The sudden drop in temperature accelerates the wear of rubber, but quick care in the garage can save visibility and your wallet
The freezing mornings and unpredictable humidity of autumn bring back a familiar nuisance for drivers: that loud squeaking noise when turning on the wiper of windshield. Instead of gently gliding and cleaning the glass, the stems shake and scratchleaving trails of water that completely distort the view. This uncomfortable scenario does not necessarily mean that the piece was completely damaged. Often, the rubber just suffered from the thermal shock due to lack of use constant in previous months.
Knowing exactly how to prevent your wiper blades from drying out and making noise on cold autumn days is a quick routine that avoid unnecessary trips to the workshop. The solution involves understanding the basic difference between a piece dried out by dirt and a rubber that has effectively reached the end of its useful life.
Why autumn is the villain of car rubber
During warmer seasons, reeds naturally accumulate dust, soot and asphalt residue. When the temperature drops suddenly in autumn, the humidity in the air decreases and the rubber, which naturally need flexibility to sweepit loses its hydration capacity. The material hardens considerably and loses ideal grip in direct contact with the glass.
Instead of flexing as it passes over the surface, the rigid blade jumps on the glass. It is exactly this loss of malleability that causes sound vibration which irritates any driver. If the cleaner is dry activated in the first hour morning, the friction becomes even more aggressive, forcing the electric motor and accelerating reed wear.
The simple trick to clean and hydrate your stems
Recovering the softness of the piece requires just a few minutes in the garage. The first step is to lift the rods and wipe with a clean, damp cloth with water and neutral soap along the entire length of the rubber. This simple and quick movement removes the film of crystallized dirt which blocks the flexibility of the part.
The golden rule at this stage is avoid abrasive products. Never apply alcohol, kerosene, degreasers or aggressive detergents for cleaningas these chemical compounds melt the original factory protection and cause irreversible dryness. If after cleaning the piece remains leaving traces or showing cracks visible, replacement with a new pair is inevitable.
The bitter price of scratching your windshield
Ignore the audible warning wiper shaking on the glass not only achieves acoustic comfort; weighs heavily on the consumer’s pocket. A dried stem with the seriously compromised rubber may expose the metal or plastic part of the structure. In a few days of continuous rain, the movement will dig micro scratches on the surface delicate from the windshield.
While a pair of new reeds costs, on average, between R$50 and R$150repairing the collateral damage to the glass is much more costly. A professional polish to remove Superficial risks are expensive in the automotive market. If the glass is severely damaged, replacing the entire windshield varies from R$230 to R$5,000depending on the factory-embedded technology, such as rain and heating sensors.Keeping the cleaning system up to date is a basic road safety issue.
In a sudden late afternoon thunderstorm, clear visibility is the driver’s only recourse to avoid accidents and unforeseen events on the road. Taking care of reeds preventatively guarantees a smooth journey and protects the financial integrity of your vehicle against unforeseen expenses.
