When to get new wiper blades?

Wiper blades are one of the most ignored parts on cars today. Many blades are worn out or just in general bad shape.  They might look okay but they do a bad job of wiping the rain off.
   
Did you know that more than 50% of our quick thinking and maneuvering driving actions are based on timing and a clear view? If the wipers are skipping, streaking or failing to wipe cleanly, you need new blades -- NOW!
    We at Bill Tyson's Auto Repair think wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum performance. That's because wiper blades don't last forever it doesn't matter what type of rubber it is made from. Natural rubber deteriorates over time. Halogen-hardened rubber and synthetic rubber provides longer life but get warped and need to be replaced. 

How does this happen?  Wipers may develop a permanent formation or like a curve, that stops full contact with the windshield. This tends to be more of a problem on vehicles that are parked outside in the hot sun all day like in Florida. The sun bakes and hardens the rubber, so it shrinks up and becomes deformed over time. Then when the wipers are needed, they streak and skip because they've become a different shape and now can't curvature of the windshield. It can be very annoying and dangerous in extreme rain like we get during the summer.

 Heavy use can be hard on wiper blades, too, because dust, abrasives, road grime and even bug juice wear away the edge that the blades need to wipe cleanly. When the blade loses its edge, water gets under the blade and remains on the glass. The result is a smeared wiping. 

 

Check it out...

A simple check is to try your windshield washers. This is the opportunity to check your windshield washer system. Do both squirters work? If not, a nozzle may be plugged with dirt or a hose may be kinked or loose. Does the spray hit the windshield where it is supposed to? If not, the nozzles need adjusting. Does the washer pump deliver an adequate stream of solvent? If not, the vehicle may have a weak washer pump, or a clogged, or loose hose. Most washer pumps have a screen to filter out dirt. If this screen itself is clogged up, it can choke off the flow of solvent to the washers.

 After you've checked the windshield wipers, check the rear wiper.  It's just as important to see what's behind you when backing up in the rain as it is to see what's ahead. Feel like you're unsure if its doing well or not? Bring it in to our Royal Palm Beach or Wellington location. Its free for us to look at it. We just want to make sure you are safe out there.

 

Wiper Arms, Not Blades!

 How well the wiper blades perform also depends on the condition of the wiper arms and holders. A blade's wiping ability is affected by the amount of spring tension on the wiper arm, the number of pressure points or claws that hold the blade, and the design of the blade itself. If the springs in the arms are weak (older vehicles), the wipers may not be pressed against the glass firmly enough to wipe cleanly. Replacing the blades won't make any difference because the problem is weak arms not bad blades. 

If the blades can be pulled away from the glass with little resistance, it's time for new arms.  
Check the tension on the rear wiper arm, too, because rear wiper arms are often damaged by drive-through car washers.

  Another factor to keep in mind is the design of the blade holder. A blade holder needs to distribute the tension of the wiper arm evenly over the blade while also allowing the blade to flex as it follows the changing curvature of the glass. The better quality replacement blade holders typically have six to eight claws to spread the pressure of the wiper arm over the blade. More claws also increases flexibility so the blades don't lose contact at the sides of the glass. 

Replacements

You can come on in to Bill Tyson's Auto Repair locations to have the blades checked. It's better to be safe than sorry. We are already in hurricane season and the wet weather. Please make sure you and your family are ready in these bad driving conditions. We have all been through it where the rain is coming down like sheets. It is actually a very inexpensive fix.
Right now we even have a deal going on for Anco wiper blades which fits most cars and can be done for under $20.
Come on over to Bill Tyson's, we are happy to help you with quality service at an honest value.