new maintenance document: WIPER-BLADE

John:

Thanks for the very high quality pdf!

Inbetween changing blades, I have found that soaking a paper towel in isopropyl alcohol - the same stuff you get at a grocery store as an antiseptic rub - really improves the cleaning.

You'd be surprised the gunk you get off the blade. The paper towel will be black/brown with nasty residue.

Jay

 

diesel soot mainly.

 

Oh great ... I wonder what that crap is doing to my lungs. Might as well smoke 5 packs a day and get it over with.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon\";p=\"101880)</div>

I thought most of the black you rub off is graphite which is what colors the wiper black and acts as a lubricant as well.

 

John, that is really useful! Thanks!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DonDNH\";p=\"102283)</div>

I've noticed that if I have a wiper blade that chatters, cleaning the blade with Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol) usually gets rid of the chatter. Also doesn't streak either.

If that was some sort of lubricant, the wiper blade would work much worse after I used the alcohol to clean it.

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:e0cdf04449]Thanks John, a good guide. You might also want to mention how to remove the front blade holders, which can make replacing the rubber much easier. It doesn't seem the rear blade holder can be removed.

I usually carry a couple of alcohol prep-pads in my glove box. These are the pads the doctor uses to cleanse your skin before an injection. You can get them at the drug store in big boxes (diabetics who need insulin shots use them) or ask at the doctor's office for a few on your next visit. Sealed in little foil packets, they are ready the next time you wipe tree sap onto your windshield.[/font:e0cdf04449]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a\";p=\"102729)</div>

[font=Comic Sans MS:7711f05e2a]Feedback offered.

I personally find it easier to remove the blade carrier and not have to work at an awkward angle on the front wipers. I didn't find I needed to press hard or exert force to remove the carriers. The back blade is easier to thread in place since it is closer to, and parallel, the side of the car.

To each his own.[/font:7711f05e2a]

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:73002a9c58]When I read your guide, I went and removed the driver's side wiper to see how well your guide described the process. Removing the rubber was easy, threading it back in in mid-air was not. So I removed the holder and easily slid in the rubber and easily remounted the holder. While it is easy to get the holder off with the rubber still in place, it's very easy to get it off with the rubber out of the way. It's a standard hook.

I'm thinking of replacing the regular rubber wipers with the silicone PIAA blades PriusChat sponsor SigmaAutomotive offers.[/font:73002a9c58]

 

Hi John:

Nope, nowhere close. If you put "pure" alcohol in the squirter tank, you'd probably destroy the washer pump, the hoses, and the wiper blades too. Probably even dissolve the washer tank. The stuff you buy at the auto parts store is watered down quite a bit.

I use the washer fluid "Motomaster" from Canadian Tire because it's cheap - $2.99 for 4 litres - and is rated at -45 C. It works well and I always keep a spare jug in the car. At the very least, I can use it to wipe the bugs off the wiper blades after a drive.

One thing about the washer fluid is that it also has a lot of additives, especially a coloring agent, and detergents and surfactants (Surface Active Agent). That can stay behind as a noticeable film on the glass, and may cause wiper chatter.

OTOH, the rubbing alcohol you probably have in your bathroom is clear and 70%. At that strength, I only use it when I notice a streak in the wiper action or no more than once every 2-3 weeks. You're actually removing some of the material when you wipe the blade with rubbing alcohol.

When I lived in Utah and Nevada, I used that "summer" washer fluid. The winter stuff evaporates at temps of 100 F or higher and will cause problems. As long as it stayed way above freezing, the summer stuff worked great.

Jay

 

Bill:

That's a great head's up. I tried removing the holder this morning, took them up to my condo, and found it very easy to remove the old blade and slide it back in.

Jay

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman\";p=\"103411)</div>

[font=Comic Sans MS:4fc88f334f]
Thanks Jay. That's why I made the suggestion to John about including wiper holder removal in his guide.

I'm not a tall guy, and reaching over the windshield and trying to thread the rubber and metal stiffeners up into the holder was too difficult. The "sandwich" kept wanting to fall apart. It's summer time now, so standing outside leaning over the windshield isn't unlpeasant. If it was cold and rainy, trying to thread the rubber and metal stiffeners in mid-air would be a real chore.[/font:4fc88f334f]

 

Do we have to use Toyota blades or are they standarized? I bought 24" and 17" Micheline blades but haven't put them on yet. Thanks.

 

You mean the inserts? I honestly don't know. Before I put on my winter wiper blades at the beginning of November, I got new refills at my dealer: $6.50 and $5 for the smaller one.

BTW when I was shopping for winter wiper blades, my dealer was quite competitive too: with tax $22 Canadian for both of them. Canadian Tire wanted almost that much for one.