- Polish manufacturer of car windshield wipers
- + 48 58 600 6126
- ul. Topolowa 1A, 84-207 Łężyce, Polska
- biuro@oximo.pl
Proper functioning of the windscreen clearing system is crucial for driving safety, especially in challenging weather conditions. When wipers fail to clear water effectively, leave streaks, or judder, the first thought is usually to replace the blades. However, the problem doesn’t always lie with the wipers themselves. It’s worth taking a moment to examine the entire system – often, a simple diagnosis can significantly improve driving comfort and safety.
Before you decide to replace the wiper blades, check the following components of the wiper system, which could be the source of the issues:
Ideally, the wiper arm should be positioned perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the windscreen surface, particularly in the middle of its operational range. If the wiper only judders in one direction and returns smoothly in the other, a misaligned arm is often the cause. In such a situation, the blade “digs into” the windscreen in one direction and “glides over” its surface on the return. To correct this, gently bend the wiper arm. This can be done using, for example, combination pliers protected by a cloth (to avoid damaging the arm) or a specialized tool. Often, a thorough visual inspection and potential adjustment are sufficient to ensure the tip of the blade is parallel to the windscreen.
At the point where the wiper arm attaches to the vehicle’s body, there is a pivot joint. This allows the arm to “float” and adapt to the curvature of the windscreen during operation. This component does not have a bearing or factory lubrication. Over time, due to metal-on-metal friction and the accumulation of dust and corrosion, the pivot joint can begin to seize. This hinders the proper functioning of the spring and reduces the pressure of the blade against the windscreen. To improve the situation, try repeatedly lifting and lowering the wiper arm (even around 100 times). Such movement can help remove accumulated dust and partially restore the joint’s smooth operation. Avoid lubricating this area with common penetrating oils (e.g., WD-40 type products), as they can attract and accumulate dirt, which will worsen the problem in the long run. Access to this area is difficult, which complicates the potential application of thicker greases that are less prone to attracting dirt.
The spring in the wiper arm is responsible for pressing the wiper blade firmly against the windscreen. If the spring is weak or damaged, the pressure won’t be enough. This will show up as the wipers not clearing water properly and leaving streaks. Usually, you can’t adjust or tighten this spring in a standard way. In some cases, you might try to gently increase its tension, for example, by using a cable tie (zip tie) as a temporary fix. However, remember this is a quick fix and doesn’t look great. If the spring is permanently weak, replacing the whole arm might be the best solution.
There’s also a little bit of normal looseness where the wiper blade connects to the arm. If dirt, sand, or rust builds up here, the blade might not sit correctly on the windscreen. This can cause spots where the wiper doesn’t clear water, or it might skip or make noise. Cleaning this connection regularly when you change the blades or wash your car can prevent these kinds of problems.
Dirt like dust, road grime, tree sap, bird droppings, or other messes can build up on both the wiper blade and the windscreen itself. Even a tiny bit of dirt on the rubber part of the blade can stop it from sitting right and pressing effectively against the glass. This leads to streaks and poor cleaning. Washing your car at a self-service car wash often isn’t enough to get rid of greasy stuff, like tree sap. It’s a good idea to clean the wiper blade itself regularly. You can use a soft cloth soaked in dish soap or a special rubber cleaning product. To remove tough, greasy dirt from the windscreen, you can use a clay bar (like those used for car paint) or special glass cleaners. If you use strong solvents (like acetone), be very careful: wear gloves and avoid getting it on the car paint or plastic parts. A clean windscreen surface is key for wipers to work properly. Also, remember that putting some types of waxes or “invisible wiper” products on the windscreen, even though they’re supposed to make it slicker, often causes blades to skip or smear. This happens because the rubber needs the right amount of friction against the glass to clear water properly, and these products can mess with that.
Modern cars often need wipers of a specific length and with a certain type of connector. Using blades that are the wrong length can mess with the rain sensor (if your car has one) or cause them to catch on the A-pillar seals, the bonnet, or other parts of the car body. Different blade designs (traditional frame-style vs. modern flat blades) work better on windscreens with different curves. Older, more curved windscreens might work better with frame-style wipers, while newer, flatter ones are often designed for flat blades. Even small differences in the shape or curve of the rail (on flat wipers) between different brands can affect how well they fit a specific windscreen model. It’s best to choose wipers made for your particular car model. For example, companies like OXIMO offer dedicated sets that are very close in appearance and features to the original (OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts, which ensures they’ll fit and work perfectly.
Checking and, if needed, adjusting the parts of the windscreen clearing system described above can often fix problems with them not working right. Before you decide to spend money on replacing parts, take a moment to check things out. You might find that a few simple actions can get your wipers working perfectly again, giving you better visibility and safety when driving in any conditions.
