When rain, dirt, sleet or snow happen, it's important to
have the right wiper blades for the job. Wiper blades have come a long way
since they first became standard issue on vehicles, so we invite you to learn
more about these devices and how to properly maintain them.
Cadillac introduced vacuum-driven wipers in the 20s and
other manufacturers soon followed suit.
Quick Tips:
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Listen for slapping, screeching or vibrating.
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Slapping means the rubber has torn from the arm.
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Screeching indicates there is friction between
the glass and the blade.
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Vibrating means the blade is worn or not mounted
on the arm correctly.
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Look at the wipe pattern.
If you see a lace pattern that means the rubber has bent
too far.
If you see a filmy haze after wiping, there most likely
is oil or road debris on the rubber.
Cracked or hardened rubber will result in streaks when
the blades attempt to remove water.
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Examine the blades.
Look for splits or gouges in the rubber, discoloration or
ragged edges.
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Have you replaced your Wiper Blades with in the
last 12 months?
Wiper Blade Maintenance
You may need to replace your wiper blades if:
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Your current blades leave streaks or miss
sections of your windshield
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Your current blades leave a haze on the
windshield
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You haven’t replaced them in the past 12 months
or don’t recall ever replacing them
Did you know?
Maintenance tips:
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You should Inspect the windshield wiper blades
every six months for wear and damage, and change at least once a year.
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Do not wait to replace them. Eyestrain from poor
visibility can lead to driver fatigue. Remembering
to inspect your wiper blades will help avoid potentially dangerous situations.
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Give your wiper blade rubber elements a quick
cleaning when filling up with gas. After the windshield has been cleaned using
service center's washer solvent and squeegee, wipe down the rubber with a paper
towel. Doing so removes any loose dirt and most road grime that can lead to
streaking, smearing or hazing.
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Use an ice scraper as much as possible when
de-icing vehicles. Allow plenty of time to warm up the vehicle with the
defroster on "high" to loosen as much ice and snow as possible. Do
not use windshield wipers as ice scrapers; it causes a high rate of damage to
the wiper blades
What causes windshield wiper
wear?
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Sun: ultraviolet light and ozone deterioration
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Oil: car waxes and exhaust hold
rubber-deteriorating oil
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Airborne debris: sand, mud and dust carried in
the wind
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Moisture: Acid rain and salt water (in moist air
both near the shore and inland)
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Temperature: extreme cold and heat cause
hardening and softening of the rubber element
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| This is NOT a good idea... |
Indicators to look for:
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Streaking: blurry vision caused by dry or dirty
rubber blades
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Chattering: skipping of the blade caused by a
permanent set or curve in the rubber of old blades
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Lift-off: over time the arm tension deteriorates
causing the blades to lift
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Squealing: worn blade edges cause excessive
friction and ultimately noise
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Windshield scratches: in extreme cases, the
wiper can deteriorated enough to cause scratches on your windshield
Did you know?
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Wiper blades that are worn can cause excessive
load on the wiper motor and linkage and lead to premature failure
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If the blade is worn to the point where the
metal frame can come into contact with the windshield at any point of rotation,
then scratching/grooving can occur. In some cases windshield replacement would
be the only fix.
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If the blades do not clean well, the tendency is
to use your washer fluid repeatedly until the windshield is clean. This
generally causes excessive washer system and washer fluid use and could end up
costing you as much as replacement blades or even more
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Driver and passenger wiper blades can be
different sizes
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Types of
wiper blades
There are many different types of wiper blades to fit any
requirement and budget. The
better the blade, the better the performance and the longer the life.
Choose the ones that are
right for you.
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All-Season
Wiper Blades
Good
replacement standard blades for occasional drivers who are value conscious
Polymer wiper
blade designed to resist rusting, chipping or bending.
Coating on the
rubber parts helps reduce streaking, friction and noise
Aerodynamic design helps reduce wind lift
Pre-installed
universal adapter fits most wiper arms directly and makes installation easy
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Performance
Wiper Blades
Better option
for most drivers
High strength
steel blade with easy fit assembly for quick installation
Has
corrosion-resistant epoxy coatings designed to resist rusting, chipping or
bending
Made from
natural rubber, which helps reduce streaking, friction and noise
Fits virtually
all wiper arms directly making installation easy
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All-Season
Plus Wiper Blades
Great option
for heavy highway drivers
Includes all of
the features of the All-Season blades plus the following:
Extra-thick,
rugged steel superstructure for better strength
Pre-installed
universal adapter fits most wiper arms directly
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Winter
Wiper Blades
This specialty blade includes the following
characteristics:
Rubber boot helps
prevent snow and ice build-up
Riveted steel superstructure for strength and
durability
http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/services/goodwrench/wipers/
They provide us some very useful information, as well as the standard option descriptions that are added to that particular 
2. Fuel Economy and Environmental Impact
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