a couple of years ago as they weren't clearing the screen properly. Wanted Valeo ones although he only stocked Bosch.

He examined mine, declared them satisfactory and cleaned the screen with methylated spirits.

 

Bought a couple of bottles of meths from him and the original wipers are still in place - they were on when I bought the car five years ago so I haven't a clue how old they might be, could well be original.

 

I had the car cleaned at work a couple of weeks ago, a 'waterless wash'

 

Since then the screen is always a bit smeary when the wipers operate but clear a few seconds after they stop - usually.

Tried cleaning with meths and some industrial glass cleaner we use at work but they have little or no effect.

 

A lot of the guys on the FCF are buying these and seem delighted with them, I think I will give them a go.

In a while

[RobT]

RobT, if you've tried Windolene, Meths AND Vinegar (all at once?) then it's no wonder you can't see clearly out your windscreen.

I think Nigel sticks to more recognised refreshments

 

Don't be ridiculous, who in their right mind would drink vinegar...

[Pete-M]

There's an easy trick to cleaning windows properly...

 

Use any old window cleaning stuff - Mr Muscle, Windowlene or Autoglym's finest, but use blue roll (or kitchen roll if that's all you've got) and keep your palm outstreched as much as possible so you're wiping the largest possible surface area you can with your hand. Change the blue/kitchen roll as soon as its even slightly dampened. Wipe off using the same technique with fresh blue/kitchen roll. Using a cloth just smudges everywhere and you'll be there all day with shite results at the end of it.

 

I can do all the windows on the average car in around 10 mins inside and out. No smears or 'orrible bits anywhere. Funnily enough, my wipers don't smear.

[ashmicro]

Jewellers Rouge - looks like a bar of soap, but it's Deep Purple. We used to use it on scored CRT monitors when they were big money

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gigalux-Red-Jewel ... 1c102e23db

 

 

 

and a gratuitous Deep Purple reference

 

[coalnotdole]

You could try using Bridge Garage in Littlehampton,

 

I've used them a couple of times recently always been very reasonable £35 test. They are a bit slow though a test the other day took an hour and a half!

 

I was failed on wipers while testing my mothers toyota in another local garage recently (I couldnt see anything wrong with them) so perhaps its just a common local scam.

[Father Ted]

A lot of the guys on the FCF are buying these and seem delighted with them,

 

I have these on the Micra and the Zafira and will shortly be fitting same to the C8. They are rather good, still wont help a truly mingebag greasy screen

[mnde]

Jewellers Rouge - looks like a bar of soap, but it's Deep Purple. We used to use it on scored CRT monitors when they were big money

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gigalux-Red-Jewel ... 1c102e23db

 

 

 

Hmm.. D'you think this is any good for polishing out embedded flecks of grinder swarf? The screen wasn't protected when I had some work done on the BX inner wings. I think this is wearing out my wiper blade more quickly...

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[garethj]

Hmm.. D'you think this is any good for polishing out embedded flecks of grinder swarf? The screen wasn't protected when I had some work done on the BX inner wings. I think this is wearing out my wiper blade more quickly...

Grinder swarf is also known as red hot metal at 100mph which embeds itself into the glass. I don't think polish will take it out, and you'll get even more depressed when the flecks start going rusty

[nigel bickle]

next 2 MOT's tomorrow- and I've just polished botrh sacreens to a mirror finish- and fitted new blades. Fail those- bastards!

[barefoot]

Inspired by this thread & the fact that the cheap nearside wiper was split on the Scirocco (drivers side is a quality Bosch device and works fine).

I nipped late out last week & bought myself a pair of 19 inch wipers for a pound. Fitted just the one, I'm not expecting a long life so have one in a safe place.

 

Was thrilled today when it rained & I could test my new wiper - absolute crap - big smears & missed bits right from the off.

[nigel bickle]

Both failed -both on both wipers...

 

17 out of 19

 

Another tomorrow

[Timewaster]

Both failed -both on both wipers...

 

Are yo utaking these on the chin, or asking the testers what the F is wrong with them?

(The testers, the wipers or both).

[dollywobbler]

Seems ridiculous. Both the Bond and the Westy had appalling wipers, that were smeary even with new blades (just because of weak arm springs) but neither seemed to have trouble passing an MOT.

[Lord Sterling]

Only had 2 of my cars fail on wiper blades, the Micra and the Rover 820e. The Rover looked as if it hadnt had its wiper blades changed in a fair few years. I finally managed to tease them off today and changed for some generic universal blades, though now at correct sizes as it sweeps a larger area much better now. I'd love to try those 'Aero wipers' on some of my cars.