Rob, I just had my wiper blades replaced at my garage for chattering. The chatter happened each time the wipers moved up the windshield. It was recommended to replace them with an expensive pair of wipers and I figured this would cure the problem, was I wrong!
I'm out 40 bucks and I still have chattering wipers. The shop said there was nothing they could do. Can you help? Can you give me any advice I can take back to the shop?
Thank you, Kimberly
Kimberly, this is an easy fix and a very common complaint, especially after a hot summer. The skeptics are asking, what's a hot summer got to do with anything? I love skeptics.
During a long hot spell, the arms can spend weeks, if not months, "parked," that is, staying put in the down or parked position.
The arms are the pieces that attach the rubber "blade" to the pivot at the base of the windshield. When they get hot, they start to deform, or take on the twisted shape caused by the torque against the windshield when they are parked. This torque, combined with the heat, permanently changes the shape of the arm and consequently the angle of the rubber blade against the windshield.
For the blade to squeegee the water off the windshield, they need to be at 90 degrees to the windshield, or as close as possible, to work efficiently - in both directions. Imagine using the squeegee at a gas station by pushing it across the windshield instead of pulling it. You will notice that the angle of the rubber "blade" will be on a different angle; pushing as compared to pulling. This is what's going on with your wipers, Kimberly.
To fix this common problem, (that is, chattering on the upward wipe,) twist the metal arm so that the blade is rotated against the upward swipe direction. Pull the arm away from the windshield and have your mechanic twist the blade down, toward the bottom of the windshield.
Now there is a caution that goes along with this. Whoever performs this manoeuvre can't be too aggressive. Too much twisting will cause the blade to chatter in the opposite direction. This is a step-by-step procedure that requires a "touch."
- Make an adjustment
- Try the wipers
- Make another adjustment
- Try the wipers
One other thing Kimberly, if the new wipers have a metal backing to the rubber blade and the chattering only takes place at a certain spot on the blade, this twisting effort can be applied to that area alone. The metal part of the blade can be re-torqued at that location separately.
Please feel free to share this info with your shop; I'm sure they will appreciate the tip.
E-mail your car maintenance questions to Rob at GlobeDrive@globeandmail.com