Some car enthusiasts may underestimate the importance of proper wiper operation. Serviceable wipers are a guarantee of safety and perfect visibility. Failure or poor performance of the wipers leads to reduced visibility and can lead to accidents. Surely many drivers noticed that the wipers' brushes begin to perform their function poorly during the cold season. I propose to figure out why this is happening and how to ensure their high-quality work in the most adverse weather conditions.
First, let's talk about how to choose the right quality wiper blades and how important they are to safety.
Quality wiper blades are one of the most important components of road safety. Do not take them as a banal strip of rubber. In fact, "windshield wipers" are the result of the work of a large number of designers and engineers from all over the world. Of course, this only applies to real, high-quality brushes, and not fakes, which are abundant on the market today.
The main feature of good brushes is the high-quality performance of their purpose, they clean the car glass from dirt and water in a few strokes. While fakes or low-quality "wipers" sometimes cannot cope with this even in ten passes. The only drawback when buying windshield wipers is that there is no way to check their performance right away.
However, fake brushes can sometimes be identified visually. The main thing that you need to pay attention to when buying "windshield wipers" is the edge of the elastic band. It should be perfectly flat. In most cases, the purity of automotive glass depends on its quality. In addition, you should pay attention to the uniformity of the texture and color of the elastic. And it is better that it does not have rounded edges and burrs.
As for the manufacturers of windshield wipers, everything is simple - cheap brushes will perform the whole function much worse than "branded" ones. In addition, cheap brushes can damage the glass. High-quality "wipers" are not afraid of temperature changes and clean the glass in any weather.
BY THEIR DESIGN, THE 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 played by an elastic metal plate;
- hybrid - the brush has a traditional frame protected by a sealed cover.
Whichever type you choose, it must be remembered that brushes should be selected individually for each car model.
Now let's talk about the "longevity" of the brushes. Windshield wipers are complex and delicate at the same time. Even the best windshield wipers are pretty easy to ruin. And in order to maximize their service life, you need to remember a few secrets. I propose to focus on the work of windshield wipers in 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 the "anti-freeze" into the washer reservoir. Otherwise, all the tips for caring for the wiper blades and wiper mechanism become meaningless.
As for the windshield wipers themselves, if you notice that they have begun to smear dirt on the glass, jump and make extraneous sounds, you should not immediately run to the store for new ones. It is necessary to understand what the problem is. Perhaps there is no need to buy new brushes.
WEAR AND DAMAGE TO THE WORKING SURFACE OF THE BRUSH
During operation, the rubber surface of the "wipers" comes into contact with a variety of dirt and is quickly erased. And the more the machine is used, the faster this process takes place. To check the brushes for wear, you need to carefully consider the working edges.
They must be perfectly flat, without burrs, tears and 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, the natural aging of rubber should not be forgotten. The service life of any, even the highest quality "wipers" does not exceed several years. Over time, the rubber begins to tan, cracks and collapses. As a result, the brushes lose their elasticity and cease to fulfill their purpose efficiently. Experienced drivers lubricate rubber with gasoline, trying to restore its performance. However, this is not for long and, as a result, replacement is still inevitable.
FRAME CONTAMINATION AND CORROSION
The most affordable frame "wipers" have the ability to overgrow with dirt, oxidize and rust over time. Losing their mobility, the brushes stop properly pressing against the glass. As a result, they do not completely remove dirt from the glass, leaving streaks and smudges. The solution to this problem is very simple - remove the brushes from the leashes and thoroughly clean their hinges from dirt and rust. Check that the frame flexes smoothly in all directions. Lubricate it with silicone grease and reinstall. After that, the "wipers" must restore their working capacity.
FREEZING OF WIPERS
With the arrival of the autumn-winter period, motorists very often face this problem. Frozen water penetrates from the frame slot, blocking its mobility at the brush attachment points. In addition, the ice can cover the rubber bands themselves, forming an ice cocoon. In this case, even the most expensive "janitor" stops working. At first glance, solving this problem is as easy as shelling pears. It is enough to warm up the structure and free it from ice.
However, in addition to this, it is very important to clean ice from all rubber grooves and hinges. In addition, in the winter, before driving, while the car is warming up, direct the flow of warm air from the stove to the "parking" area of the brushes. It will not be superfluous to treat the gum with a defrosting liquid, which will contribute to the rapid melting of the ice. Remember, if you turn on the frozen wipers, the motor can burn out.
RELEASE SPRINGS
The wiper arms, on which the brushes themselves are installed, 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, by lightly pressing on the brush with your hand, you notice an improvement in cleaning, try replacing the springs or slightly bending the tips of the leaders in the direction of the glass.
Some drivers leave the wipers up while parking their cars to avoid freezing them to the glass. This absolutely must not be done. In this position, the springs remain charged, and accordingly lose their clamping properties faster.
PROBLEM WITH THE KEYSTONE "Dvornikov"
Very often, the problem of poor-quality glass cleaning does not lie in the wipers themselves, but in the drive mechanism (trapezoid). To test its performance, grasp the base of the leash and swing it horizontally. If there is even the slightest backlash, this indicates wear on the trapezoid bushing, and, accordingly, poor pressing of the brush to the glass. The wear of the trapezium occurs due to the penetration of sediments through the bad seals in the crevices and the subsequent corrosion of its elements. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to completely replace the wipers mechanism and repair the trapezoid.
In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to remember 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 wipers. Good luck.
Serviceable windshield wipers are a guarantee of safety and excellent visibility. Breakage or poor performance of the "wipers" leads to disgusting visibility and often becomes the cause of accidents. Many of you have probably noticed that the wiper blades cease to function normally with the arrival of cold weather. We figure out why this happens and tell you how to make them work efficiently in the most unfavorable weather conditions.
Before talking about the reasons for the poor performance of the "wipers", it will be useful to understand the design and principle of operation of this simplest device.
The windshield wipers of the vast majority of modern cars are electromechanical devices that are driven by a small electric motor. A servo-driven motor through rods and levers provides a reciprocating movement to the wiper arms, on which, in turn, the brushes are installed. For the best cleaning of the glass surface, the system is additionally equipped with the supply of a special fluid from the tank hidden in the engine compartment.
Only leashes and brushes remain visible to motorists, all other "giblets", including control electronics, are hidden behind decorative overlays. Wiper blades are the same "consumable" as, for example, oils or filters. Their service life, with the active operation of the car, rarely exceeds one calendar year. The working elements of the wipers differ slightly in their design, but they have the same principle of operation. These are profiled rubber strips attached to an elastic metal frame. The spring-loaded leads press the brushes against the glass, and the elastic frame allows the latter to repeat all the bends of the glass and remove dirt and precipitation from the contact spot.
Structurally, 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 played by an elastic metal plate) and hybrid (the brush has a traditional frame protected by a sealed cover). However, regardless of the 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. It is she who first falls into disrepair.
Problems with "windshield wipers" and how to solve them
If you notice that the "wipers" have begun to "strip" and smear dirt on the glass, jump or make unpleasant sounds, do not rush to the nearest store. First, grasp the essence of the problem. It may be pointless to buy new cleaning elements.
1. Wear and damage to the working surface of the brushes
During work, the rubber surfaces of the brushes come into contact with various dirt and are quickly erased. The more you use the car, the more intensive this process is.
To check the brushes for wear, lift the drivers up and carefully examine the working edges. The so-called "blade" must be absolutely flat, without chipping, tears and other obvious damage. If you notice defects and uneven wear, there is only one way out - replacing the brushes with new ones.
Life hack
Most of the frame structures and some “frameless” structures 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 is worth mere pennies, but no one guarantees a 100% positive result.
Don't forget about the natural aging of rubber as well. The life span of any, even the highest quality products does not exceed two or three 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 the glass. Experienced motorists moisten rubber with gasoline to restore their working capacity, but the effect of such reanimation is not “long-lasting”. A trip to the store is inevitable.
2. Contamination and corrosion of the frame
The most affordable frame brushes are subject to an unpleasant feature - their mechanism over time becomes overgrown with dirt or corrodes / oxidizes. Losing its mobility, the brush ceases to properly press against the glass. As a result, dirty areas or streaks remain during the operation of the wipers.
This problem is solved quite simply. To do this, you need to remove the brushes from the leads and thoroughly 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 place the brushes on the vehicle. As a rule, if the working edge is well preserved, the "wipers" start to work perfectly again.
Life hack
Do not wait for your wipers to stop functioning properly. Make it a rule to rinse them thoroughly at least once a week (it is best to use an alcohol-containing liquid for this) and lubricate them with silicone grease. This will help avoid unforeseen problems on the road and prolong the life of your wipers.
3. Freezing of "windshield wipers"
In the autumn-winter-spring time, motorists face a similar problem. Only the role of "pollutant" is played 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 elastic bands themselves, forming an ice cocoon. At the same time, "wipers" of any design and price category cease to work adequately.
At first glance, it is not difficult to cope with such a problem. To do this, it is enough to warm up the structure and free it from the ice cap. However, during the cleaning process, it is important not to be lazy and clean the ice from all the smallest grooves in the rubber bands and hinges.
Before setting off in winter, blow warm air from the heater into the wiper parking area while the vehicle is warming up. If there is an electric glass heater, do not forget to turn it on as well. At the same time, moisten the brushes with a special defrosting 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 stress and may simply fail.
Life hack
To avoid freezing of the brushes with a lock, open the doors or windows and cool the interior thoroughly before leaving the car in the parking lot.
4. Weakening of the springs of the leashes
The wipers' 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 becomes the reason for the unsatisfactory performance of the entire system.
Try to increase the load on the brush while the "wipers" are working - lightly press on it with your hand. If at the same time you notice an improvement in cleaning, try replacing the springs with new ones or slightly bend the tips of the leaders towards the glass, increasing the angle of attack.
Advice
Never leave a car in a parking lot with the brush leads up. In this position, the springs remain charged and "tire" much faster.
5. Heavy wear leaked
Car glass also has a significant impact on wiper performance. Over time, it becomes covered with micro-chips and scratches and ceases to be well cleaned for quite natural reasons. Old glass not only glares and gets dirty, but also quickly renders the rubber part of the wipers unusable.
6. Problems with trapezium wipers
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 for wear, grab the base of the leash and swing it horizontally. The presence of even a slight backlash indicates wear of the trapezium bushings and, as a result, poor pressure of the brushes to the glass. The wear of the bushings occurs due to the penetration of atmospheric precipitation through a poor seal into the joints of the trapezium and corrosion of its elements.
Why in winter the attics of high-rise buildings need to be kept in the cold and how medical examination is better than a prophylactic examination, the correspondent of Vechernyaya Kazan learned after attending a regular meeting of officials in the city mayor's office.
Ten days ago, Kazan was covered by a natural disaster: because of the freezing rain that fell on the city and the roads and sidewalks that instantly turned into a skating rink, the work of public transport was paralyzed, cars stood in traffic jams due to numerous accidents, and dozens of pedestrians broke their arms and legs ... Residents and public utilities fought heroically against the consequences of the weather cataclysm: as the chairman of the housing and communal services committee Iskander Giniyatullin said today on business Monday, not only street cleaners, but also door cleaners, electricians and plumbers had to be taken out into the streets.
As a result, Kazan was rescued from the ice captivity, but there is no guarantee 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 is one thing to sweep away cigarette butts and foliage from the asphalt, and another thing to hammer the ice up 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, the dwellers do not lose optimism: they have prepared a third more reagent and sand-salt mixture for the fight against ice than last year, and they hope that 155 special vehicles will be enough to maintain Kazan courtyards in satisfactory condition even with an acute shortage of wipers.
In addition to uncleaned snow on the local area, the Committee for Housing and Communal Services is concerned about snowdrifts on the roofs and snow caps on the balcony canopies. But if the cleaning of the roofs is already more or less established - specially trained employees of the service organizations will be engaged in this, then the residents themselves must throw snow from the balcony canopies, and they do not want to do this. Iskander Giniyatullin first reminded for the hundred thousandth time that snow from the balcony that fell on someone's head or car would become a personal problem for a negligent owner, and then recommended that those who were unable to clean the balcony visors on their own to seek help from management companies.
Another purely winter problem is icicles on the roofs of houses, to deal with which residents invent new ways every year. Either a pipe is installed around the perimeter, which vibrates from time to time and drops ice stalactites, then an anti-icing reagent is sprayed over 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, 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, and as soon as the frost hits, the water freezes, so the attic must be kept cold.
There is nothing to add, - having carefully listened to Giniyatullin, summed up the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. 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. And he also asked the heads of Kazan districts on the subject whether all the organizations located on their territory signed contracts for the removal of snow, and was dissatisfied with the statistics, because it turned out - not all. In order to achieve 100% coverage of contracts, the mayor even called on the prosecutor's office to send administration officials to the aid of district prosecutors.
It is a pity that the prosecutor's office cannot help doctors in their efforts to fulfill the plan for medical examination. According to the head of the Kazan health department, Ilnur Khalfiev, the most active participants in the free examination this year were, so to speak, young people aged 21 to 36 years old and pensioners from 60 years old. But able-bodied citizens from 39 to 60 for some reason bypass polyclinics, although calls for medical examination hang in Kazan almost at every corner. According to the city health department, many do this not only due to lack of time, but also being in full confidence that since they have passed a professional examination at their place of work, then it is enough. However, as Khalfiev explained, this is a dangerous delusion, since only during the prophylactic medical examination it is possible to detect oncological diseases. The head of the city health department even gave several examples of how citizens of Kazan, having yielded to the insistent invitations of doctors, "caught" cancer in the initial stage and got chances for a cure.
Doctors have statistics of "non-participation" in medical examination not only by age, but also by the place of residence of Kazan residents: for example, residents of the Vakhitovsky district are inactively participating in medical examination - 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 Moskovsky district - almost 64 percent.
Let's think together how to reach out to our residents, ”Ilsur Metshin urged. And almost immediately he himself revealed the main reason for the refusal of able-bodied citizens from medical examination: - Once again, they do not want to stand in lines.
Photo by Alexander GERASIMOV.
In the Soviet Union, drivers often raised their "wipers" in winter frosts - they saved equipment and their own time. There were no glass heaters in Zhiguli and Moskvichs, and there was a shortage of brushes, like everything else in the country.
They became even more deficient after the collapse of the USSR. In the "dashing nineties" drivers also raised "wipers", but only levers - without "brushes". The latter stole too often. Later, this practice went into oblivion. Today no one takes the "brushes" home, and the levers from the windshield are not pushed aside. However, there are still the most "stubborn" citizens who assert: "If you don't pick up 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 cannot start the wipers - the wiper motor will burn out." Is it so?
So, experts say. If the "wipers" are frozen to the windshield, there is a possibility of damage to the fasteners of the brushes, leads and trapezoid. The possible damage to the cleaning surface itself, which leads to a decrease in the efficiency of glass cleaning, is very unpleasant.
Could the wiper motor burn out? Maybe. Why then did the drivers stop picking up the wipers? Because they are smart. First of all, coming up to the car in the morning, the driver begins to clean the windshield - he takes out a scraper or turns on the electric heating. Only when the glass thaws 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 can flow from them. If it is dry outside and it is not snowing, it is not necessary to do this.
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In winter, most drivers turn up their wipers after they park their car at home. But why do they do this? And is it really so necessary?
Why raise your brushes?
Experienced drivers know how difficult it can be to tear off the wiper blades that have frozen overnight from the windshield. Many even broke the plastic parts of the wipers more than once, and someone tore off the rubber bands from the brushes. To prevent this from happening, drivers raise the wiper arms to a vertical position. The method is simple and reliable, especially for those who do not have a heated forehead or a "wipers" rest zone in the vehicle configuration. But there are also disadvantages.
Why isn't this the best way?
In severe frosts, all materials become quite brittle and break easily even from a slight blow. It happened more than once that the windshield wiper blades raised to a vertical position folded back from a strong gust of wind. As a result, not only the brush may break, the force from such an impact is quite enough to crack the windshield. But not only the wind, of course, is to blame for this, significant efforts are applied by the springs, which, when the brushes are lifted, are in an extended state and tend to fold it back. Therefore, the slightest touch is enough for the "janitor" to fold with a strong clap on the forehead.
The most unpleasant thing is that after such a blow, a crack on the windshield appears in the most inappropriate place. According to GOST, it is impossible to undergo technical inspection if there is a crack on the forehead in the wiper area or on the driver's side. The damaged glass will have to be repaired or replaced with a new one. So, when lifting the wipers, make sure they are firmly in place and will not collapse under the gust of wind.
Photos from Internet resources
