Driving can be extremely distracting if the windshield wipers go squeaking all the time. The feeling is just opposite to that of hearing a pleasant music. Sometimes, the driver can just not concentrate on driving and thus, the passengers can see hell.
Therefore, you should know how to stop the wipers from squeaking and should thus practice a minimum maintenance that would demand you to just extract few minutes of your precious time.
To know how to stop the wipers from squeaking, you should know why they squeak. This can help you easily identify the exact problem and find the solution very easily.
Wipers are mainly constructed to wipe the windshield that is made of glass. If there is an accumulation of dust particles or other tough contamination on the windshield, the wipers that work to wipe the glass will not go smooth, thus irritating with squeaks.
The wiper assembly should be positioned enough to not to allow the air to enter between the windshield and the wiper blades, which might otherwise end up in squeaking.
Over usage might tear or under usage might brittle the wiper blades. Both the reasons end up in squeaking.
If there are any manufacturing defects be it in the rubber blades or in the screwing system, the result is squeaking.
Now you know that why the wipers squeak, you should now know how to stop them from doing so.
Always keep the windshield clear from dust and other contamination. For that, clear it thoroughly with any one of the following products:
Dip a soft cotton cloth in vinegar and wipe the windshield gently to remove all the accumulated dirt.
Damp the dry powder on paper towel and wipe the windshield to clear all the contamination.
Dip a soft cotton cloth into the chemical and wipe the windshield carefully to remove the dirt.
Ensure that the windshield wiper blades are soft. Maintain them to be free from either moisture or dryness. In either case, the rubber gets damaged, thus squeaking while wiping the windshield.
To make the wiper blades softer while being free from dust and other contaminants, clean the blades with any one the following chemicals:
Ensure that you do not over use chemicals like WD-40 as it is a petroleum based chemical. Such chemicals when over used will eat away the rubber, thus crumbling and damaging them.
Also, do not use them frequently, as it might dry the rubber, leaving it brittle. Therefore, the rubber loses its softness and might tear. Instead, try using rubbing alcohol as an alternative to WD-40 as it is comparatively milder and does not damage the wiper blades.
When the wipers age out, replace the complete wiper assembly. This is because, with time, trauma and use, the assemblies that hold the wiper refills can get displaced from the actual position.
Also, the rubber of the wipers can be torn out as it ages, to no longer adapt to the contours of the windshield.In such situations, you have no choice other than replacing the complete assembly with new one.
Squeaking wipers would definitely result in an irritating experience for both the driver and the passengers. Nobody would love to experience it. However, simple and affordable maintenance would help you to avoid such displeasure experiences and enjoy pleasant driving.
Ensure that the wipers are free from damage, brittle, dry, moisture and defects. Also, ensure that the windshield glass is always clean from dust particles. Make a regular check of wiper blade assembly to ensure that it is not misplaced.
If the wipers age out and are worn, replace the assembly with new one. These simple steps can prevent you from hearing squeaks and you can experience the joy of great drives.
Sometimes, windshield wipers no longer work to wipe the glass. The reason could be that the wiper is stripped of or bent, such that it no longer works. If you have a knowledge about removing the wipers, it can be helpful when you need to remove them.
The windshield assembly is available in various fixing types for various cars. Some models are fixed using bolts, while some others are fixed using clips. Also, fixing of some models need no bolts or clips. Based on the type of fixing method, the removing method varies accordingly.
Next step is to remove the wiper assembly. This completely depends on the type of fixing.
Now that you removed the wiper assembly from the attached junction based on the fixed method, now clear the drive post from rust, debris and other contamination’s by making use of a wired brush.
Apply one or two drops of a light lubricant so enable smooth motion of the wiper arms.
Fix the wiper arms back in reverse direction in accordance with the fixing method.
Removing the wiper assembly, cleaning the point of attachment and installing them back is a part of car maintenance.One should ensure that the wiper assembly is maintained properly for a good wiper assembly lifespan and better safety and drivability.
Therefore, it is important to have a good knowledge about the removing, cleaning and re-installing the wiper assembly so that you need not depend on a professional every time.
Windshield plays a very important role in offering safety and drivability. A vehicle with a missing windshield or improperly installed windshield would jeopardize the drive. This article guides you with the installation process of a windshield.
However, remember that it is just to impart you the knowledge about the installation.It is strongly recommended to get the product installed by an expertized person so that, it is perfectly installed.
Below are the procedural steps for installing a windshield:
Get a perfect model of the windshield that matches with that of your vehicle. You can directly get a brand new one or obtain one from a wrecker’s yard.
If it is a second handed product then, you need to carry it with lots of cushioning so that the glass does not crack. A second hand windshield contains already used urethane bead, which needs to be trimmed to about 1mm in depth by using a razor blade.
As a second step, remove the plastic that surrounds the shield and the top moldings properly. Keep the existing clips as they are, as they are just the moldings.
All you need to do is to glue the molding as you are not using any replacement clips. This way, you not only save time in fixing new clips, but also save money for the clips.
As a third step, remove the urethane (adhesive) that exists between the glass and the pinch weld, by using a cold knife. Depending on the strength and the amount of urethane, and the experience levels of the person, it might take a minimum of 15 minutes to a maximum of 1 hour.
As a fourth step, now that the glass is clear from urethane, prepare the pinch weld. Ensure that all the dirt is cleaned. Dust it with a soft brush, and then clean with plain water. Trim the old adhesive to be 3mm thick and repair the loose and rusty areas of urethane.
As a fifth step, get the primer that matches the urethane adhesive so that the glass will accept the urethane molecules. Once the glass is activated, the molding is first glued to the glass and then the urethane is first glued to the glass and then the urethane.
The sixth step is to apply the urethane. You can apply it by using an electric proof gun. Adhere the old urethane while applying the new one and ensure that it is clean from dirt or any other fragments.
The last step is to position the windshield carefully by considering the surrounding sides with complete concentration. Once fixed, ensure that you do not touch the frame band or else you may end up with contaminating it with dirt and oils that are already present in your hand. This can reduce the performance of the activator.To avoid this, best practice is to use gloves.
Windshield plays a very important role in saving your life during accidents. Also, normal drive can be safe and pleasant. If the windshield of your vehicle demands for a replacement, better know how to replace and what is the technology behind it.
This ensures that, you can be cautious when getting it replaced by an expert person. If you know the method and never replaced before, better get it done by a skilled person, so that you may not end up with damages either while installing or after the installation, in the future.