Squeaky wiper blades on new Smith and Smith windscreen

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timmmay

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#272341 20-Jun-2020 15:38

We have Trico Force wipers on our Nissan Qashqui, on there since June 2019, not cheap at $80 for the pair. They worked perfectly and quietly until we had the windscreen replaced by Smith and Smith in Feb this year. From the moment the new windscreen was fitted they squeaked horribly. I ignored it until now, hoping it would improve with a bit of use, but it's not improving. In heavy rain at normal speed they're not too bad, but in low rain or occasional use they're really loud and distracting.

I called Smith and Smith, they said I had to go in to see if there's anything wrong with the windscreen, which I'll do some time. I guess though it's just different materials or coatings, I doubt they'll actually do anything.

Has anyone had this problem and solved it? I could go buy another set of these wipers as they're almost a year old now, or get a different brand, but I don't want to throw away the better part of $100 and find I still have the same problem.

Quick update: have used Rain-X, improved things a bit but they're still squeaky, looking for recommendations on good wiper blades on page two of the thread.

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#2508850 20-Jun-2020 15:45

Try rainX on the window. Firstly it will mean you won't need your wipers to be constantly scraping, and secondly it will modify the friction on the screen when you do clear the droplets from time to time.

timmmay

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#2508851 20-Jun-2020 15:49

Not a bad idea thanks. I've used Rain-X on my Corolla. It's ok but I find it makes the windscreen look like it's steamed up on the outside for the first couple of minutes of driving, and it's worse on cold days or early in the morning, until the windscreen warms up. Plus I think it's really difficult to remove if my wife doesn't like it - it's the family car but she drives it most. Will think about this one, maybe do on passenger side to try it out.

dfnt

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#2508854 20-Jun-2020 16:07

I imagine the windscreen is probably a cheap Chinese one, as opposed to the OEM one used by Nissan

timmmay

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#2508856 20-Jun-2020 16:15

dfnt:

I imagine the windscreen is probably a cheap Chinese one, as opposed to the OEM one used by Nissan

Yeah clearly not OEM, but that doesn't really help. Pretty sure insurance companies have clauses that allow them to replace with aftermarket parts, but I might read the policy to see if there's any language around acceptable quality.

About 5 - 10 years ago I had the Corolla windscreen replaced. The replacement was pretty poor, it had a "wave" in it, so if you moved your head left to right everything looked weird. I complained, they put another in, just as bad. The insurance company then agreed to replace with OEM, which was fine.

dfnt

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#2508938 20-Jun-2020 20:40

The glass is probably cheap compared to OEM, hence the windscreen wipers now make noise

I wouldn't bother with rainx, it'll just make things worse

Try clean the wiper blades themselves and the windscreen while you're at it

timmmay

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#2508939 20-Jun-2020 20:42

dfnt:

Try clean the wiper blades themselves and the windscreen while you're at it

I've cleaned the windscreen and wipers with warm soapy water many times. No difference.

nzkc

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#2508946 20-Jun-2020 20:52

1eStar: Try rainX on the window.

I had the same situation with a new windscreen. Rainx definitely helped. Unfortunately it didn't last that long. Had to reapply pretty quickly. Ultimately what worked was time. Eventually the squeaking just subsided (rainx or not). Can only guess that some chemical layer wore off.

Even so: definitely recommend rainx regardless! Great for in the rain!

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Oblivian

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#2508951 20-Jun-2020 21:06

They'll probably have micro abrasion on the edge from the old windscreen. Now hitting a new one which has no contaminants so may need a nice slick surface like described.

Similarly. Replaced the blades recently due slight smearing and perishing rubber and it was like a new car again, however it's gotten too good and biting the rubber now. Causing them to skip after the first clean wipe and bunch up (new ones only secured bottom end)

Prior after many attempts to remove smearing and waterspots from mine (Turpentine, CRC glass cleaner, car detailing windshield cleaner among others) filling those porous gaps with grime and crap didn't bode well and I ended up with nasty near permanent smear marks every time water got on it.

Over time it striped back with rain-x water additive and a hard polishing with Mothers waterspot removal. Only need to give it a blast as it's covered in muck now.

I too get that odd external fogging on the outside during dewy mornings. But helps with less ice buildup and a mins in the drive with the aircon on window only and heat sorts it. Not yet tried anti-fog mixed with the rain-x

timmmay

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#2508953 20-Jun-2020 21:18

Oblivian:

They'll probably have micro abrasion on the edge from the old windscreen. Now hitting a new one which has no contaminants so may need a nice slick surface like described.

Similarly. Replaced the blades recently due slight smearing and perishing rubber and it was like a new car again, however it's gotten too good and biting the rubber now. Causing them to skip after the first clean wipe and bunch up (new ones only secured bottom end)

Prior after many attempts to remove smearing and waterspots from mine (Turpentine, CRC glass cleaner, car detailing windshield cleaner among others) filling those porous gaps with grime and crap didn't bode well and I ended up with nasty near permanent smear marks every time water got on it.

Over time it striped back with rain-x water additive and a hard polishing with Mothers waterspot removal. Only need to give it a blast as it's covered in muck now.

I too get that odd external fogging on the outside during dewy mornings. But helps with less ice buildup and a mins in the drive with the aircon on window only and heat sorts it. Not yet tried anti-fog mixed with the rain-x

So... buy new wipers?

Oblivian

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#2508956 20-Jun-2020 21:28

so may need a nice slick surface like described.

I meant give yer rainx a go. Little fogging after spending $80 on blades already to see if it helps is a smaller price ti pay if it works?

timmmay

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#2509035 21-Jun-2020 08:59

When I say fogging, I mean you can't really see through the windscreen. That's with the Corolla that's kept outside, maybe it'll be better with the bigger car that's in the garage. It isn't convenient to have to sit with the car running until it warms the windscreen, new cars are efficient and take ages to warm up, unlike the old Corolla.

Any other suggestions? Right now the plan is Rain X passenger side as a test, then new wipers if that doesn't help.

Bung

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#2509052 21-Jun-2020 09:50

I don't know about your specific wipers but some beam wipers do take refills if the end caps come off. I'll be looking at ours this morning. Like all wipers they don't like a dry screen and unfortunately the auto setting seems to do 5 sweeps too many. Auto is fine varying the speed but in light rain I finger flick intermittent.

1eStar

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#2509396 22-Jun-2020 00:06

Wear earmuffs, but seeing as it's a trial, just wear one. See if you can only half hear the squeak.

timmmay

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#2509417 22-Jun-2020 07:42

I've cleaned the windscreen and put Rain-X on, initial impression is the noise is much reduced. There was some cloudiness but I think with a bit of rain and time it should reduce. I'll report back in a couple of weeks the results. Thanks for the advice all.

concordnz

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#2509857 22-Jun-2020 15:57

Having had the same issue myself,

I'd recommend adding Rain-x additive to the washer water (you can buy it specifically for this - or just add some of the 'spray on' stuff to the resivore).

There is too parts to the fogging problem -
Outside fogging - this clears with the first shower of rain (or hose spray if you are not in Auckland)
Inside fogging - this continues to be a challenge ( & your wife may not like it). & only disappears as the rain-x wears off.
Iget direct sun-strike every morning, due to this.
(If you put the front demister on 'high' & wind down the windows to allow the moisture levels & temps on both sides of the windscreen to equalize - this interior fogging seems to clear fairly fast)

Wiping the inside of the windscreen with a cloth doesn't seem to clear this fine fogging - it's pretty determined.

It's a known problem/side effect. - the rainx company used to sell an 'anti-fog' product you could put on the inside - but it didn't last as long as the rain-x on the outside.....

Rain-x will make a big improvement to the noise reduction on the wipers.

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