Seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9835 posts, RR: 17 Posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1265 times:
The rainy season started here a month ago or so. I have noticed most vehicles windshield wipers, from the passenger's perspective, go up to the left. There are very few vehicles that have only one wiper and even fewer that have two that go up to the right. Which do you prefer? I would like to get one wiper on my PT, but I have two that go up to the left like most everyone else.
Bagpiper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1256 times:
Mine lay in opposite directions when not being used, facing each other, so the arm is at the outer edges of the car. When in use, they both swing up so when both standing, they are at opposite edges of the windshield.
Msnell From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2007, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1259 times:
The wipers usually go towards the driver so more of his/her view is cleared. i.e the left-hand wiper stops vertically agaist the frame on a left-hand drive car whereas the passenger has the arc of uncleared screen. In right-hand drive cars this is usually reversed.
Single wipers sometimes have a mechanism that creates an 'un circular' arc. i.e the base of the wiper is not it's pivot point and the windscreen is more adequately covered.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 4, posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1257 times:
Quoting Msnell (Reply 3): Single wipers sometimes have a mechanism that creates an 'un circular' arc. i.e the base of the wiper is not it's pivot point and the windscreen is more adequately covered.
The single wiper was somewhat common on Mercedes-Benzes of the 1980s. The problem with them is that to get a good sweeping arc they need to be a bit more complex than just a straight arm setup. Plus because of their bigger size they don't move fast enough to clear the windshield quickly enough in heavier rains.
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 1): And change them often. Every 2-3 months if you're smart.
I replaced mine about 6 weeks ago, in time for the first rain in nearly as long. Advanced AutoParts had all wiper blades on sale that weekend too, 25% off.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 5, posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1245 times:
I do like swap out my wiper blades for winter ones between November and February. In Kansas City we get more ice than snow, unfortunately, so those winter blades work wonders...I side with ANCFlyer on that one (wow, that doesn't happen much )
But as far as your quesiton...I don't much care, as long as I can see. Back in Namibia, it is sunny and 1,000 degrees every day (ick), so wiper blades are somewhat pointless, but in Kansas City, they can be a godsend, especially during storm season and winter. Mine are the norm - 2 blades, going from right to left. They work just fine, I guess...no crash yet.
TSS From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 2870 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (5 years 6 months 7 hours ago) and read 1245 times:
Just one of my '69 Lincoln's many peculiarities was that both it's windshield wipers went up to the right. This is normal on right-hand drive cars in Australia, Japan, The UK, and South Africa and it used to be somewhat common on cars designed in those countries which had been built for export to left-hand drive countries like the US, but it is most uncommon for a car designed and built right here in the US of A to have wipers that operated in that manner.
(Another of that Lincoln's peculiarities was that the fuse box was located on the far right-hand side of the dashboard, between the glove compartment and the passenger door...something else I would normally associate with a vehicle originally designed for right-hand drive.)
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PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 7, posted (5 years 6 months 6 hours ago) and read 1234 times:
Some older cars (60s and back) actually had the left wiper swing left but the right side wiper swing right. The net effect after a passing rain would make one's windshield resemble eyes along the sweep path.
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Airfoilsguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 6 months 6 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
Quoting Bagpiper (Reply 2): Mine lay in opposite directions when not being used, facing each other
I have those on my Vett and hate them. They leave a big triangle in the middle of the windshield.
Quoting Msnell (Reply 3): Single wipers sometimes have a mechanism that creates an 'un circular' arc. i.e the base of the wiper is not it's pivot point and the windscreen is more adequately covered
My step-mom has a 500SL that does that, Almost as annoying as the Vett.
Quoting DesertJets (Reply 4): Plus because of their bigger size they don't move fast enough to clear the windshield quickly enough in heavier rains.
They also make a lot of noise
Also don't forget about those worthless wiper blades that Mercedes used to put on the headlights. Talk about giving a hen a flag.
ORFflyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (5 years 6 months 6 hours ago) and read 1205 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 1): And change them often. Every 2-3 months if you're smart.
In addition to that good advice, I use RAIN-X. Best product for the car since A/C. Never has a commercial for a product lived up to the hype, but this sure does.
Available at most all auto parts stores, and of course Wallyworld. It can be a pain to apply. Takes a LOT of rubbing to get on cleanly, but well worth it when it rains, especially at night.
Kmh1956 From Bermuda, joined Jun 2005, 3324 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (5 years 6 months ago) and read 1115 times:
Ok...bermuda....no Wallyworld, but I'll check auto parts stores (that'll be interesting) and see if I can get it here. When it rains here, it RAINS.......how is it on bird crap?
'Somebody tell me why I'm on my own if there's a soulmate for everyone' :Natasha Bedingfield
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1988 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (5 years 6 months ago) and read 1094 times:
Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 14): Takes a LOT of rubbing to get on cleanly,
If your lazy, they also make a product that goes into your washer fluid tank instead of the normal blue stuff.... works pretty good too.. much more costly, however...
I find that it's best to use after the initial application of regular rain-x.. the washer fluid stuff keeps it refreshed on the glass and you can go longer between hand applications.
Did you know Taylor Swift has a STAR to BNA named after her? No, I'm not kidding.
Scooter01 From Norway, joined Nov 2006, 1156 posts, RR: 8 Reply 19, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1076 times:
Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 11): In addition to that good advice, I use RAIN-X. Best product for the car since A/C. Never has a commercial for a product lived up to the hype, but this sure does.
DON'T EVER use crap like that! As soon as it gets "old" it will stick to to the wiperblades, making them leave a "foggy" smear that makes it harder to see where you're going and headlights from oncoming traffic will also blind you more.
You will always have to re-apply that stuff to make it work properly, so you're hooked untill a rock chips your windshield and your insurance hopefully buys you a new windshield.
Best is to get the old Windex out, clean the glass properly, inside too, and don't forget to clean the wiperblades with a soft wipe once in a while also!
Scooter01
"We all have a girl and her name is nostalgia" - Hemingway
Luv2cattlecall From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 1648 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1068 times:
Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 11): In addition to that good advice, I use RAIN-X. Best product for the car since A/C. Never has a commercial for a product lived up to the hype, but this sure does.
I have to agree. The wipes make it a bit easier to apply, and I always take a few with me when I'm planning on renting a car. Don't forget to treat your headlights... I also suggest any silicone based wiper blade...the Triple Edge actually works great for me, the set I have now has lasted almost two years, and that's here in rainy Florida. One thing I always do is lift them up and wipe them with a wet paper towel every time I refill on gas.
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 18): I find that it's best to use after the initial application of regular rain-x.. the washer fluid stuff keeps it refreshed on the glass and you can go longer between hand applications.
Especially now that they have an all-in-one formula (they used to have one for the summer and one for the winter) that does a great job getting rid of love bugs and de-icing. It's only $2.99 or so a gallon, and I probably manually apply RAIN-X only twice a year now.
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Seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9835 posts, RR: 17 Reply 21, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1057 times:
Quoting Bagpiper (Reply 2): Mine lay in opposite directions when not being used
Ah, yes. I forgot about those. Some of the new Honda vans have them.
Quoting ORFflyer (Reply 11): In addition to that good advice, I use RAIN-X.
I had no idea how well it worked until my parnter told me about it. he uses it on his windshield and it works so well!
BritJap From Japan, joined Aug 2006, 247 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1043 times:
These days wiper direction is not randomised.
All left hand drive cars should have the wipers sweeping up to the left. This is so the water that gets flicked off from the tip of the wiper is flicked towards the passenger side, and does not get left on the windscreen directly in the view of the driver.
Conversely right hand drive cars have wipers that sweep up to the right.
I remember there was a problem with the first batches of Peugeot 206s (I think) exported to the UK from France because the wipers went the wrong way. Though I am not sure that they bothered to change it??!
Quoting Bagpiper (Reply 2): Mine lay in opposite directions when not being used, facing each other, so the arm is at the outer edges of the car. When in use, they both swing up so when both standing, they are at opposite edges of the windshield.
Here as well for the same reasons you should probably find that the wiper that is on the drivers side is also the one that is always upper most during the swing and the one on top when they are lying flat.
Pretty good - especially if it's fresh. Use the washer as soon as it hits, and it's gone. If it's dried up, it may take a bit more.
Quoting Scooter01 (Reply 19): DON'T EVER use crap like that! As soon as it gets "old" it will stick to to the wiperblades, making them leave a "foggy" smear that makes it harder to see where you're going and headlights from oncoming traffic will also blind you more.
You will always have to re-apply that stuff to make it work properly, so you're hooked untill a rock chips your windshield and your insurance hopefully buys you a new windshield.
No way. That's a clear indication that you didn't rub it in good enough when applied. I've NEVER had a "foggy" smear.
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 24, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1004 times:
Quoting Scooter01 (Reply 19): DON'T EVER use crap like that! As soon as it gets "old" it will stick to to the wiperblades, making them leave a "foggy" smear that makes it harder to see where you're going and headlights from oncoming traffic will also blind you more.
I've been a diehard RAIN-X user for 12 years and I have never had a problem with "old" RAIN-X sticking to the wiperblades and leaving a "foggy smear". Sounds like you had a good old fashioned operator error in your RAIN-X experience.
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
25 Airlinelover: Rain-x is a great product.. I've never had any issues with it either
26 MCOflyer: I change my wiper blades whenever I go in for a tune up. In addition to changing my wiper blades, I request Rain X as that stuff is the bomb. Hunter
27 Scooter01: You might never have noticed... I am speaking from personal as well as from a lot of customer's experiences/complaints. Being in the automotive servi
28 KROC: First off. When I'm cleaning windows, or when I have seen professional window cleaners at work, I have never seen them use RAIN-X for one reason. I d
29 Scooter01: Know what you mean, I used to live just across the lake from you, and we were right in the snow-belt coming off Lake Erie I'm not going to rant anymo
30 Czbbflier: The wipers on my smart car wipe from the centre, up and out. One wiper sits directly above the other in the off position. Coverage, except in the cent
31 Glydrflyr: The Lincolns we use in my limo business have HEATED wiper blades. We put the blades on at this time of year, and take them off in early spring. This i
33 ORFflyer: No drinking and driving for me - funny nonetheless.... I don't know of too many professionals using it on buildings, but I do know RAIN-X is applied
34 Airfoilsguy: Can you please provide more info on this process and the products involved? It sounds like something I would like to do or have done to my cars.
35 TEBguy: Aye... there made in such a way as to apply pressure evenly over the glass, clearing water more effectively. Im going to get myself a set next time i
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Also makes it easier to get those bug splatters off too.
From Norway, joined Nov 2006, 1156 posts, 
From Japan, joined Aug 2006, 247 posts, 
Use the washer as soon as it hits, and it's gone. If it's dried up, it may take a bit more. 
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