Wiper blades
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 827
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From: Seattle
Wiper blades
Yeah I know its a trivial question, but my Ranger just seems to eat wipers for dinner.
I live in Seattle, and despite what everyone thinks it doesn't rain that much here, but it does rain quite a bit in the winter. I've gone through 2 sets of wipers this winter, when normally I can keep them on for about 6 months.
I can't figure it out either, I've tried Trico, Bosch, Teflon Trico blades, you name it, they all don't last long. The situation that I'm faced with is that after about a month the wipers start smearing this oily stuff across the windshield. That's best I can describe it, almost like someone put grease on the bottom of the windshield and now every time the wipers move they spread the grease across the windshield.
Does anyone know if acid rain or some other common pollutant can cause this on a windshield? Does acid rain deteriorate the condition of a wiper blade? I'm trying to figure it out and I can't, its dangerous too, at 6 am when its drizzling and you're in heavy traffic the last thing you need is for your windshield to be hard to see out of.
I live in Seattle, and despite what everyone thinks it doesn't rain that much here, but it does rain quite a bit in the winter. I've gone through 2 sets of wipers this winter, when normally I can keep them on for about 6 months.
I can't figure it out either, I've tried Trico, Bosch, Teflon Trico blades, you name it, they all don't last long. The situation that I'm faced with is that after about a month the wipers start smearing this oily stuff across the windshield. That's best I can describe it, almost like someone put grease on the bottom of the windshield and now every time the wipers move they spread the grease across the windshield.
Does anyone know if acid rain or some other common pollutant can cause this on a windshield? Does acid rain deteriorate the condition of a wiper blade? I'm trying to figure it out and I can't, its dangerous too, at 6 am when its drizzling and you're in heavy traffic the last thing you need is for your windshield to be hard to see out of.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 374
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From: Paso Robles, CA (Central Coast)
Never heard of them doing that after 6 months. Have you thought about lifting the blades up, and wiping them off. I did that and the rag turned black with grime. I've had good luck with the triple blade wipers. or tir blade, or some name like that.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 1
I had the same problem, having to replace blade every couple of months. I bought a set of PIAA silicone blades. They're a little spendy [$20 per blade], but so far they're great! These things are even quiet when run dry at 10 degrees. They say that they're good for a year, so it seems cheaper in the long run.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 827
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From: Seattle
wiper blades
I looked at it a little closer this morning, during the dismal morning commute and its almost like the wiper blades are getting crushed on the windshield. The wipers leave streaks on the windshield at the place where the spring arm on the blade structure contact the blade itself.
Hard to describe, but I'm wondering if my wiper arm is pushing down on the blades with too much force and crushing the wiper blades. I guess I can just put the passenger side blade on the driver side and vice versa - since the passenger side blade seems to clean just fine.
But as far as you all know acid rain or pollution doesn't degrade the lifespan of a wiper blade?
Hard to describe, but I'm wondering if my wiper arm is pushing down on the blades with too much force and crushing the wiper blades. I guess I can just put the passenger side blade on the driver side and vice versa - since the passenger side blade seems to clean just fine.
But as far as you all know acid rain or pollution doesn't degrade the lifespan of a wiper blade?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,221
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From: Homer, Alaska
I would think acid rain would degrade the wipers, and the paint. Haven't been to Seattle for a while but I know there used to be a lot of pulp mills in Tacoma, that really made the place stink. Maybe something like that? I would guess if it was acid rain, the papers and channel 4 would be telling you all about it. Are you having any rust or corrosion problems with the body. Any paint starting to bubble?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Paso Robles, CA (Central Coast)
ya, acid rain will slowly eat your blades. Is there a way to losen the spring on the arm. Like some type of screw to adjust the firmness? I dont know, cuase I never looked.
You say your passenger blade is fine correct? Then if thats the case, and your truck is under warranty, take it in, and let them look at it.
You say your passenger blade is fine correct? Then if thats the case, and your truck is under warranty, take it in, and let them look at it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
I once had to live in that area of the state, but not any longer. Wiper blades don't last all that long there because there is quite a lot of dirt (esp sand) along the roads. This sand eats up wiper blades. To verify this, all I needed to do was lift the hood and take a look around. You might want do do like I used to do; buy wiper blades two pairs at a time. I just wrote it off as something that goes with the territory.
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