Common Wiper Problems

Strip-shaped streaks: The optimal support point for the wiper blade was not found, resulting in the wiper blade failing to make full contact with the glass at every point. Improper arm pressure, damage to the upper structure, or even an improperly fitted wiper blade can all cause this phenomenon.

How to make your windshield wipers look like new again

How to Restore Your Wiper Blades to Like-New Condition First, lift both wiper blades upright. Insert the key into the ignition, turn it to power on (but don’t start the car), then turn the power off again and remove the key. Next, gently push down the wiper lever located on the right side of the steering wheel. At this point, both wiper blades will rotate and lock in the upright position. Now you can use your hands to lift the wiper blades straight up—this is how you get them fully upright. The two wiper blades are of different lengths, so be sure to remember their respective positions carefully when reassembling them; don’t mix them up! With your left thumb, press down on the square clip at the base of the wiper blade, and with your right hand, pull firmly in the direction indicated by the arrow to remove the blade. Once both wiper blades are removed, find a piece of 2000-grit wet sandpaper. You can buy wet sandpaper at any paint store—it’s very inexpensive, and one sheet should last you several years. Tear the wet sandpaper into small pieces; just one small piece is sufficient for each use. Soak both the wiper blades and the wet sandpaper thoroughly with clean water. As you work, keep the blades damp and use the wet sandpaper to gently rub along the rubber strip of the wiper blade. Remember: the rubber strip of the wiper blade is like a kitchen knife. You need to sharpen not only the two sides of the rubber strip but also the sharp edge on the front surface. This process doesn’t take long—about five minutes should do the trick. Now, reattach the wiper blades. Be careful not to reverse their positions based on length. After installation, turn the power back on and give the wiper lever another gentle downward push—the two wiper blades will now return to their proper positions.

How to care for windshield wipers

How to Care for Your Windshield Wipers One thing to pay attention to is promptly removing even the tiniest grains of sand from the wiper blades. Scrubbing the windshield with tiny sand particles is akin to using a grinding wheel to rub against the wiper rubber—before long, the blades will become riddled with scratches, lose their smoothness, and end up streaking rather than wiping away rainwater cleanly. Therefore, every time you wash your car, take it upon yourself to use a clean towel and carefully remove any microscopic sand particles from the wiper blades—after all, professional car washers won’t bother cleaning your wiper blades for you. Additionally, when parking your car in summer, try to avoid exposing it directly to sunlight, as rubber products are sensitive to direct UV radiation and can easily become brittle and aged. If you notice that your wipers aren’t wiping cleanly, in most cases, this is due to improper maintenance that has caused the wiper blade’s rubber to become rough and uneven—even though the rubber itself hasn’t actually aged or hardened. All you need to do is find a way to polish and smooth out those rough areas on the rubber. Also, when your car window glass is dry or covered with obstacles such as mud clumps, dried bird droppings, or other debris, please don’t use the wipers. If your vehicle is parked for an extended period, the “wiper blade’s rubber lip” may become brittle and harden, hindering its normal movement. In such cases, we recommend replacing the wiper blades altogether. Moreover, if during driving, sand or gravel kicked up by the vehicle ahead collides with your windshield, causing dents or unevenness on the glass surface, this can also impair the wipers’ performance. Such damage is often difficult to repair; in severe cases, the only solution is to replace the windshield entirely. Therefore, when driving at high speeds, try to avoid following large trucks too closely—especially those hauling sand or gravel. To ensure optimal wiping and cleaning performance, we recommend that car owners use glass cleaner produced by reputable manufacturers rather than plain water. This is because professional glass cleaners contain ingredients that help dissolve oil stains and improve the wetting properties of the glass surface.

Basic structure of a windshield wiper

The electric windshield wiper is driven by a motor and typically consists of components such as the wiper arm, the wiper blade assembly, rubber wiper blades, blade holders, blade supports, the wiper arm spindle, the wiper baseplate, the electric motor, the reduction mechanism, the drive rod assembly, the drive rod hinges, the wiper switch, and the wiper switch knob. Of course, wipers equipped with a wiper ECU also feature an electronic control unit (ECU). The electric windshield wiper is driven by an electric motor; the left and right wiper blades are pressed against the outer surface of the windshield by the wiper arm. The motor rotates the reduction mechanism, which in turn drives the drive rod system to perform reciprocating motion, causing the wiper arm and blades to swing from side to side and effectively wipe the windshield.

How Wiper Blades Work

The motor in the electric windshield wiper is driven by a worm gear on the armature shaft, which in turn drives the output shaft. The output shaft then transmits power via an idler gear and an idler gear shaft to the output gear. Finally, the output shaft actuates the output arm, which is connected to the windshield wiper linkage. As the motor rotates, the output arm and linkage are driven to perform reciprocating motion in the forward and backward directions. A resistor located on the control switch is connected in series with the armature winding of the motor to regulate the motor’s speed. By toggling the switch as needed, the driver can allow current to flow into the motor’s input circuit.

How often should car windshield wipers be replaced?

It’s generally recommended to replace wiper blades once a year. However, if the wipers are still working effectively and show no signs of aging, there’s no need to replace them yet. The key is to pay close attention to the condition of the wiper blades themselves. If you notice that the wipers are already leaving streaks or failing to clean the windshield properly during use, it’s time to replace them. In addition, regular maintenance of your wipers is essential—specifically, keeping the wiper blade area clean to prevent excessive buildup of dirt and debris on the wiper strip and to avoid any foreign objects getting caught in the blades. If foreign objects become lodged in the wipers, they won’t clean the windshield effectively, which not only speeds up the aging of the rubber strip but also increases the risk of scratching the windshield. The correct approach is to remove any debris or dirt from the wiper blade area every time you wash your car or at regular intervals. Start by rinsing the area with water, then gently wipe the wiper strip with a cotton cloth or paper towel. This method ensures cleaner wiping performance and extends the lifespan of your wiper blades.