I can only imagine how frustrated you are if you’ve found this article. Most of us find out our windshield wipers don’t work the hard way, but getting stuck in the rain, or having to pull over to scrape mud off our windshield that a passing truck carelessly splashed on it. If we’re being honest driving without windshield wipers can be unbelievably frustrating, not to mention extremely dangerous. If you were one of the lucky ones and discovered your broken windshield wipers on a clear day, it is important to fix them before using your vehicle again. You never know when a rainstorm will pop up, or you’ll need to wash your windshield due to road debris, bugs or other hazards.
Virtually every vehicle on the road today use a similar simple mechanism to create the desired motion of the windshield wiper blade. The whole system looks something like the drive arm on an old steam locomotive. A motor constantly rotating in one direction turns an arm that is connected to a linkage. That linkage is then connected by an arm to the pivot point or stud. In this way, the constant rotary motion of the motor is converted to a forward and backward motion of an arm, which moves the wiper arm in an arc across the windshield. For a video of this linkage and motion, check out http://auto.howstuffworks.com/wiper1.htm. Like any mechanical system, the pivot points can wear out over time causing the linkage to fall apart or at least get sloppy. This can easily cause your windshield wipers to be unable to clear your windshield properly. In this case, the only good solution is to replace the linkage from the motor to the wiper arm pivot point.
Since your windshield wipers are driven by an electric motor, there could also be an electrical problem in the system that is causing problems. The most common electrical problem in your windshield wiper system is a blown fuse so that’s a good place to start. The fuse will most likely be in the main fuse block under the hood. Other problems could include a burnt out wiper motor, a problem with the wiper control switch or a problem with the delay module. For more information about hunting down electrical problems like this, try reading our article about diagnosing electrical problems.
Bad or poorly performing wiper blades can cause your windshield wipers to not work in a way as they won’t properly clear your windshield. New wiper blades are easy to install and relatively inexpensive so we recommend replacing them anytime your old ones aren’t working properly, or every 30,000 miles.
The reality is no windshield wiper system really works well without the proper windshield wiper fluid. Dry wiper blades on a dirty window often just make the situation worse. Rainwater does not do a good job clearing dirt and grime stuck on your windshield and it can be necessary to use washer fluid. Choosing windshield washer fluid should be about more than just finding whatever is easy to grab on the way out of the store. BlueDevil Windshield Washer Concentrate is an industrial strength concentrated formula that you can mix with water to the desired strength. It is a powerful road grime and bug remover while still being safe on your car’s finish and metal and rubber components. 1 bottle of BlueDevil Windshield Washer Concentrate can make up to 16 gallons of washer fluid and is the perfect companion to a properly operating windshield wiper system.
Pick up BlueDevil Windshield Washer Concentrate today at your favorite local auto parts store like:
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windshield_wiper_switch.jpg – by Prasit Photo – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link
winshield_wiper.jpg – By IndyEdge – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link
