All you have to know about car windshield wipers

Windshield wiper is a small, but very important part of the car, which requires regular maintenance and replacement, if necessary. When rain, autumn mud, leaves and snow fall on the front and rear window, defective windshield wipers will become quite unbearable and make driving more difficult or even dangerous. Car part and accessory shops recommends thinking about purchasing and installing wipers in advance, before the seasonal difficulties start to remind about them.

What defects of the windshield wipers deserve attention?

· Noise during wiping of the window

· The wipers fail to fit properly on the glass – either too snug or the opposite – too loose

· The glass is not fully cleaned

· Windshield wipers leave stains on the glass

How should you spot and check these defects?

Very simple – by turning on windshield wiping function, but you must add windshield washer fluid before. If you notice any of these defects, it is clear that the wipers should be changed.

What do these defects indicate of?

· Mechanic damage of the wipers

· Excessive wear of the wipers

· Damages of other structural elements of the wiper mechanism

What is the cause of these defects?

· Weather — the more precipitation, the quicker the windshield wipers wear down

· Mechanical damage, caused by cleaning ice-covered or very dirty surface

· Cleaning windows without washer fluid or using poor quality windshield washer fluid

What is the service life of windshield wipers?

To a certain extent it depends on the manufacturer’s quality and other factors, affecting the degree of wear and tear, but usually their service life is 4 – 6 months. After this period it is recommended to change them to avoid damaging the windshield.

What types of windshield wipers are there?

· Framed wipers or rubber wipers in metal frame will be cheaper and more popular in Latvia.

· Frameless wipers have appeared on the market rather recently. These are more expensive, but it is believed that they have better appearance and service life.

· Hybrid wipers or the gold middle between the framed and frameless wipers both in terms of price and functionality

Can I change the wipers myself?

There is nothing particularly complicated in this process, but the first time it is better to leave replacement of windshield wipers to a professional, who will show you how to do it, and then you will be able to change them yourself! After purchase of new wipers you can visit service and any car part you have purchased will be installed in a qualitative manner!