Good wipers - Legacy

[Dan Langille]

Hi folks,

I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular wiper?

I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.

What do you use?

I'm also looking for new wipers for the front. The current ones have
started to chatter, probably from a summer of constant exposure to sun.

I'm planning on buying the Reflex WetTec from Canadian Tire (I live in
Ottawa, Canada).

cheers

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi folks,

I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular wiper?

I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.

What do you use?

I'm also looking for new wipers for the front. The current ones have
started to chatter, probably from a summer of constant exposure to sun.

I'm planning on buying the Reflex WetTec from Canadian Tire (I live in
Ottawa, Canada).

RainX + Bosch Microedge every year.

 

[JohnO]

Hi folks,

I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular wiper?

I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.

More likely the wiper arm is bent from someone leaning on it. Pull on
the middle and push in the end, just a bit, and see how much better it
covers the entire window.

And I love using Rain-X as well. Great stuff, and lasts forever on the
side and rear windows.

-John O

 

[Dan Langille]

RainX + Bosch Microedge every year.

With Google, I figured out that RainX is the wiper fluid, and Bosh
Microedge is the wiper.

Searching more, I found that http://www.partsource.ca/ carries them, and
they have a store in Ottawa. They said the "Bosch - Excelsior" is the
Bosch Microedge....

I called them for prices:

driver 20" 14.99
passenger 22" 13.99

Perhaps those two prices are swapped, I'm not sure.

They don't stock the 15" for the rear wiper.

I also called: http://www.parts-direct.ca/ who do not stock them, but can
get them in. They sounded a bit more knowledgable about Bosch. They knew
the name Microedge. The prices were $10, $12, and $15 in order of size.
They'll be in stock in the morning and I'll pick them up then.

For Rain-X, I contacted http://www.rainx.com/ and they gave me the Canadian
office at 1 800 263 6200. They gave me the number of the Laval office:
Laval 1 800 663 5533... I left voice mail for Luc... We'll see what he
says...

But since then, I found that Canadian Tire stocks it, as does Walmart.

Thank you for the leads... I'm going shopping tomorrow.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi folks,

I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular wiper?

I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.

What do you use?

I'm also looking for new wipers for the front. The current ones have
started to chatter, probably from a summer of constant exposure to sun.

I'm planning on buying the Reflex WetTec from Canadian Tire (I live in
Ottawa, Canada).

cheers

Lots of good reports on Valeo from www.tirerack.com and they are on
sale I believe.

Carl

 

[Todd H.]

Hi folks,
I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular
wiper?
I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks
and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.
What do you use?
I'm also looking for new wipers for the front. The current ones have
started to chatter, probably from a summer of constant exposure to sun.
I'm planning on buying the Reflex WetTec from Canadian Tire (I live
in
Ottawa, Canada).

I just put a new Anco arm back there and it seems to work just fine.

The one it replaced had worn so much that the "top" of the wiper
wasn't touching the glass anymore.

 

[Todd H.]

With Google, I figured out that RainX is the wiper fluid, and Bosh
Microedge is the wiper.

Actually RainX started life as a windshield treatment to make water
bead up--probably what the poster was referring to in this context.
In my own exerience it ends up clouding the hell out of everything
eventually and then needing to be stripped, so I avoid it personally
and opt to keep my windows clean and wipers in good shape.

Since their original product, I imagine RainX now also sell wiper
fluid and such under that brand.

 

[John]

In my own exerience it ends up clouding the hell out of everything
eventually and then needing to be stripped

Keep buffing just like wax, it clears up and works great. So much so that
at times you dont need your wipers on at all when at highway speeds as the
rain just beads and rolls off. Pilots and mariners can't be wrong with
using this stuff for years.
What I've done lately is get the RainX washer fluid, mix it 50/50 with
regular washing fluid to make it last longer and still works just as well.

 

[nobody >]

Actually RainX started life as a windshield treatment to make water
bead up--probably what the poster was referring to in this context.
In my own exerience it ends up clouding the hell out of everything
eventually and then needing to be stripped, so I avoid it personally
and opt to keep my windows clean and wipers in good shape.

Since their original product, I imagine RainX now also sell wiper
fluid and such under that brand.

I agree with Todd on RainX, at least the bug-rated stuff I bought last
summer. The cloudy smear wouldn't clear up between wiper strokes on
medium and high. The worst part is that my '00 OB has such a huge wiper
fluid tank that it took 3 months to get rid of it (I know.. I could have
syphoned it out but I'm too lazy)

 

[Todd H.]

Keep buffing just like wax, it clears up and works great.

So if I understand you correctly, you apply it, after a while it'll
cloud perhaps, then you just rebuff and it gets it back happy again?
I might be willing to try it again if that was all that was missing.

 

[mulder]

Hi folks,

I have a 2001 Legacy station wagon. Do you recommend any particular wiper?

I find that the rear window clears poorly. The wiper leaves streaks and
the doesn't clear the entire path. For example, at the top of the window,
the wiper does not touch the window... I suspect because of the curvature
of the glass.

What do you use?

I'm also looking for new wipers for the front. The current ones have
started to chatter, probably from a summer of constant exposure to sun.

I'm planning on buying the Reflex WetTec from Canadian Tire (I live in
Ottawa, Canada).

cheers

Try a set of beam type blades such as the Valeo Ultimate blades or the
Bosch Icons. They are much better than the standard blades, they
maintain full contact with the windshield over their entire length and
they also will last longer. Due to the one-piece design they also work
well as winter blades.

 

[Dan Langille]

So if I understand you correctly, you apply it, after a while it'll
cloud perhaps, then you just rebuff and it gets it back happy again?
I might be willing to try it again if that was all that was missing.

I got a phone call back from the distributors today. Yes, you put it on,
let it dry, much like you do car wax. After two or three minutes, wipe off
the film. Do half the windscreen at a time, then do the other half.

Make sure the window is very clean before applying. Wash it two or three
times, etc...

I'll pick some up later today.

 

[JohnO]

So if I understand you correctly, you apply it, after a while it'll
cloud perhaps, then you just rebuff and it gets it back happy again?
I might be willing to try it again if that was all that was missing.

I've been using the stuff for several years, same climate as you, and
I've never had clouding at all. Not even a hint of that. The windows
I've treated seem clearer, and they definitely stay cleaner because the
surface tension is so high. The way I know it's worn off is when I need
to use the wipers...most of the time when the stuff is fresh they
aren't needed at all, especially when I get past 35 mph.

-John O

 

[Ron N.]

So if I understand you correctly, you apply it, after a while it'll
cloud perhaps, then you just rebuff and it gets it back happy again?
I might be willing to try it again if that was all that was missing.

It could mean three things. Either it just needs more hard buffing.
Or the wiper blades are worn or dirty. Or RainX was applied to a
dirty windshield, in which case I would try stripping it, cleaning
the windshield extremely well, and then reapply.


IMHO. YMMV.

 

[Chicobiker]

I have personally decided to avoid the RainX windshield washer fluid
like the plague.

The stuff works awesome when going over 80km/hr. But it works
absolutely terrible any less than that. The wipers move the water
around, but the water just beads up in different patterns on the
windshield and doesn't clear up. In early mornings when the sun is
really low on the horizon, I find it actually quite dangerous. I would
need to warm up my car for at least 10 minutes until the heat can clear
up the windshield. Don't have the patience for that.

If I want a wax treatment for my windshield, I'll apply it and buff as
per normal application of wax. I don't want to have to plan a buff job
after every time I need to spray my windshield with washer fluid.

The reflex wiper blades are a bit better for maintaining contact on the
windshield in icy conditions, but they are not miracle devices. After
a year they suffer pretty much the same consequences as other wipers -
no applying full contact to the windshield. At least they do better at
keeping the middle portion clear, while hinged wipers would freeze up
solid and clear the ends leaving the middle all messed up.

My $0.02.

Chico

 

[Dan Langille]

RainX + Bosch Microedge every year.

I picked with three Bosch Microedge wipers today. They are good. Better
than the Reflex wipers were, I think, when I first got them. Time will
tell. I'm waiting for the next rainy day and I'll try them out (that
should be tomorrow).

I also picked up the Rain-X today but have not applied it yet. I want to
try the wipers first.

 

[who]

Actually RainX started life as a windshield treatment to make water
bead up--probably what the poster was referring to in this context.
In my own exerience it ends up clouding the hell out of everything
eventually and then needing to be stripped, so I avoid it personally
and opt to keep my windows clean and wipers in good shape.

My experience with it was the beading made my visibility worse.
I returned it to CTC and as you I simply keep my wiper blades in good
shape and clean.