Some motorists may underestimate the importance of proper windshield wiper operation. Serviceable “wipers” are a guarantee of safety and impeccable visibility. Failure or poor operation of the windshield wipers leads to a deterioration in visibility and can cause an accident. Surely, many drivers have noticed that the "wiper" brushes begin to perform their function poorly in the cold season. I propose to figure out why this is happening and how to ensure their quality work in the most adverse weather conditions.
First, let's talk about how to choose the right quality windshield wiper blades and their importance to safety.
High-quality wiper blades are one of the important components of road safety. Do not take them as a banal strip of rubber. In fact, “wipers” are the result of the work of a large number of designers and engineers from around the world. Of course, this applies only to real, high-quality brushes, and not fakes, which are full on the market today.
Main Feature good brushes is the high-quality fulfillment of their purpose, they clean the glass of the car from dirt and water in a few moves. While fakes or low-quality "wipers" sometimes cannot cope with this even in ten passes. The only negative when buying windshield wipers is that there is no way to check their performance immediately.
However, fake brushes can sometimes be identified visually. The main thing you need to pay attention to when buying "wipers" is the edge of the gum. It must be perfectly flat. In most cases, the purity of automotive glass depends on its quality. In addition, attention should be paid to the uniformity of the texture and color of the gum. And it is better that it does not have rounded working edges and burrs.
As for the manufacturers of wipers, everything is simple here - cheap brushes will perform the entire function an order of magnitude worse than “branded” ones. In addition, cheap brushes can ruin the glass. High-quality "wipers" are not afraid of temperature changes and clean the glass in any weather.
ACCORDING TO THEIR DESIGN, WIPER BRUSHES ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE TYPES:
- frame - with a metal frame in the form of movable "rocker arms";
- frameless - the role of the frame is performed by an elastic metal plate;
- hybrid - the brush has a traditional frame, protected by a sealed cover.
Whichever type you choose, you must remember that brushes should be selected individually for each car model.
Now let's talk about the "longevity" of brushes. Windshield wipers are both complex and delicate at the same time. Even the best windshield wipers are pretty easy to mess up. And in order to maximize their service life, you need to remember a few secrets. I propose to pay special attention to the work of windshield wipers in the winter, since it is at this time that they are subject to special loads.
First of all, even before the onset of the first frost, it is necessary to fill in the "anti-freeze" in the washer reservoir. Otherwise, all tips for caring for brushes and the wiper mechanism lose their meaning.
As for the windshield wipers themselves, if you notice that they began to smear dirt on the glass, jump and publish extraneous sounds, do not immediately run to the store for new ones. You need to figure out what the problem is. You may not need to buy new brushes.
WEAR AND DAMAGE OF BRUSH WORKING SURFACE
During operation, the rubber surface of the wipers comes into contact with a variety of contaminants and is quickly erased. And the more the machine is operated, the faster this process occurs. To check the brushes for wear, it is necessary to carefully examine the working edges.
They must be perfectly even, without burrs, tears or other damage. If any defects are found or wear does not occur evenly, there is only one way out - replacing the wiper with a new one.
In addition, one should not forget about the natural aging of rubber. The service life of any, even the highest quality "wipers" does not exceed several years. Over time, the rubber begins to tan, crack and collapse. As a result, the brushes lose their elasticity and cease to fulfill their purpose with high quality. Experienced drivers lubricate the rubber with gasoline, trying to restore its performance. However, this is not for long and as a result of replacement it is still unavoidable.
POLLUTION AND CORROSION OF THE FRAME
The most affordable frame "wipers" have the ability to overgrow with dirt over time, oxidize and rust. Losing mobility, the brushes stop properly pressing against the glass. As a result, they do not completely clean the glass of dirt, leaving streaks and streaks. Solving this problem is very simple - remove the brushes from the leashes and thoroughly clean their hinges from dirt and rust. Check that the frame bends freely in all directions. Lubricate it with silicone grease and reinstall. After that, the "wipers" should restore their performance.
FROSTING ON WIPERS
With the advent of the autumn-winter period, motorists often face this problem. Frozen water penetrates from the gap of the frame, blocking its mobility at the attachment points of the brushes. In addition, the ice can cover the rubber bands themselves, forming an ice cocoon. At the same time, even the most expensive "janitor" stops working. At first glance, solving this problem is simple. It is enough just to warm the structure and free it from ice.
However, besides this, it is very important to clear the ice from all the grooves of the rubber bands and hinges. In addition, in winter, before driving, while the car is warming up, direct the flow of warm air from the stove to the “parking” zone of the brushes. It will not be superfluous to treat the gum with a defrosting liquid, which will help to quickly melt the ice. Remember, if you turn on the frozen wipers, the motor may burn out.
WEAKENING THE SPRINGS OF THE LEADERS
The wiper arms, on which the wipers themselves are mounted, are pressed against the glass by small but very powerful springs. Over time, their downforce weakens, which negatively affects the operation of the entire system. If light pressure on the brush with your hand shows improvement in cleaning, try replacing the springs or bending the tips of the drivers slightly towards the glass.
Some drivers leave their windshield wipers up while the car is parked to avoid freezing to the glass. This absolutely cannot be done. In this position, the springs remain cocked, and accordingly lose their clamping properties faster.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRAPEZE OF THE "WIPPER"
Very often, the problem of poor-quality glass cleaning lies not in the wipers themselves, but in the drive mechanism (trapeze). To test its performance, grab the base of the leash and shake it in a horizontal plane. If there is even the slightest backlash, this indicates wear on the trapezium bushing, and, accordingly, poor pressure of the brush to the glass. The wear of the trapezoid occurs due to the ingress of precipitation through poor seals into the cracks and the subsequent corrosion of its elements. To fix the problem, it is necessary to completely replace the wiper mechanism and repair the trapezoid.
In addition to all of the above, it must be remembered that it is necessary to change the driver's and passenger's "wipers" at the same time. Give preference to original products, because your safety depends on the quality of the windshield wipers. Good luck.
Every winter, car forums are filled with arguments about what should and should not be done with a car in sub-zero temperatures. One myth gives rise to another, as a result of which drivers without a second thought begin to cause irreparable harm to their own vehicle.
Myth 1: the engine must be warmed up in winter
The question is as old as the word "". But then two neighbors come out of the entrance: one gets into the car and leaves abruptly, the other, after starting the engine, smokes three cigarettes and only then slowly starts moving. Which one is doing it right?
“From the point of view of ecology, it is necessary to start moving immediately after starting the engine, while the speed should be low, since the oil at this moment has not yet warmed up to operating temperature and all elements that require lubrication are wearing out,” says Dmitry Parbukov, chief Coach "Audi Center Varshavka". - Accordingly, we get three positive points: fast warm-up engine, care for the environment and fuel economy.
“It is recommended to start moving immediately after the engine speed returns to normal, - after about 15-30 seconds,” adds Pavel Kuznetsov, head coach of ROLF Yug. - In many European countries it is forbidden to stand in a parking lot with the engine running. For example, in Germany: if a driver decides to warm up his car in the morning, he can part with 300 euros.”
“There is no need to warm up the internal combustion engine of a modern car: the electronics guarantee stable operation even after a cold start,” sums up Konstantin Epaneshnikov, Service Director of AVILON. Official dealer Volkswagen.
Myth 2: The parking brake freezes in the cold
Many are afraid to leave the parking brake on in frosty weather: they say, the pads will freeze to rear wheels, and then the car will not budge or the cable will stretch. Is it so?
“It could happen. During a trip, when braking, the surface of the brake disc heats up, which at low temperatures will cause condensation to form. It is he who “glues” the pad and disc when setting the handbrake. It's almost the same as licking metal in the cold, the effect will be the same,” says the head coach of ROLF South.
“Freezing can occur during short trips. At normal conditions operation of the car, the parking brake pads will not freeze to the discs,” adds the Avilon service director.
Myth 3: Fuel consumption is higher in winter
Winter also hits the wallet: there is an opinion that consumption increases in cold weather. In fact?
"This is true. This is due to the use of various heating elements: heated exterior mirrors, seats, windshield, rear window, steering wheel, - Dmitry Parbukov notes. - The load of the on-board network increases, the generator loads the engine more. Konstantin Epaneshnikov also believes that fuel consumption is growing, and this is due to enriched fuel mixture on which a cold engine is running.
Myth 4: before winter you need to change the oil in the engine
Particularly scrupulous car owners are sure that before the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to change the engine oil to one that has a lower viscosity. Really?
“It all depends on the climatic conditions. In general, all modern synthetic oils are universal and work in a wide temperature range, oil can be selected by marking 0W, 5W, and so on, indicating the viscosity of the oil at different negative temperatures, ”says Dmitry Parbukov.
“The colder the winter in the region, the less viscous oil should be used: with an index of 0W30 (up to -40 degrees Celsius), 5W30 (up to -35) and so on,” advises Pavel Kuznetsov. - Do not forget about the timely oil change. For example, liquid 0W30 after 12-15 thousand kilometers will certainly not be able to withstand frost at -40 degrees. With such a run, its lubricating and washing properties will deteriorate significantly.
Konstantin Epaneshnikov believes that these statements apply only to a low-grade cheap product, since modern engine oils have the necessary viscosity characteristics that allow them to be used year-round.
Myth 5: in winter it is necessary to raise the “wipers”
You won’t lift the “wipers” in winter, then you will tear off the windshield and rear windows for a long time. But the main thing is not to activate them, otherwise the motor will burn out. Many people think so, but are these statements true?
“It’s better to raise it, otherwise, when the wipers freeze to windshield and accidental activation may damage the brush holders, cleaning surface, drivers and trapezium. AT worst case the electric wiper motor may burn out,” Dmitry Parbukov points out.
“You don’t have to raise it,” adds Pavel Kuznetsov. - The main thing is not to start using them when they are frozen to the glass for the above reasons. But it is worth noting that it is much more convenient to clean the glass from snow and ice if the brushes are raised.
“The wiper blades are lifted up so that water flows off them. If it doesn’t snow, then they don’t need to be lifted,” Konstantin Epaneshnikov sums up.
Information:
Why the attics of high-rise buildings need to be kept cold in winter and why medical examination is better than a medical examination, the Vechernaya Kazan correspondent found out after attending a regular meeting of officials in the city hall.
Ten days ago, Kazan was covered by a natural disaster: due to the freezing rain that hit the city and the roads and sidewalks that instantly turned into a skating rink, work was paralyzed public transport, cars were stuck in traffic jams due to numerous accidents, and dozens of pedestrians broke their arms and legs ... Housing and communal services heroically fought the consequences of the weather cataclysm: as Iskander Giniyatullin, chairman of the housing and communal services committee, said today on business Monday, not only janitors had to be brought out into the streets , but also cleaners of entrances, electricians and plumbers.
As a result, Kazan was rescued from the ice captivity, but there are no guarantees that next time there will be enough human resources to repeat this feat. After all, as soon as winter comes, the janitors begin to actively quit: it's one thing to sweep cigarette butts and leaves off the asphalt, and another to break the ice down to this very asphalt. According to Giniyatullin, in the near future, in search of a better life, about 25 percent of the “knights of the broom and shovel” will make their legs out of housing organizations. However, housing residents do not lose optimism: they have prepared a third more reagent and sand-salt mixture to deal with ice than last year, and they hope that 155 special vehicles will be enough to keep Kazan yards in a satisfactory condition even with an acute shortage of janitors.
In addition to unremoved snow in the local area, the housing and communal services committee is worried about snowdrifts on roofs and snow caps on balcony peaks. But if the cleaning of the roofs has already been more or less settled - this will be done by specially trained employees of service organizations, then the residents themselves must throw snow off the balcony peaks, but they do not want to do this. Iskander Giniyatullin first reminded for the hundred thousandth time that snow falling from a balcony on someone’s head or car would become a personal problem for a negligent owner, and then he recommended that those who are unable to clean the balcony visors on their own should seek help from management companies.
Another purely winter problem is icicles on the roofs of houses, to combat which residents annually invent new ways. Either they will install a pipe around the perimeter, which from time to time vibrates and dumps ice stalactites, then an anti-icing agent is sprayed on the roof. At today's meeting, the head of the city committee of housing and communal services admitted: it is necessary to fight not with the investigation, but with the cause of the formation of figured ice, that is, to maintain a certain temperature and humidity regime in the attic. The connection is simple: if it is warm in the attic, then the snow melts on the warm roof, but if it gets cold, the water freezes, so the attic must be kept cold.
There is nothing to add, - after carefully listening to Giniyatullin, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin summed up. But then he still could not resist and added that it was necessary to improve the quality of cleaning the adjacent territories and work with the owners of cars parked in the yards and interfering with the removal of snow. He also interviewed the heads of Kazan regions to see if all organizations located on their territory signed contracts for the removal of snow, and was dissatisfied with the statistics, because it turned out that not all of them. In order to achieve 100% coverage with contracts, the mayor even called on the prosecutor's office to send district prosecutors to help officials from the administrations.
It is a pity that the prosecutor's office cannot help doctors in their desire to fulfill the medical examination plan. According to Ilnur Khalfiyev, the head of the health department of Kazan, the young people aged 21 to 36 and pensioners aged 60 and older were the most active in free examinations this year. But able-bodied citizens from 39 to 60 for some reason bypass polyclinics, although calls for medical examinations hang in Kazan almost on every corner. According to the City Health Department, many do this not only because of lack of time, but also being fully confident that once they have passed a medical examination at the place of work, then it is enough. However, as Khalfiyev explained, this is a dangerous misconception, since only during the prophylactic medical examination is it possible to identify oncological diseases. The head of the city health department even gave several examples of how Kazan citizens, having yielded to persistent invitations from doctors, “caught” cancer in the initial stage and got a chance for a cure.
Doctors have statistics of “non-participation” in medical examinations, not only by age, but also by the place of residence of Kazan citizens: for example, residents of the Vakhitovsky district are not actively involved in medical examinations - there the turnout was a little more than fifty percent, the same can be said about Kirov residents (56%), they are followed by residents of the Moscow region - almost 64 percent.
Let's think together how to reach out to our residents, - urged Ilsur Metshin. And almost immediately he himself revealed the main reason for the refusal of able-bodied citizens from medical examination: - Once again, they don’t want to stand in lines.
Photo by Alexander GERASIMOV.
In the Soviet Union, drivers often raised the "wipers" in the winter frosts - they took care of the equipment and their own time. There were no glass heating in Zhiguli and Moskvich, and brushes, like everything else in the country, were in short supply.
They became even more scarce after the collapse of the USSR. In the "dashing nineties" drivers also raised the "wipers", but only the levers - without the "brushes". The latter stole too often. Later, this practice faded into oblivion. No one takes the “brushes” home today, and the levers are not moved away from the windshield. However, there are still the most “stubborn” citizens who say: “If you don’t raise the wipers, you will then tear off the “brushes” from the windshield and rear windows for a long time.” There is another “myth” that says: “if the brushes are frozen to the glass, you can’t start the wipers - the wiper drive motor will burn out.” Is it so?
Yes, experts say. If the "wipers" are frozen to the windshield, there is a possibility of damage to the fasteners of the brushes, leashes and trapezium. Very unpleasant is the possible damage to the cleaning surface itself, which leads to a decrease in the efficiency of glass cleaning.
Can the windshield wiper motor burn out? Maybe. Why then did the drivers stop lifting the wipers? Yes, because they are smart. First of all, approaching the car in the morning, the driver starts cleaning the windshield - he takes out a scraper or turns on electric heating. Only when the glass has thawed a little will he lift the wipers and gently wipe the cleaning surface.
Actually, there is a reason to raise the wiper blades so that water flows from them. If it is dry and not snowing outside, this is not necessary.
Subscribe to materials
Serviceable windshield wipers are a guarantee of safety and excellent visibility. Breakage or poor performance of the “wipers” leads to disgusting visibility and often causes an accident. Many of you have probably noticed that the wiper blades cease to perform their functions normally precisely with the advent of cold weather. We understand why this happens, and tell you how to make them work efficiently in the most adverse weather conditions.
Before talking about the reasons for the poor performance of the "wipers", it would be useful to understand the design and principle of operation of this simple device.
Windshield wipers of the vast majority modern cars are electromechanical devices that are driven by a small electric motor. A servo-driven motor, through rods and levers, provides reciprocating movement to the wiper arms, on which, in turn, the brushes are mounted. For the best cleaning of the glass surface, the system is additionally equipped with a feed special liquid from hidden in engine compartment tank.
Only leashes and brushes remain visible to motorists, all other “offal”, including control electronics, are hidden behind decorative overlays. Wiper blades are the same "consumable" as, for example, oils or filters. Their service life during the active operation of the car rarely exceeds one calendar year. The working elements of the windshield wipers differ slightly in their design, but their principle of operation is the same. These are profiled rubber strips fixed on an elastic metal frame. Spring-loaded leashes press the brushes against the glass, and the elastic frame allows the latter to follow all the glass bends and remove dirt and precipitation from the contact patch.
Structurally, the brushes are divided into three types - framed (with a metal frame in the form of movable rocker arms), frameless (the role of the frame is played by an elastic metal plate) and hybrid (the brush has a traditional frame protected by a sealed cover). However, regardless of type and design, their working rubber part is subject to severe wear due to constant contact with water and dirt, as well as exposure to high and low temperatures. She is the first to fail.
Problems with "wipers" and how to solve them
If you notice that the “wipers” have begun to “stripe” and smear dirt on the glass, jump or make unpleasant sounds, do not rush to the nearest store. First, get to the bottom of the problem. Perhaps buying new cleaning elements will be pointless.
1. Wear and damage to the working surface of the brushes
During operation, the rubber surfaces of the brushes come into contact with various contaminants and are quickly erased. The more you operate the car, the more intense this process goes.
To check the brushes for wear, lift up the drivers and carefully examine the working edges. The so-called "blade" must be absolutely smooth, without cracks, tears and other obvious damage. If defects are noticed and uneven wear, there is only one way out - replacing the brushes with new ones.
life hack
Most frame structures and some "frameless" are subject to repair. To do this, it is enough to purchase a separate working rubber part, cut it to length and put it in place of the worn one. This pleasure costs mere pennies, but no one guarantees a 100% positive result.
Do not forget also about the natural aging of rubber. The life of any, even the highest quality products, does not exceed a couple of years. Over time, rubber begins to tan, crack and break down at the molecular level. As a result of natural processes, the brushes lose their elasticity and stop repeating the curves of glass. Experienced motorists moisten rubber with gasoline to restore performance, but the effect of such resuscitation is not “long-lasting”. A trip to the store is inevitable.
2. Pollution and corrosion of the frame
The most accessible frame brushes are prone to an unpleasant feature - their mechanism overgrows with dirt or corrodes / oxidizes over time. Losing mobility, the brush ceases to properly cling to the glass. As a result, dirty patches or streaks are left behind when the wipers operate.
This problem is solved quite simply. To do this, you need to remove the brushes from the leashes and carefully clean their hinges from dirt and signs of corrosion. Make sure that the brush frame flexes in all directions without force or binding. Lubricate the joints with silicone grease, and then put the brushes on the car. As a rule, with a good safety of the working edge, the “wipers” again begin to work perfectly.
life hack
Don't wait until your windshield wipers stop working properly. Make it a rule to wash them thoroughly at least once a week (it is best to use an alcohol-based liquid for this) and lubricate with silicone grease. This will help to avoid unforeseen problems on the road and extend the life of the windshield wipers.
3. Freezing of "wipers"
In the autumn-winter-spring time, motorists face a similar problem. Only the role of "pollutant" is performed not by sand and dust, but by ice. Freezing, water penetrates into the joints of the frame, blocks mobility at the attachment points of the “wipers”, and at the same time envelops the rubber bands themselves, forming an ice cocoon. At the same time, “wipers” of any design and price category cease to work adequately.
To deal with such a problem, at first glance, is easy. To do this, it is enough to warm the structure and free it from ice captivity. However, during the cleaning process, it is important not to be lazy and clean the ice from all the smallest grooves of rubber bands and hinges.
Before driving in winter, while the car is warming up, direct the flow of warm air from the heater to the windshield wiper parking area. If you have electric glass heating, do not forget to turn it on. At the same time, moisten the brushes with a special defroster liquid - it will help to quickly melt the ice. Remember that if you turn on the “wipers” frozen to the glass, the motor may burn out. On some car models, it is not protected from increased load and may simply fail.
life hack
To prevent the brushes from freezing, before leaving the car in the parking lot, open the doors or windows and cool the interior thoroughly.
4. Weakening of the springs of the leashes
The wiper leashes, to which the brushes themselves are attached, are pressed against the glass by small but powerful springs. Over time, the metal gets tired, and the clamping force is greatly weakened. This causes unsatisfactory operation of the entire system.
Try to increase the load on the brush during the operation of the wipers - lightly press on it with your hand. If you notice an improvement in cleaning at the same time, try replacing the springs with new ones or slightly bend the tips of the leashes towards the glass, increasing the angle of attack.
Advice
Never park your car with the brush arms up. In this position, the springs remain cocked and “get tired” much faster.
5. Strong wear flow
Vehicle glass also has a significant impact on the operation of windshield wipers. Over time, it becomes covered with micro-chips and scratches and ceases to be cleaned well for completely natural reasons. Old glass not only glares and gets dirty, but also quickly renders the rubber part of the windshield wipers unusable.
6. Wiper Trapeze Problems
Quite often, the problem of cleaning glass lies not at all in the “wipers” themselves, but in the drive mechanism, the so-called trapezoid. To check it for wear, grab the base of the leash and shake it horizontally. The presence of even a slight backlash indicates wear on the trapezium bushings and, as a result, poor pressing of the brushes to the glass. Bushing wear occurs due to the penetration of atmospheric precipitation through poor sealing into the joints of the trapezium and corrosion of its elements.