Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
Aftermarket wiper inserts don't seem to wipe the windshield properly on my Altima. The driver's side is especially bad – they don't clear the rain once they're about 12 inches from the hood. The top part of the blade just seems to smear the water, and leave streaks near the top. I have tried three different sets of wiper inserts, all different brands. There's no dust or sand here, no temperature extremes, average humidity, etc. The climate is pretty moderate. When I say "inserts", I mean the metal and rubber that attaches to the wiper arms.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
I would recommend stoping by your local dealer and getting a pair of Nissan wiper blades for your car. Then I would get a good quality window cleaner and try and clean off the windows. If you are using a washer fluid with additives like Rain-X, then this fluid may put a film on your window that will not let the wiper make good contact with the window after it starts to build up. Try and use just plain window washer fluid and clean your windshield real good. This should fix the issue. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then have the windshield wiper system inspected for bent wiper arms and or defective glass on the window.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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It`s often hard to distinguish whether your wipers are streaking, skipping or smearing, but generally smearing is caused by either worn blades, a dirty windscreen or poor quality washer fluid.
A common reason why your windshield wipers might be smearing water is worn wiper blades. Wiper blades are made out of soft rubber, so they inevitably wear out and need replacement over time. In fact, many automotive manufacturers recommend replacing wiper blades every six months.
Smearing in Both Directions
Consider replacing your wiper fluid first to see if it resolves the issue. Buy a good screen wash and add it to the water bottle. You may also want to clean the wiper blades and your windscreen as well. The smudging is usually dead insects, dirt, etc., on your windscreen.
Possible causes for rubbing, squeaking or rattling wipers can be: Wax residues or dirt on the windscreen weren`t removed beforehand. New wipers haven`t been adjusted properly after they`ve been changed. Older wiper blades with rubber that has already hardened no longer glide cleanly.
Wipers that don`t clean effectively can leave streaks or blurry patches. They can chatter and squeak on the screen or leave lines. They also won`t effectively remove grime from the windscreen which causes this kind of blurry effect with rain and spray.
Applying rubbing alcohol to the blade of each wiper will do two things: one, it will clean any and all debris from the wiper blade itself, helping to maintain an abrasive-free clean when you use your wipers, and two: excess grime on the blades will cause streaking and annoying squeaking noises.
Smears and streaks on windows are mainly caused by watermarks and areas where cleaning solution has remained on the surface – this is down to excess moisture not being absorbed when wiped away. Window cleaning products will say that they are streak-free, but it is not that simple.
A big problem is the evaporation rate. If you`re cleaning your windows on a warm sunny day, the liquid part of the solution evaporates quickly and leaves behind a residue that appears as streaks. On the other hand, if you don`t entirely remove the liquid you can also be left with a streaky window.
You can even make homemade windshield water repellent by mixing a simple solution of half a cup of rubbing alcohol and a cup of water into a spray bottle. This solution will become warm, so wait until it cools to use it.
Take a close look at your windshield wipers. Is the rubber all one smooth piece or is it cracked, split, or broken off in places? If you see any imperfections in the rubber, that means it`s time for new wiper blades. The blade may also get a rounded look, which means it`s gotten too old and you should replace it.
If your windscreen wipers are dirty and not performing as they should, run a cloth soaked in DYC White Vinegar down the length of each blade once or twice. This will remove any film that is preventing the blades from working properly.
The best and most resourceful rubber protector you will find is petroleum jelly (Vaseline for the skin). Mildly apply a small amount of petroleum jelly on the cloth and rub it on the wiper blades. Just like your skin, it will retain the original properties of the rubber blade, and will keep it clean and nourished.
For starters, plain water does not have the cleaning power necessary to eliminate road grime, mud, and dead insects from the windshield. In addition, water will freeze when exposed to frigid temperatures, and tap water contains hard minerals that can clog up the pump and spray nozzles.
A windscreen washer reservoir containing any amount of household detergent must never be used. These liquids are formulated to remove grease and oils from ceramics, stainless steel and glass. Most of these are therefore detrimental to wax and even the clear coat that protects your paint.
There are a number of reasons for wipers to leave water haze across the windscreen during operation (Fig. 1). The exposure to wide variations in temperatures whilst the wipers are parked without being used for long periods of time results in deformation of the wiper rubber (Fig 2).
These products can be harmful and even fatal if swallowed, inhaled, or splashed on the skin or in the eye. For example, windshield washer fluid can cause blindness and possible death in small amounts.
The most common is a water-fed pole cleaner mounted on an extendable pole for easy access to exterior windows. This setup requires significant investment into tools and training but makes cleaning high windows simple. The next most common option is a pair of squeegee and scrubber tools mounted on poles.
If you have smeared windows when you`re finished cleaning, you`ve left cleaning solution, soap, or minerals behind. Whether you have white residue on windows or another blemish, the solution is the same. Clean faster, use cleaner water, and wipe away all your solution, so nothing is left behind.
When you cannot get the fog on your windshield to disappear, you most likely have oil mixed with moisture causing that hard-to-remove smidge on your windshield. Oil can come from something like the cleaning product you used to wipe the surfaces or even the type of air fresheners you have in your car.
New wiper blades.
Most wiper blades tend to come coated in a fine powder, which helps to smooth out friction until the rubber softens up, but some manufacturers don`t do this – which is what causes juddering.
Overall, the cheaper blades should do as fine a job of cleaning your car windshield when new. The same applies to generic wiper blades versus well-known brand names. Differences in noise, streaking or cleaning ability has more to do with keeping your blades clean rather than what they`re made of.
White vinegar is a great household item you can use to clear off the car wax from your windshield.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
ANSWER : I would recommend stoping by your local dealer and getting a pair of Nissan wiper blades for your car. Then I would get a good quality window cleaner and try and clean off the windows. If you are using a washer fluid with additives like Rain-X, then this fluid may put a film on your window that will not let the wiper make good contact with the window after it starts to build up. Try and use just plain window washer fluid and clean your windshield real good. This should fix the issue. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then have the windshield wiper system inspected for bent wiper arms and or defective glass on the window.
Read Full Q/A … : Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
My windshield has a black mark because my wiper blade was stolen and I operated the wiper without the blade; how can I remove this
ANSWER : You can use a mild polish like a toothpaste that will clean the glass without scratching the glass. Use it with small circular motion to polish off the marks.
Read Full Q/A … : Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
Wiper has to manually be lifted before working – 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
ANSWER : You will have to replace the "wiper arm shaft" and/or wiper arm for the side which isn’t working. Both of these components have very small splines which interlock when the nut is tightened. A heavy snow or ice load can cause the splines to break down, or strip, rather than damage the electric motor. A certified technician from YourMechanic can replace the windshield wiper arm at your home or office.
Read Full Q/A … : Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
Intermittent Windshield Wipers move 1/4 of the way
ANSWER : Your windshield wiper motor controller is not able to control the motor to bring it to the park position. The problem is in the wiper motor most likely or the body control module since you have same issue with the rear wiper also. Sine you are under basic warranty I would suggest having the dealer check to see if it is a covered repair. If not then a mechanic like one from YourMechanic can check and do the repairs for you.
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How much to install a windshield wiper motor
ANSWER : Hi there. It depends on the type of car you drive and the auto repair shop you go to that often dictates the price for replacement of a windshield wiper motor. Our mechanics are mobile, which means they don’t have the overhead that repair shops have. They provide you convenience by coming to your home or office. Simply submit a quote request for a windshield wiper motor replacement including your vehicle information and we’ll be able to send you a quote.
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My windshield wipers stopped working the motor seems to be working since when i turn them on you can hear a sound but they wont wi
ANSWER : Hi there. When the motor is working, but the windshield wipers do not move, the issue is typically caused by a broken wiper arm or perhaps one of the internal links inside the motor is broken. The best way to have any problem like this correctly diagnosed is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a wipers are not working inspection. This will allow them to identify the damaged parts and make the correct repairs.
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Can a jeep run and drive without a water pump??
ANSWER : Driving or running the engine without the water pump working to circulate the coolant through the motor will cause the motor to overheat and may damage the engine costing thousands of dollars versus using a tow truck to take the vehicle to the shop that will cost a lot less. I would not recommend running the engine more than a few minutes at a time or you will overheat it.
Read Full Q/A … : Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
Windshield wipers move slow and get stuck
ANSWER : A few different items can cause the windshield wipers to work slow. The most common causes are the windshield motor beginning to fail, poor electrical connection at the windshield motor, or high resistance at the wiper motor. A qualified technician will be able to diagnose your window issue and perform any repairs required.
Read Full Q/A … : Aftermarket wiper blades just seem to smear water on my windshield
