Okay, if you’ve found this blog, it’s likely that we share similar tolerance levels when it comes to squeaky windscreen wiper blades. And trust me, tolerance is required! Is there anything more annoying that that slow, painful squeak you hear when there’s anything less than a full-blown torrential downpour?
The answer is no. No there is not.
How can I stop my windscreen wipers from squeaking?
The easiest way to to keep your wiper blades from going all squeaky is to make sure that there’s enough moisture on the windscreen for them to glide smoothly.
Basically, don’t use them on a windscreen that isn’t wet!
If you clean your windscreen frequently while driving and keep your wiper fluid level high, there’s less friction between the blade and the windscreen surface when you use the wipers, and so you’re less likely to get the squeak-effect.
So, you could come to the conclusion that the obnoxious noise is produced by something as simple as a filthy windscreen, a dirty wiper blade, or a particle of debris lodged beneath the wiper blade. The simplest way to check is to raise up your wiper arms and look for anything trapped on the bottom of the blades, as well as any dirt.
If you want to go all-out professional, give those blade a wipe down too for a comprehensive clean.
Glass cleaner is a useful product for squeaky windows
Apply some glass cleaner to your windscreen to help get those blade moving smooth and quiet. If it’s still a painful experience, you may be looking at permanently damaged blades and need to replace them. If that’s the case, you can generally pick up a new set of blades (ask for wiper blade refills) for less than $50NZD, depending on the make and model of your car.
Need help?
Lucky for you, if the idea of finding the right windscreen wiper blades and then needing to affix them starts to fill you with a sense of impending doom, My Auto Shop is here! Head over the services area and we’ll put you in touch a mechanic who can help you with this simple fix, no problem.