Tip #90: Replace wiper blades before they streak, and clear the whole car of snow
Wiper blades wear out from sun, heat and ice, and most drivers notice only when it is raining hard. Replace them when they streak, chatter or skip, and check them before winter.
Tip #90 in one line
Wiper blades wear out from sun, heat and ice, and most drivers notice only when it is raining hard. Replace them when they streak, chatter or skip, and check them before winter.
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Call nowSigns a blade is done
Streaks that stay on the glass, a band of water the blade skips, chattering as it moves, or a rubber edge that is cracked, split or hardened all mean the blade should be replaced. Many drivers replace them once or twice a year, often in the fall before winter weather. Rear wipers are easy to forget; check them too.
Blade sizes differ between the driver and passenger sides on many cars. The owner's manual or the parts store's lookup gives the right sizes.
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Call nowWinter habits that save blades and windshields
Do not use the wipers to scrape ice. Defrost the windshield first and clear it with a scraper. On a frozen morning, make sure the blades are not stuck to the glass before turning them on; a frozen blade can tear, and the wiper motor can be strained.
Keep the washer reservoir full with a winter washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures. Road salt spray dries into a film that blinds you in low sun, and an empty reservoir turns a dirty windshield into a hazard.
New Jersey law requires drivers to clear snow and ice from their vehicles, including the roof, before driving. Ice flying off a roof at highway speed can injure the driver behind you. Clear the whole car, not just a hole in the windshield.
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Call nowWhen winter wins anyway
If the car slides off the road or gets stuck in a snowbank, stay with the car if it is safe and call (908) 444-0129. A winch-out pulls it back onto solid ground, and if anything is damaged, a local tow is booked on the same call. Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow if you run the engine for heat. The winch-out guide has more on getting unstuck.
Lift the blades off the glass before a predicted ice storm, or park facing away from the wind, if your car allows it. Many drivers in New Jersey prefer winter blades, which have a rubber cover that keeps ice from packing into the frame. Whichever you choose, wipe the blade edge with a damp cloth now and then; grit on the rubber is what scratches windshields.
If the wipers stop working entirely in a storm, pull over somewhere safe. A blown fuse or a failed wiper motor is not something to drive through in heavy rain or snow.
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Call nowMore on winter
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #1: The first cold morning is when a weak battery quits
- Tip #3: In extreme cold, crank in short bursts and turn everything off first
- Tip #4: Stuck in snow, stop spinning the wheels and check the tailpipe
- Tip #5: Clear the roof, hood and lights before you drive; New Jersey law requires it
- Tip #6: A frozen door is usually ice in the seal, not a broken lock
- Tip #7: An iced-over car needs ten extra minutes, not a hammer
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- All posts
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