How to: Fix slow working wipers.
01-24-10, 02:13 PM
#1
How to: Fix slow working wipers.
Well this is another one of my how to. After driving my dads civic the other day I realized how slow my wipers have been lately. At one point they got so slow it took about 10 seconds to do a full sweep. So I went about to try and find ways to make them go faster again.
Let me start up with the basics first though. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition, and that your glass is clean. Mine already were but just putting it out there. Now at first, i tried just spraying all the inner linkage with white lithium grease but that made no difference pretty much in my case. So I went hunting some more and took off the windshield wiper arms to see what makes them move.
If you look in there while turning them on, you will notice a rod, that rotates inside a tube. Now that's a pretty tight fitting rod and thought to myself if any rust has built up in there it probably would cause quite a bit of resistance. So I carefully sprayed the rod to try and get the grease in between it and the tube. I should also mention that I had the wipers running full speed to get as much soaked inwards. It's hard to tell if that did anything by just looking at it, so I re-installed the wiper arms and to my surprise its now running about twice as fast! I decided to do the same to the rearwith the same results.
I might be doing a buddy's car later on, so ill take pics and video from that.
Let me start up with the basics first though. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition, and that your glass is clean. Mine already were but just putting it out there. Now at first, i tried just spraying all the inner linkage with white lithium grease but that made no difference pretty much in my case. So I went hunting some more and took off the windshield wiper arms to see what makes them move.
If you look in there while turning them on, you will notice a rod, that rotates inside a tube. Now that's a pretty tight fitting rod and thought to myself if any rust has built up in there it probably would cause quite a bit of resistance. So I carefully sprayed the rod to try and get the grease in between it and the tube. I should also mention that I had the wipers running full speed to get as much soaked inwards. It's hard to tell if that did anything by just looking at it, so I re-installed the wiper arms and to my surprise its now running about twice as fast! I decided to do the same to the rearwith the same results.
I might be doing a buddy's car later on, so ill take pics and video from that.
01-24-10, 02:22 PM
#2
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neat, that's WAY easier that taking that clip off and pulling it apart. that f%&^*$*ing clip is the hardest part on the car.
01-24-10, 11:37 PM
#3
I just finished tearing my wiper rack down and rebuilding it, for just this reason. Yep, those little round spring clips are bastards to get off.
Finally found a pair of needle-nose pliers small enough to fit in the gap and carefully spread them.
Leave the wiper arm nut on while working on the clip, as if the clip flies off you will never find it again.
Finally found a pair of needle-nose pliers small enough to fit in the gap and carefully spread them.
Leave the wiper arm nut on while working on the clip, as if the clip flies off you will never find it again.
01-25-10, 01:07 AM
#4
You know they sell special pliers for those things right 
they call them ring pliers ... just a thought. But ya that was my next option before doing this.
Just a tip too, i probably wouldn't spray wd40 in there as it doesn't really last long, and don't go for something that gets a bit sticky so like Honey Goo. Maybe someone can make a tip (for something like the ones for greasing up ball joints) to fit right over that and pressure it all the way in. But I like white lithium grease because it water proof it also.
they call them ring pliers ... just a thought. But ya that was my next option before doing this. Just a tip too, i probably wouldn't spray wd40 in there as it doesn't really last long, and don't go for something that gets a bit sticky so like Honey Goo. Maybe someone can make a tip (for something like the ones for greasing up ball joints) to fit right over that and pressure it all the way in. But I like white lithium grease because it water proof it also.
01-25-10, 10:16 AM
#6
I have "snap-ring pliers," but they are the type designed for the snap-rings that have holes in the ends.
The ones needed for this are called "lock ring pliers," I believe.
I guess I'll buy some the next time I need them, 30 years or so from now...
01-25-10, 05:52 PM
#7
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Yep. Didn't happen to have any handy, & didn't have the free time to make a special trip to get some, even if I could find them locally. Was trying to finish by a specific deadline - - one that ended up going away, ironically.
I have "snap-ring pliers," but they are the type designed for the snap-rings that have holes in the ends.
The ones needed for this are called "lock ring pliers," I believe.
I guess I'll buy some the next time I need them, 30 years or so from now...
I have "snap-ring pliers," but they are the type designed for the snap-rings that have holes in the ends.
The ones needed for this are called "lock ring pliers," I believe.
I guess I'll buy some the next time I need them, 30 years or so from now...
i think i used a couple screwdrivers last time? something weird.
i hate that clip!
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