Windscreen Wipers Skipping / Shuddering / Squeaking

[brisgtimkv]

Since they're a Bosch product, and not just some no-name oem crap often used by other manufacturers, I'd be very surprised if they're not already a silicon blend...


As for the skipping issue. I find that I've only had that when I have some contaminent on the windscreen... a thorough cleaning with a good automotive glass cleaner and microfibre cloth has fixed that up for me on the 1 occasion I've had it. Use the same cleaner on the blades too! (I just use Meguiars glass cleaner btw... it's probably one of the few Megs products which is actually any good!)

do this first, then check the wiper arms aren't bent or fouled in some way. when i had the mkv some idiot yanked the wiper to put some a note under it and ended up bending it a little. caused it to skip.

[khamtran]

As for the skipping issue. I find that I've only had that when I have some contaminent on the windscreen... a thorough cleaning with a good automotive glass cleaner and microfibre cloth has fixed that up for me on the 1 occasion I've had it. Use the same cleaner on the blades too! (I just use Meguiars glass cleaner btw... it's probably one of the few Megs products which is actually any good!)

I only used a non-ammonia version of Windex to clean the front windscreen, but not the wipers. This does fix the problem initially but after some heavy rain the skipping starts again.

[khamtran]

If they're skipping on the Golf, I'd just fix why they're skipping. Also, don't replace them in 15,000km - they really don't need it - unless you only do 15,000km in like 5 years... they don't need it. If they did need it, it'd make me wonder about what products are being used to clean the car, or where the car is being parked etc, which has made them deteriorate so quickly - and whether that is what is possibly causing the skipping...

I guess my request to replace them on at the 15,000km service (11 months of driving) was in part due to my ignorance of not knowing that they can last longer.

My car is only ever hose cleaned at the local hand car wash. Apart from that all my other carcare products are Meguiars.

[Danny]

Yeah they are the biggest dodgeys the service depot's I just had the XR6 Turbo Ute in for its First (15,000km) service, and they told me that it needed new wipers. I laughed at the guy and asked if he was joking, to which he kept a straight face and told me they were "streaking". I just shook my head and told him I had a renault for 4 years and never changed the blades once, never a problem, and there was no problem to my eye with the wipers on the Turbs anyway.

As said before it's a cash grab.

Khamtran, try polishing and buffing the window see how that goes.

[khamtran]

Khamtran, try polishing and buffing the window see how that goes.

I did do that with some Windex and a microfibre cloth which fixes it initially but the problem comes back after some rain.

I'm popping into the dealership today and so I'll see what they have to say.

[Brendan_A]

Use a clay block and mint lube on the screen. That will get rid of any contamination on the screen, then you can finish it off with Duragloss Nu-Glass. I had the same problem on my rear screen.

[brad]

The Bosch blades are the best I've ever used on any car... including swapping out 3 different brands of silicon blades within a few months back in my pre-VW days cause I wasn't happy with the OEM ones on previous cars.

If they're skipping on the Golf, I'd just fix why they're skipping. Also, don't replace them in 15,000km - they really don't need it - unless you only do 15,000km in like 5 years... they don't need it. If they did need it, it'd make me wonder about what products are being used to clean the car, or where the car is being parked etc, which has made them deteriorate so quickly - and whether that is what is possibly causing the skipping...

i'd agree with all this. I used to change wiper blades every 6 months on my old cars. Still on the original Bosch aero after 2.5 years/60,000km. They work like new.

[Corey_R]

Use a clay block and mint lube on the screen. That will get rid of any contamination on the screen, then you can finish it off with Duragloss Nu-Glass. I had the same problem on my rear screen.

Yeah - this is good advice, because even if a window looks clean, it can still have contaiminents on it.
From our friends at Car Care Products...

Mint Grey Clay Bar + Lube + Cloth kit for $29.95

Also, get rid of your Windex and use a product specifically for automotive glass that won't upset your wipers... I use Meguiars glass cleaner, but that's mostly cause I've got most the bottle left and when I bought it I was one of these uneducated people who thought that Meguiars were actually good. So as per TDiJetta09's suggestion, try Duragloss Glass Cleaner for $16.95. I haven't specifically used it, but I've been using several other Duragloss products, and I have no doubt it would be great.

Whilst you're there, I can highly recommend the Mint Microfibre Glass cloth for $9.95. This is the first microfibre cloth I've seen specifically designed for glass. If you look at the closeup photo, it's actually "ribbed" in its construction - so you wipe it in the one direction. I fold it into half (length ways) and then thirds, and use one surface to do the initial wiping, and then another surface to do the "final wipe".

Also, make sure you visit the Bodywork/Trim & Detailing forum here at VWwc and get your discount code for Car Care Products

[khamtran]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will try TDiJetta09's suggestion of using a clay bar, mint lube and Duragloss Glass Cleaner.

And thanks Corey_R, regarding the discount code for Care Car Products

[hooba]

I'd also recommend you'd stop using windex on it.