Serviceable windshield wipers are a guarantee of safety and excellent visibility. Breakdown or poor operation of the "wipers" leads to disgusting visibility and often becomes cause of the accident. Many of you have probably noticed that the wiper blades cease to perform their functions normally precisely with the advent of cold weather. We understand why this happens, and tell you how to make them work efficiently in the most adverse weather conditions.
Before talking about reasons bad work"janitors", it would be useful to understand the design and principle of operation of this simplest device.
Windshield wipers of the vast majority modern cars are electromechanical devices that are driven by a small electric motor. A servo-driven motor, through rods and levers, provides reciprocating movement to the wiper arms, on which, in turn, the brushes are mounted. For the best cleaning of the glass surface, the system is additionally equipped with a feed special liquid from hidden in engine compartment tank.
Only leashes and brushes remain visible to motorists, all other “offal”, including control electronics, are hidden behind decorative overlays. Wiper blades are the same "consumable" as, for example, oils or filters. Their service life during the active operation of the car rarely exceeds one calendar year. The working elements of the windshield wipers differ slightly in their design, but their principle of operation is the same. These are profiled rubber strips fixed on an elastic metal frame. Spring-loaded leashes press the brushes against the glass, and the elastic frame allows the latter to follow all the glass bends and remove dirt and precipitation from the contact patch.
Structurally, the brushes are divided into three types - framed (with a metal frame in the form of movable rocker arms), frameless (the role of the frame is played by an elastic metal plate) and hybrid (the brush has a traditional frame protected by a sealed cover). However, regardless of type and design, their working rubber part is subject to severe wear due to constant contact with water and dirt, as well as exposure to high and low temperatures. She is the first to fail.
Problems with "wipers" and how to solve them
If you notice that the "wipers" began to "stripe" and smear dirt on the glass, jump or publish unpleasant sounds, do not rush to the nearest store. First, get to the bottom of the problem. Perhaps buying new cleaning elements will be pointless.
1. Wear and damage working surface brushes
During operation, the rubber surfaces of the brushes come into contact with various pollution and are quickly erased. The more you operate the car, the more intense this process goes.
To check the brushes for wear, lift up the drivers and carefully examine the working edges. The so-called "blade" must be absolutely smooth, without cracks, tears and other obvious damage. If defects are noticed and uneven wear, there is only one way out - replacing the brushes with new ones.
life hack
Most frame structures and some "frameless" are subject to repair. To do this, it is enough to purchase a separate working rubber part, cut it to length and put it in place of the worn one. This pleasure costs mere pennies, but no one guarantees a 100% positive result.
Do not forget also about the natural aging of rubber. The life of any, even the highest quality products, does not exceed a couple of years. Over time, rubber begins to tan, crack and break down at the molecular level. As a result of natural processes, the brushes lose their elasticity and stop repeating the curves of glass. Experienced motorists to restore performance, rubber is moistened with gasoline, but the effect of such resuscitation is not “long-lasting”. A trip to the store is inevitable.
2. Pollution and corrosion of the frame
Most affordable frame brushes are subject to an unpleasant feature - their mechanism eventually becomes overgrown with dirt or corrodes / oxidizes. Losing mobility, the brush ceases to properly cling to the glass. As a result, during the operation of the windshield wipers, dirty areas or stripes.
This problem is solved quite simply. To do this, you need to remove the brushes from the leashes and carefully clean their hinges from dirt and signs of corrosion. Make sure that the brush frame flexes in all directions without force or binding. Lubricate the joints silicone grease, and then put the brushes on the car. As a rule, with a good safety of the working edge, the “wipers” again begin to work perfectly.
life hack
Don't wait until your windshield wipers stop working properly. Make it a rule to wash them thoroughly at least once a week (it is best to use an alcohol-based liquid for this) and lubricate with silicone grease. This will help to avoid unforeseen problems on the road and extend the life of the windshield wipers.
3. Freezing of "wipers"
In the autumn-winter-spring time, motorists face a similar problem. Only the role of "pollutant" is performed not by sand and dust, but by ice. Freezing, water penetrates into the joints of the frame, blocks mobility at the attachment points of the “wipers”, and at the same time envelops the rubber bands themselves, forming an ice cocoon. At the same time, “wipers” of any design and price category cease to work adequately.
To deal with such a problem, at first glance, is easy. To do this, it is enough to warm the structure and free it from ice captivity. However, during the cleaning process, it is important not to be lazy and clean the ice from all the smallest grooves of rubber bands and hinges.
Before driving in winter, divert the flow while the vehicle is warming up. warm air from the stove to the wiper parking area. If you have electric glass heating, do not forget to turn it on. At the same time, moisten the brushes with a special defroster liquid - it will help to quickly melt the ice. Remember that if you turn on the “wipers” frozen to the glass, the motor may burn out. On some car models, it is not protected from increased load and may simply fail.
life hack
To prevent the brushes from freezing, before leaving the car in the parking lot, open the doors or windows and cool the interior thoroughly.
4. Weakening of the springs of the leashes
The wiper leashes, to which the brushes themselves are attached, are pressed against the glass by small but powerful springs. Over time, the metal gets tired, and the clamping force is greatly weakened. This causes unsatisfactory operation of the entire system.
Try to increase the load on the brush during the operation of the wipers - lightly press on it with your hand. If you notice an improvement in cleaning at the same time, try replacing the springs with new ones or slightly bend the tips of the leashes towards the glass, increasing the angle of attack.
Advice
Never park your car with the brush arms up. In this position, the springs remain cocked and “get tired” much faster.
5. Strong wear flow
Vehicle glass also has a significant impact on the operation of windshield wipers. Over time, it becomes covered with micro-chips and scratches and ceases to be cleaned well for completely natural reasons. Old glass not only glares and gets dirty, but also quickly renders the rubber part of the windshield wipers unusable.
6. Wiper Trapeze Problems
Quite often, the problem of cleaning glass lies not at all in the “wipers” themselves, but in the drive mechanism, the so-called trapezoid. To check it for wear, grab the base of the leash and shake it horizontally. The presence of even a slight backlash indicates wear on the trapezium bushings and, as a result, poor pressing of the brushes to the glass. Bushing wear occurs due to the penetration of atmospheric precipitation through poor seal into the joints of the trapezium and corrosion of its elements.
When driving on a busy city street or on a highway somewhere in the fields, there should always be maximum visibility. Without this, the likelihood of a traffic accident increases dramatically, and it is not known what the outcome will be. In order for the driver to see the car that is moving towards him even in a downpour or snowfall, windscreen wipers are installed in the car. From the name it is clear that this mechanism is designed to remove dirt, water drops, snow from the windshield of a car. It is very important not to ignore this part of the machine, that is, to periodically check the wipers, take care of them, and, if necessary, change components.
Automotive wiper blades and their components
It should be noted that such a device is not only in conventional machines but also in almost all means of transport. Windshield wipers are installed near the windshield of ships, aircraft and helicopters. These devices work one by one. simple principle: you actuate the so-called wipers, and they remove all moisture and dirt from the glass.
Differentiate windshield wipers different features. For example, if we take into account the mode of operation, then the devices are single, permanent and those for which you need to set a period of time for operation. As for the operating time, here there is a division of mechanisms into winter, spoiler And all-weather. The first type of windshield wipers is designed to operate at low temperatures, when snow sticking and freezing occur.
That part of the structure, which is made of metal, is covered with a rubber cover, which prevents the metal parts from freezing. The cover is made from rubber compound, which will provide high-quality glass cleaning even at a temperature of -400 ° C. The strength of all parts of this design is relatively high, that is, such wipers will work even with high resistance. The operation of all-weather windshield wipers does not depend on air temperature, operating conditions and other characteristics. Due to its versatility, the result of the work will not be one hundred percent.
Those drivers who drive high speeds put spoiler windshield wipers in their cars. The design of such brushes is equipped with spoilers, which are able not only to resist the wind more effectively, but also have a different effect. great pressure on the cleaning edge along, and are also able to increase the pressure and optimally distribute it across the brush perpendicular to the glass.
As for the design, there is a wiper itself and additional device, which supplies water, so that more dust and dirt can be removed from the glass. The wiper itself consists of:
- an electric motor that makes the brushes perform their function;
Lever axis;
Brush lever;
Wiper relay;
Brushes and brush holder;
Corps;
mounting block.
These parts are the most essential for the operation of the windshield wiper system, but the design is subject to change by the vehicle manufacturer. Often, new models are equipped with ultra-modern options. There are brushes in which a heating element is mounted, and there are automatic models that can instantly respond to water or dirt getting on the windshield.
Signs of a faulty car windshield wiper
The wiper system is quite reliable, and therefore rarely breaks. But the most vulnerable place in it is the brushes. They are, in fact, the most important element that requires timely inspection. It is the brushes that are constantly in contact with water and dirt, which is why they are prone to faster wear.
The rubber brushes come into contact with the glass while under sufficient high pressure, therefore, they must be flexible enough, but at the same time rigid. The rate of wear of the brushes depends on several factors, among which the weather is dominant. Too much heat, frosts and rains have an extremely negative effect on the condition and operation of the wipers as a whole.
There may be several signs of a problem. If you turn on the wipers, and the dirt is not removed, but stretched across the windshield, then this may indicate:
1) Deformation of the cleaning edge of the brush due to an excessively large contact area of the rubber part of the brush, in which case the brush will have to be changed;
2) The presence of a defective lever due to mechanical damage or due to the fact that the brush has been in the lowest position for too long in very bad weather, such a nuisance involves checking the angle of attack of the lever;
3) The spring links are frozen, to solve this problem, you will have to check the spring itself, and dismantle and dry the brush.
If the brushes leave streaks on the glass, then this may indicate that:
1)
There are very few particles of wax, sand, resin and other elements on the glass that stain the windshield very much, a product like Trico Screen Paste will cope with this problem, which needs to be treated to clean the surface;
2) The rubber element of the brush has become hard due to aging, or the brushes are simply damaged, in any case they will have to be replaced;
3) you poured into the tank detergent, which is not suitable for this season, and the solution to this problem is quite understandable;
4) The windshield is damaged and it is time to change it;
5) The characteristics of the lever have changed, in this case it will be necessary to check the geometry of the leash;
6) The rubber part of the brush is dirty, you need to use an alcohol solution and a nylon brush for cleaning.
While the wiper is moving, you may hear some rattling, which may indicate:
1) Too much in large numbers dirt on windshield, this problem is solved by cleaning;
2) Some part of the brush is damaged, or the rubber element is too outdated, the brushes will have to be changed;
3) Worn out, it just needs to be repaired;
4) The wrong angle of attack of the brush is set, the solution suggests itself;
5) The characteristics of the lever have changed, in which case the lever itself will need to be replaced.
It happens that when moving, for example, to the left, the brush works fine, but on the right it slips. This is a sure sign that the lever is bent. To eliminate this trouble, it is necessary to move the lever to a position where the elastic is not perpendicular to the plane of the glass. Also, in the area where the brushes work, water can accumulate, and in whole drops. This suggests that there are residues or auto cosmetics on the glass. To remove this defect, the glass should simply be washed using a cleaning solution.
How to maximize the life of car windshield wipers?
In order for the windshield wiper to serve you as long as possible in its original form, you need to regularly check the condition of the brushes, and always keep them clean. After they have been actively used, for example, in the rain, you will need to completely dry the brushes. It is advisable to remove them altogether so that the entire mechanism in which these brushes are located can dry. It is advisable not to pull the wiper switch too much, as it can move to several positions. In most car models, switching does not require much effort and is quite smooth. Too much dirt will need to be removed by hand.
You need to turn on the windshield wipers in order to remove the dirt that has covered the windshield while driving. In winter, you need to put winter brushes, which are made of a more rigid material, which is why they are more weighty. Therefore, they are able to remove even the snow crust from the glass, and not just fallen snow. But still it is better to remove the snow yourself if you have time in the morning. If it snows while driving, it is advisable to turn on the glass heating, if it has a place to be. So the brushes will strain much less.
Windshield wipers for a car are most often called "wipers" because of their main purpose - cleaning the windshield from dirt, snow, rain and other contaminants. All vehicles must necessarily be equipped with such cleaning devices, since otherwise the driver risks losing satisfactory visibility.
They usually consist of a lever at one end and a rubber brush at the other. It is the brush that, moving back and forth, cleans the glass from dirt.
Many drivers underestimate the importance of having quality windshield wipers, and this is important element ensuring safety on the road.
If due to heavy precipitation poor visibility is created, the wipers help to cope with the control and continue driving without risking getting into emergency. Good job The brushes directly depend on how accurately the main frame is adjusted and serviceable and how high-quality the rubber pad is, which, in fact, cleans the windshield and becomes unusable the fastest.
Most motorists are careless about timely replacement windshield wipers, while greatly risking not only their safety, but also their passengers. Since in good weather brushes are not needed and no one cares about their condition.
And in bad weather, the driver turns on the brushes and discovers that they do not clean. Just for a moment, the driver can lose visibility, but this is sometimes enough to cause an accident. Insufficient attention to the problem, performance, as well as the desire to save money on timely replacement sometimes lead to disastrous consequences.
In order not to endanger yourself and your car, you should carefully take care of the brushes, use various means in order to extend the service life, or purchase new ones if even the slightest malfunction occurs in their operation.
It should also be understood that wiper blades are not an ordinary rubber strip, but the result of many years of work by experienced designers and engineers around the world, which fully satisfies all safety requirements. Naturally, all this applies only to high-quality brushes, created from specially selected materials using the most advanced technologies production.
But, unfortunately, these are less and less common in the assortment of shops and car centers. They are being replaced by cheap counterparts. The issue of choice should be approached with particular seriousness, because the main difference between a fake and an original is that they will not only do their job poorly, but can also cause damage to your car in the form of scratches on the glass. Agree, not very pleasant. To avoid this, do not try to save money. IN this case It is better to pay a little more than to regret later on the damaged appearance of the car.
If you care about your car, put convenience and safety above all, then the most effective option to extend the life of the wipers will be the use of winter and summer, depending on the time of year. After all, they have very significant differences, consisting in the fact that summer ones, unlike winter ones, do not have a soft cover that helps protect the frame from snow, ice and other influences. environment in cold weather. Due to the presence of such protection, the brushes are not covered with an ice crust, which means they retain their properties longer.
Also, to ensure maximum effective work"janitors", you should select them for each specific model cars. After all, even expensive quality windshield wipers will not fully cope with their task on one car if they are created for a completely different one.
Many car owners do not take this fact into account, which then has a bad effect on the result. Each type of brushes is created based on a large number of machine parameters. This is the area of the windshield, its curvature, as well as the features of the fasteners. In many new car models, the windows are slightly curved, so not all brushes are suitable. Windshield wipers that are longer than necessary can interfere with the rubber band's snug fit on the glass.
But it also happens that even "native" windshield wipers do not cope with the task in view of the loss of their properties by the frame. A frame that has become unusable will not be able to ensure a snug fit of the rubber band to the glass, and it is no longer possible to fix this. The only way out of this situation is to buy a new set.
For the "wipers" to serve for a long time, one should first pay attention to such important qualities, like uniformity of texture, color and edge of the wiper gum. All this should be perfectly smooth, without any rounding and burrs.
It is also important to understand that cheap brushes will have to be changed much more often, because they will quickly become unusable and can ruin appearance glass. Separately, rubber bands for real "wipers" are not supplied to stores, if you do not take into account fakes.
This is because many manufacturers advise changing the entire structure, because this is the most best option. If due to lack of money it is not possible to buy a new set, then you can buy an elastic band domestic manufacturer. It is unlikely to clean as well as imported, but certainly better than the old one. Brushes made of high quality materials are resistant to external influences and perform their task regardless of weather conditions.
How to understand that the windshield wiper has become unusable and it's time to change it?
The very first signs will be the stains left by the brush on windshield, as well as gaps in cleaning even after thorough washing. In this case, you will need to replace the entire frame, or at least purchase a new gum.
When similar situations people are thinking about whether it is worth buying new “wipers” or whether there is still an opportunity to reanimate the old ones. Due to the low cost of the structure, it will be easiest to purchase a new one, while saving your precious time.
If you do not have enough experience and knowledge to repair the “janitor” on your own, then you will have to resort to replacement. Before visiting the store, read the instructions for the machine. It contains a list of those models that are suitable in all respects and will last as long as possible.
Another option would be to replace the pads, which will cost much less than the whole set. In specialized stores you can find Various types overlays: standard, available in black, and silicone, available in several colors. Brushes made of a rubber-graphite mixture and even coated with Teflon are also on sale.
In order to prolong the performance of brushes, it is important to follow the basic rules of use:
- It is undesirable to operate the wiper mechanism if the windshield is dry or icy. Therefore, you should not save on anti-freeze or water.
- Do not use brushes to remove snow. Initially, you need to shake it off with a special brush, and only then use the windshield wipers.
- In the cold season, make sure that the rubber band does not remain pressed against the glass for a long time. Remove it from the frame or simply lift the entire structure up. This will help to avoid freezing and deformation of the brush, because ice, sand, salt and other small particles play the role of a kind of abrasive, quickly making the gum unusable.
- Pay attention to the cleanliness of the entire mechanism. Timely clean the "wipers" from dirt.
- In summer, do not forget about ultraviolet radiation, which also has a bad effect on the condition of rubber. Because of high heat it may crack.
- To provide long work without breakage, it is necessary to lubricate the hinges
Gaining more and more popularity frameless wipers . Their advantage is that they are much cheaper than their classic counterparts, and at the same time they are pressed closer to the glass, thereby allowing you to achieve the best result.
The best manufacturers of brushes are such reputable companies as BOSCH, Champion and VALEO. The prices are high, but they are worth the money. Slightly cheaper option would be brushes domestic production. When choosing, focus on the company, cost and quality of brushes. Check them carefully before buying and then the windshield wipers will serve you for a long time and protect you from any bad weather.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. This is especially true for all components of the car. We often exaggerate the possible service life of a particular car component, hoping that they will last as long as possible.
For example, let's talk about windshield wiper blades. Agree, brushes usually need to be changed much more often than we expect. For many of us, this procedure happens every year. But is it possible to save money and extend the life of the brushes? Yes, of course, the brushes are not the best expensive components car that need to be changed as part of car maintenance, but nevertheless, it will be interesting for all car owners to learn how to increase the life of the wiper blades. Indeed, by increasing their service life, we will really save money, since the intervals of our spending for the purchase of new brushes are reduced.
Here are five simple ways get the most out of your windshield wipers:
Raise the wiper blades when you turn off the engine and leave the car outside overnight. At first glance, this action may seem unnecessary and meaningless. In the summertime, this is of course not necessary. But in winter time we advise you to raise the "wipers" to all car owners.
Not only will you save yourself the potential hassle of freezing your brushes at night, but you'll actually save money by extending the life of your wipers.
For example, when it snows, it naturally falls on the windshield. The windshield of your car, when the engine is running, is usually blown with hot air. As a result, the glass heats up. Naturally, the snow, falling on the glass, begins to melt.
Leaving the car at night in the parking lot, in winter, the windshield begins to gradually cool down. If at this moment it snows, then after a short time it will form ice on the surface of the windshield, because, having melted for a short time, the negative air temperature on the street will turn the snow into ice crystals. This will naturally lead to icing of the wiper blades, since it is on them, as a rule, that water from melted snow will drain. As a result, if the wiper blades are lowered on the windshield, in the morning you will find that they are frozen. As a result, if you do not clear the ice from the brushes, you can damage them when the wiper mechanism is activated.
Please note that even if the wiper blades do not stick strongly, then by activating the wipers, you will still cause microdamage to the surface of the rubber bands of the brushes.
As a result, having damaged the edge of the gum of the brushes, they will no longer clean the windshield efficiently and effectively, leaving streaks and stripes during cleaning. In this case, you will have to replace them with new ones.
Raising the wiper blades in the winter while parking the car, you protect them from freezing to the glass, thereby increasing their service life.
This advice is especially relevant for those who use wiper blades in their car all year round.
Do not de-ice the wiper blades with a winter scraper if the blades are frozen to the windshield. In winter, many motorists clean car windows with a special plastic scraper. Many of course use a scraper on the windshield, including cleaning the wiper blades from ice. For example, when they froze to the glass. Do not under any circumstances do this. In this way, you can seriously damage the rubber bands of the brushes.
For example, you can tear rubber bands with a scraper. But even if you don't break the rubber bands of the brushes, a scraper can still significantly reduce brush wear. As a result of wear on the rubber bands of the brushes, they will not be able to clean the windshield properly. In this case, you will have to buy new wipers.
Clean the wiper blades with windshield washer fluid. When your car's wiper blades are in good condition, they should pick up dirt and debris that hits the windshield. Unfortunately, dirt and debris very often stick to the brushes. This can not only damage the rubber bands of the brushes, but even scratch the glass while the wipers are operating. Therefore, every owner of the machine must regularly clean the surface of the brushes from contamination. To do this, soak a clean cloth in windshield washer fluid and wipe the brushes. Remember, windshield wipers cannot clean themselves. By cleaning the brushes, you can significantly extend their life.
Park your car in the shade. Yes, we understand that it is impossible to park your car in the shade all the time. However, you should do it whenever possible. The more often you hide the car from direct sunlight, the less harm you will cause. paintwork machines, the central plastic console and of course the wiper blades.
The fact is that leaving the car in direct sunlight, this leads to heating of the rubber bands located on the wiper blades. As a result, brushes lose their flexibility over time due to the actual "drying out" chemical composition rubber. This can cause the wiper blades to become hard and very brittle. Accordingly, if the edge of the rubber bands of the wipers becomes hard and brittle, this not only leads to poor-quality glass cleaning, but also to rapid wear brushes.
Do not run wiper blades on a dry windshield. The task of wiper blades is to clean the glass and remove excess water and moisture, while maintaining maximum visibility on the road for the driver. Brushes usually do an excellent job with any precipitation, such as snow, rain. Including brushes perfectly clean the glass from the washer fluid, which is sprayed on it when we need it.
Unfortunately, wiper blades are not designed to work on a dry windshield. If you turn the brushes on dry, you will hear a squeak. At this point, the rubber bands of the brushes will wear out a lot. Also, running the wipers on dry glass will scratch the glass surface. For example, if dry dirt stuck to the brushes.
Therefore, in no case do not turn on the wipers when the windshield is dry. That is, if it is not raining or snowing outside while the car is moving and the road is dry, then always spray washer fluid on the glass before turning on the brushes.
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