How to replace wiper blades (not rubber inserts)

[blondee_yvr]

Just wondering if there was a "how to" on this one?

My left wiper blade isnt wiping well. It was already replaced in the fall under warranty from the dealer but it only was fine for a month. Dealer now won't cover or help me out since he says the one year warranty has lapsed. I keep on hearing that the 3 has lousy inserts. So, I think I should replace the blades with aftermarket ones.

 

[TheMAN]

you can replace the rubber inserts with whatever brand of rubber you want.... it's much cheaper and the extra time to install them will save you at least 10-15 bucks

 

[blondee_yvr]

you can replace the rubber inserts with whatever brand of rubber you want.... it's much cheaper and the extra time to install them will save you at least 10-15 bucks

I wonder if they will be good eneough because my left (driver's) wiper is smearing on the top of the windshield, just above eye level. The right side is fine. I had them replaced a while ago and within a month it did the same thing. Me thinks the wiper blade is the problem?

 

[Mr Detailer]

http://www.autogeek.net/303wiptreat.html

I use it all the time. I bought new blades when I bought my Maxima, and 2 years later they still worked like new. I polished the windshield and conditioned the wiper blades every month. The Protege has Bosch Micro Edge blades that I bought in July, and still work terrific. I expect these to also last until I sell the car.

BTW, the product description says 2-3 blades. That's inaccurate. If you fold the packet over and tape it shut, you can keep the sponge from drying out, and you can do 6-8 blades with a single packet.

 

[zoomzoom485]

i had a problem with my wiper smearing in the middle after i washed my car. The reason was that when I lifted the blades to clean the windshield the rubber moved up on the blade. All i had to do was move the rubber down and it was perfect. So maybe try to move the rubber up or down and see if that fixes it. Hope this helps.

 

[goldwing2000]

Bosch wiper blades (factory brand) have always been crap. I've never had any luck with them and I've tried them on five or six different cars.

Surprisingly enough, the best brand of wiper blades I've ever found are Motorcraft, available from your local Ford dealership. I think they're made by Trico but don't quote me on that. They don't have one to fit the rear window on the hatch, though.

Oh, and you should always replace your wiper blades every six months, especially if you park your car outside. The UV exposure breaks down the rubber. If you park in a garage, you can wait a little longer.

 

[Mr Detailer]

The UV exposure breaks down the rubber. If you park in a garage, you can wait a little longer.

The blade conditioner that I listed will block UV damage, effectively extending the life of the rubber.

 

[goldwing2000]

The blade conditioner that I listed will block UV damage, effectively extending the life of the rubber.

Really? The description doesn't mention that.

 

[Mr Detailer]

It is my understanding that it extends the life of the blades because it protects the rubber, keeping it from drying out and hardening. That's what happens to rubber if it's left unprotected and exposed to sun/ozone.

From the 303 WT box:

Stops noisy blade chattering and skipping!
Avoid premature blade replacements
Treated blades repel snow and ice
Saves blades from drying out in extreme heat

It definitely does prevent ice buildup. That's very convenient around here in winter. Good luck getting a clear windshield when you have bits of ice all over your blades.

 

[blondee_yvr]

I have had many different cars over the years and they have endured the same climatic conditions. I have NEVER had a wiper insert fail on me in less han a year and half. I also tend to use RainX, Rainaway (alcohol) which may not be the best, but again I have used both products on all the cars.

Either the rubber is of bad quality or there is some kind of defect with the metal blade design. Which is it?

 

[pasadena_commut]

The blade conditioner that I listed will block UV damage, effectively extending the life of the rubber.

Maybe it blocks some UV but it seems pretty unlikely that it blocks ozone. To do that it would have to form a gas impermeable coating that wouldn't crack as the blade flexed when the wiper moved back and forth. That's a pretty tall order.

In SoCal wiper blades tend to be in pretty poor shape by the end of the summer, what with the blazing heat, ozone and other chemicals from the smog, and UV.