Alterra rough wiper problem - still unsolved

[PATSYS50]

Hi guys,

I started a thread about this long ago, somehow I could not find it anymore.

My Alterra's wiper problem is back. Well it was never gone really. Now that it is raining again, we have to use it and thus have to deal with the problem again.

I have buffed my windshield about 10x now, I have applied all the fluids (mwatermark remover, Rain X). These are temporary solutions as after a while of constantly running the wipers (especially at higher speed), I am getting that juddering sound again. I have also already changed wiper blades.

Last time I went to Isuzu, they couldn't do anything about it and their only advise was for me to apply a shampoo - they recommeded rejoice at that Did this and as expected, was one of the temporary solutions.

In contrast, my Vios' wipers are smooth as a cue ball. I never applied anything on it.

I am willing to pay a lot just to have this fixed permanently.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Uncle Nick]

I have this very same problem with my 2011 Urban Cruiser, but I have not done anything about it just yet.

Many years ago, I solved this problem on another vehicle by adding (very little) dish washing liquid soap to my windshield washer fluid. It worked for a while, but it was a pain.

The permanent solution was to change the wiper blades to non-rubber synthetic blades.......but I don't know if they are available in The Philippines.

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[yapoy86]

try re-aligning the wiper arm either / or \ so that the blades are not perpendicular to the windshield during the wipe process..

[Uncle Nick]

After posting my reply, I went to examine my wipers and noticed immediately that the blades sit at almost 90 degree angle to the windshield at all times, in both directions.

My experience has been that blades should "wipe" in a dragging motion, in both directions. All blades that I have experienced in the past from various manufacturers are usually very "loose" in construction, so that they change direction back and forth to always give a "dragging wipe" motion. I will try to allow more looseness to my blades by bending the attachment clamps.

I noticed that yapoy86 has posted this same type of observation/suggestion.

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[PATSYS50]

Hi Uncle Nick,

Can you elaborate more on what to do? I am not sure I understood.

[Uncle Nick]

Hi Uncle Nick,

Can you elaborate more on what to do? I am not sure I understood.

I'll try to explain my thoughts.

Please ask again if I fail to elaborate properly.


The rubber portion of the blade that contacts the windshield sits at an almost 90 degree angle to the windshield.

When the wiper arm, to which the blade is attached, moves across the windshield, the blade tends to give a "scraping" action, rather than a 'wiping" action to remove water.

Rubber sliding across a clean windshield, tends to jump up and down or "chatter".

The solution is to use a synthetic or teflon blade rather than rubber and/or to not have the blade sit at 90 degrees to the windshield.

After time, blades loosen up, and no longer sit at 90 degrees to the glass and, therefore, tend to "drag" the rubber, rather than "scrape" the rubber against the windshield.

We can help the blade to loosen up by bending the clamps that hold the wiper blade assembly together.....but not too much so that they fall apart when used and damage the glass.

I have not loosened mine as yet, but I know that this is the solution, if I cannot find teflon blades here in "farm country" in Central Luzon.

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[PATSYS50]

Hi Uncle Nick,

I get it now. I think that could be the reason. My wiper is ok on the first way but is "rough" on its way back. I think that is the time when it is becoming perpendicular to the windshield.

I am not sure how to loosen what but I think tinker with it when I have the time.

Thanks

[oj88]

Try this, lift the wipers away from the windshield. All wiper assemblies have a pivot joint between the wiper arm and the blade assembly. The pivot allows the blade to swing in one axis only. If there is excessive perpendicular play, it is one reason that the blade skips or judders.

[Benzmizer]

Try thoroughly cleaning your windshield (some even use 2,000 grit sandpaper with continuous flowing water) or simply have the windshield "rubbed" down.

[Uncle Nick]

Hi Uncle Nick,

I get it now. I think that could be the reason. My wiper is ok on the first way but is "rough" on its way back. I think that is the time when it is becoming perpendicular to the windshield.

I am not sure how to loosen what but I think tinker with it when I have the time.

Thanks

If your wiper is OK in one direction, and not the other, then the problem is that the arm is "twisted".

Some time ago, I saw a video which explained really well how to fix this.

Do a "google" search on "Mini Cooper wiper blade chatter" and look at the video a couple of times.

If you cannot find the video, let me know. I will then try to find it for you.

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[PATSYS50]

Hi uncle Nick,

I tried your advice, I bent the wiper arm one way and the other - the juddering only got worse.

Any chance we can meet up in one of the EB so you can show me how it is done?

[Uncle Nick]

Hi uncle Nick,

I tried your advice, I bent the wiper arm one way and the other - the juddering only got worse.

Any chance we can meet up in one of the EB so you can show me how it is done?

I will try to make a point to do that.

A problem that I have in attending is that I live near San Jose, Neuva Ecija, which requires a 4 to 5 hour drive in one direction to just get there.

Meanwhile, did you view the video?

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[Uncle Nick]

In case you were not able to find the video;

How to repair the chatter to a wiper blade on a MINI Cooper | Video « Wonder How To

Lift the entire arm assembly away from the windshield, and let us do one at a time.

Do both blades chatter?

Do they chatter going up or coming back down?

Just bear with me - we can solve this!

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

[Sportivo 7]

Hi uncle Nick,

I tried your advice, I bent the wiper arm one way and the other - the juddering only got worse.

Any chance we can meet up in one of the EB so you can show me how it is done?

Leme share my thoughts...the contact medium between the wiper assembly and your windshield is the "blade" (oh, guys am right using the term huh?). This material is designed both for maximum thermal effects and maximum pressure induced. Hindi kaya yung blade material ay may problema?Madaling "bumigay" sa external elements? Bro,try to verify supplier.Yung unit ko 4 years na..eversince , didnt experienced such problem. Even doing parking in open heat, di ko "lift up" yung blades as many does.. Share lang... Good luck!

[HUMANHORDE]

Wiper blades is composed of synthetic rubber that is designed to swipe across the windshield at a particular angle and not 90 degrees or else, it will not function properly, also it will sqeak. But the thing is, a brand new wiper blade is already designed in such a way like a plug n play hardaware to your pc. No need for other added methods of installation rectifications,etc. like re-aligning, etc.
Here is what's happening to your car...
Its all about FRICTION. You have brand new wiper blade, meaning a very clean rubber in contact with your VERY clean windshield (you said you buffed it quite a lot using Rain x rain repellant). I am not telling you that buffing your windshield with Rain X is bad, in fact it is good. Helps keep your vision clear during rainy days. But the thing is, there should be low coefficient of FRICTION between the rubber blade and the windshield (in fact, the reason why its squeaking is because the HIGH coefficient of friction between the windshield & wiper rubber CAUSES the rubber to GRIP the windshield, much like acting a rubber mat, causing it to move at 90 degrees angle which is not its designed motion), without compromising the clarity if the glass.
How would you do this? Simple.

Try putting/applying lubricant or rubber conditioner along the contact surface of your wiper blade. But dont use oil or petroleum based types. This will surely lubricate and I WILL GUARANTEE you that the squeaking will disappear BUT prepare for the SMUDGES that it will create. Im sure you dont want that . SILICONE lubricants will do this. You can buy at Ace Hardware in SM malls. Just ask the sales there. There is also a lubricant for power windows, I think its also the same components and you may opt also to use that. Basically the same concept of stopping squeaks, instead of the rubber moving, the glass(window) is moving up or down, unlike in a wiper system that the rubber is the one moving. This will solve your problem. and not by any mechanical alterations on your system.

Feedback us here for any relevant happenings regarding this problem.

[rjmanuel]

If your wiper is OK in one direction, and not the other, then the problem is that the arm is "twisted".

Some time ago, I saw a video which explained really well how to fix this.

Do a "google" search on "Mini Cooper wiper blade chatter" and look at the video a couple of times.

If you cannot find the video, let me know. I will then try to find it for you.

Ciao!

Uncle Nick.

Just read this wiper blade issue - thanks much for sharing!