Despite its small size, car windshield wipers are one of the essential and indispensable parts of a car. Originating in 1896, this component has the function of removing rainwater and dirt from the car windshield, thereby ensuring the driver’s visibility. Car windshield wipers are important, so you need to know when to replace them and choose the right type to ensure quality. In the article below, Tinxe.vn will help you answer questions related to car windshield wipers.
Car windshield wipers
Structure of car windshield wipers
Car windshield wipers are composed of the following main parts:
- Car windshield wiper arm, rubber wiper blade, and metal wiper blade
- Car windshield wiper switch and windshield washer: located inside the car, usually below the steering wheel
- Car windshield wiper motor
- Windshield washer motor
- Wiper control relay (if available)
- Rain sensor (if available)
How to turn on car windshield wipers
It may sound simple, but not everyone knows how to turn on car windshield wipers, especially those who are new to using cars. Here, we will guide you on how to turn on car wipers.
First, you need to determine the position of the car wiper control. Usually, the car wiper control is located on the right side of the driver, just below the steering wheel.
The car wiper control will have some symbols such as Mist, Off, and Auto to adjust the front windshield wipers. Auto will be divided into 2 modes: Lo (slow) and Hi (fast), allowing you to adjust the speed of the car wipers.
For hatchback or SUVs with 2 front/rear wipers, the car wiper control will have additional symbols such as Off, Int (intermittent), and On to adjust the rear window wipers.
Here are the steps you need to remember when using the front windshield wipers:
- When you want to spray windshield washer fluid, simply pull the car wiper control towards you.
- When you want to activate the wipers once, push the wiper control up.
- When you want to activate the automatic wipers, pull the wiper control down to the first notch.
- When you want to activate the slow wipers, pull the control down to the second notch.
- When you want to activate the fast wipers, pull the control down to the third notch.
Meanwhile, for the rear windshield wiper, you just need to follow these steps:
- When you want to activate the rear windshield wiper once, turn the knob to the Int symbol.
- When you want to activate the rear windshield wiper continuously, turn it to the On symbol.
In addition, some cars also have a rear windshield washer mode with a symbol on the Off button.
Common car wiper problems
After a period of use, car wipers will gradually wear out, and the rubber wiper blades may become stiff. Especially with the hot and humid tropical climate and a lot of dust in Vietnam, car windshield wipers often deteriorate faster than usual.
When the rubber wiper blade wears out, the plastic or metal inside will be exposed and rub against the glass surface. This will cause the wipers to squeak, not clean the water on the glass, or even scratch the glass.
In addition, if you find that the car wipers are still working normally but the windshield is blurry, you should clean the wiper arm because this is a sign that the wiper blades are dirty and not cleaning the dust on the glass.
If the car wipers leave thin flat marks on the glass, it is likely that the rubber wiper blades are cracked or stiff. If the car wipers leave marks with a zigzag pattern, the wiper blades may be deformed.
All these phenomena can reduce the driver’s visibility and can be dangerous. Therefore, when you notice these phenomena, you should quickly replace the car wipers.
How to replace car windshield wipers?
According to the recommendations of manufacturers, car wiper blades should be replaced on a regular schedule of 6-8 months. The process of replacing car wiper blades is not difficult, and car owners can even do it themselves at home.
On each type of car, the windshield has a different curvature, so it needs to be paired with suitable wiper blades. Therefore, before replacing car wiper blades, you should look at the shape of the old wiper blades to buy the right type. If you are more careful, you can also use a ruler to measure the length of the old wiper arm. Of course, most auto parts stores will have suitable wiper blades for each type of car. So, you just need to read the name and model of the car, and the seller will choose the right type for you.
After buying the new car wiper blades, now is the time to proceed with the replacement at home:
Step 1: Pull the wiper control away from the glass, hold it firmly to prevent it from slipping out of your hand. Otherwise, the wiper arm may spring back and break the glass.
Step 2: Locate and gently squeeze the clip behind the connecting rod, then the wiper blade will quickly slide out.
Step 3: Remove the old wiper blade, place a soft cloth on the windshield, and place the removed wiper arm back in its original position.
Step 4: Use a cloth to wipe the windshield and wiper arm before installing the new wiper blade.
Step 5: Pull the wiper control away from the glass, install the new wiper blade according to the instructions in the accessory packaging, and gently place the wiper arm back in its original position.
Currently, there are many types of car wiper blades on the market with prices ranging from 70,000 – 1,300,000 VND ($3-57), depending on the quality and type of car. For luxury car models like Mercedes-Benz, car wiper blades can be more expensive. However, when buying car wiper blades, you should not go for the cheapest option as you may end up with poor quality products that break after a few uses and even scratch your beloved car’s glass.
In addition to replacing car wiper blades, car owners should also remember to regularly top up windshield washer fluid. You should buy specialized windshield washer fluid instead of mixing your own at home to ensure cleaning performance.
How to properly maintain car windshield wipers?
“Durability lies in maintenance” is a saying that is rarely wrong, and it applies to car wiper blades as well. During use, you should remember the following to extend the lifespan of your car wipers.
– Do not start car wipers when the windshield is dry.
– Use specialized windshield washer fluid
– Regularly clean windshield wipers, especially the wiper blades.
– When parking under the hot sun, park the wiper in the raised position to prevent the rubber from melting due to heat absorption from the windshield’s surface.
– Do not leave the car parked under the hot sun for too long as it may cause the car wipers to deteriorate.
With the above article, we hope you have a clear understanding of how to use and replace car windshield wipers, thereby no longer feeling confused during use.
Lan Quyen
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In the following article, we will provide you with the most comprehensive information about car windshield wipers, such as how to turn on car windshield wipers, how to replace car wiper blades, or how to extend the lifespan of this component.
