Skipping wipers

[Alpine]

My car's wipers are skipping across the windscreen quite severely in the rain. Doesn't matter if its on slow or fast speeds. Doesn't matter if I wipe it clean with a rag. The blades were only replaced at the last service 5000km ago, and the car is usually kept undercover. Why is this, and how can I resolve it?

[Rasputin]

Does it change with the amount of rain on the windscreen?

[EuroDude]

Go to AutoOne or SuperCheap and buy some "Sonax ClearView" windscreen liquid additive, it contains mild detergent agents to attain a smooth wiping action and remove contaminants from the glass.

http://images.google.com.au/images?q=tbn:TImpdLnTq_H03M:http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i22/2298_5mg.jpg

[JasonGilholme]

I also find that using rain-x on your windows helps as well. it means you don't have to use your wipers as much as well.

[Rasputin]

Yeah I'm a big fan of rain-x, esp. on the rear windscreen, and the side windows which you can't actually wipe. :thumbsup:

[Alpine]

I might add I did apply some rainx as well...which all but seemed to make it worse. :(

[Fr3aKi3]

It might be the actually wiper blade, my friend's car the same problem. We changed the blade and no worries.

[aaronng]

RainX makes it worse. Get Sonax windscreen additive as Eurodude suggested. Even my silicone wipers skip once in a while. A little spritz of the windscreen washers and the skipping goes away.

Also, get a light swirl remover like Poorboys SSR1 and use it to "clean" your windscreen. It removes the top layer of invisible gunk. Follow up with a windscreen cleaner like NXT Glass cleaner to remove the residue.

[Zilli]

along the same lines as arronng, bit of clay will also clean all the crap off with propbably less effort than the typical swirl remover kind of product,

[aaronng]

Clay won't get rid of a film though...

[Alpine]

Tried the clay as I readily had one - no difference. Tried windscreen window cleaner - no difference. Tried metho on the wiper blades themselves - this took off alot of black gunk off the wipers but still no difference. It's still skipping really badly. Might have to purchase that Sonax stuff and give it a go...if still no luck then maybe I just need to replace the wiper inserts. :(

[EuroDude]

If the Sonax doesnt work then buy some good quality silicon inserts. Some cheap ones deteriorate quickly and cause too much friction on the glass.

[aaronng]

Tried the clay as I readily had one - no difference. Tried windscreen window cleaner - no difference. Tried metho on the wiper blades themselves - this took off alot of black gunk off the wipers but still no difference. It's still skipping really badly. Might have to purchase that Sonax stuff and give it a go...if still no luck then maybe I just need to replace the wiper inserts. :(

Also, if you use your wipers once a day with the windscreen washer, your wipers will last a little longer. If you don't use them, they deform and flatten out on your windscreen, especially when under the sun.

[EuroAccord13]

Everyone knows I have a fetish for using the wipers...

Squirting them once a day helps to reduce build up on the windscreen..

I go through a tank in 2-3 days.. Afterwhich, I use Aaron's AutoGlym glass cleaner... Works a treat!

[Sydsyd]

if everything possible still doesn't work...might as well change ur windscreen:p

[Drew]

Tried the clay as I readily had one - no difference. Tried windscreen window cleaner - no difference. Tried metho on the wiper blades themselves - this took off alot of black gunk off the wipers but still no difference. It's still skipping really badly. Might have to purchase that Sonax stuff and give it a go...if still no luck then maybe I just need to replace the wiper inserts. :(


Pretty obvious and should have really been your first action... But did you try changing the blades? They are like $6something a pair dude

All the money you spent on cleaners and washer fluid additives you could have bought enough blades to last you a decade

I need to change mine probably 3-4 times a year, give or take?
One at the start of winter (rainy season in NZ) and maybe twice during summer (rainy with a patches of sun season)

[roar]

its your blades mate...
grab some bosch replacement ones (with the spoiler) from supercheap

[ek4-guy]

it can also be caused by wax build up on the windscreen