Worst windshield wipers ever!
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
Worst windshield wipers ever! I have been stuck in Michigan for the last 3 weeks due to work and, while the weather has been horrific with the never ending ice/snow/wind, these are the worst wipers I have ever had the misfortune to come across (06 Impy). I am cleaning them every day as they invariably ice up when in the park position until they either won't move at all because of the torque limiter safety kicking in or they will get iced on the bottom and run a big ice clod along the glass with the rubber not getting within an eighth an inch of the glass.
Any tricks to keeping the ice from encasing the wiper blades? It feels like I am about (holding thumb and forefinger very close together) this close to ripping the rubber while I beat the snot out of the ice surrounding it.
There has got to be a better way.
Any tricks to keeping the ice from encasing the wiper blades? It feels like I am about (holding thumb and forefinger very close together) this close to ripping the rubber while I beat the snot out of the ice surrounding it.
There has got to be a better way.
LS1Tech Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 12
From: CT
clean them with rubbing alcohol - it'll prevent ice from forming on the blades.
or
mix some de-icer in with your windshield washer fluid
or
buy some heated wiper blades: www.everblades.com
or
mix some de-icer in with your windshield washer fluid
or
buy some heated wiper blades: www.everblades.com
__________________
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune
2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune
2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
Thank you gentlemen, I will look into swapping out the blades if a weekly cleaning with the alcohol does not do the trick. As I recall, GM is all gung-ho about the blade design because it is supposed to sit flat on the glass, but it appears to me that they never bothered to test it in the real Winter world.
To be honest, after two winters (still in the second) and all the crappy weather we get here, i think these are DAMN good blades compared to any other vehicle i've ever driven. Never iced up to the point where they couldn't be defrosted easily. Not sure why you're having so much trouble with them.
Are you clearing the snow/ice out of the trough where they sit? When i don't, i do get some buildup of ice on the passenger side...close to the tip...but that's to be expected when you don't clear the snow in the first place.
Are you clearing the snow/ice out of the trough where they sit? When i don't, i do get some buildup of ice on the passenger side...close to the tip...but that's to be expected when you don't clear the snow in the first place.
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
In the wiper's defense, I am near Lake Michigan and the snow has not stopped for the last 4 days, I believe most of the trouble is that the warm glass is letting the snow melt and it refreezes on the blades after it dribbles down on them. I am still appalled at how easily it seems the ice will clog up the channel even after scraping it out before each trip and how ice forms under the blades instead of simply freezing on the top side of them. Maybe I am getting ice inside the spring holding the wiper to the glass and it is not holding it as tightly to the glass as it should in the park position. I will take a look on the way home tonight.
Never had this sort of trouble before, hoping it is just a weird combination of things that won't happen to me too often in the future.
Never had this sort of trouble before, hoping it is just a weird combination of things that won't happen to me too often in the future.
Trending Topics
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
That crap you're in made national weather news, if that helps any???
I always turn the defrost to ice cold for about 30 seconds before I exit a vehicle in the winter, which usually keeps the snow from melting and freezing on the glass.
I always turn the defrost to ice cold for about 30 seconds before I exit a vehicle in the winter, which usually keeps the snow from melting and freezing on the glass.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
I cleaned out the channel, the blades, wiped the blades, cleaned out the springs, dried them, the blades won't sit flat on the glass. They are still pliable, should work fine. When I get back home and get the car in for the 12' remote starter range fix, I will gripe bitterly about it and maybe get new blades out of the deal. I am at a loss, using the wipers makes the mess worse and they were dry and clean this morning. Car sat in the sun for probably over a year before I got it, maybe just cooked the blades.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 189
Likes: 2
From: MO
I prop the blades up when the car is not in the garage and there is snow coming down which turns to ice when it hits the warm glass after shutting down. Very aggravating, but I have to agree with the others, best blades I've owned for this weather.
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
I hate to put the blades up, I am on the road most of the year in hotels and have seen way too many jerks bending/breaking blades that other people have put up. Well, not actually seen them do it, just the aftermath. I will get some new ones and see what happens (no pun intended)
