W208 Wipers Not Clearing Well

[steveoelliott]

Hi all,

I have had an issue with my 208 when it's raining and using the wipers that the windscreen does not clear very well.

It's almost like it smears everything across it and a second or 2 later it clears.

I have changed wiper blades and even the screen but still seems to be the same.

Could it be actually something with the wiper itself?

Thanks...

 

[Dec]

Was Rain X ever applied to the screen?

Dec

 

[steveoelliott]

Not to this screen but the old one... I cleaned the wiper with some vineger and it seems to have made a vast difference. Will need to try in rain at night as that is when it can be noticed most.

Rain X is awful stuff in my opinion. Great idea but the smearing it created was really bad.

 

[Dec]

Years ago I used Rain X , it was great for a few months then this haze would appear at each sweep of the screen, couldn’t remedy the problem at all, eventually the screen got broken, a new screen solved the issue.

Wiping the blade edge usually gets missed when washing a car.

Dec

 

[E270 Owner]

Use Meths to clean the screen and wiper blades

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I had the same problem and over a period of several months after buying the car I tried most things to resolve the problem, the majority of which I saw recommended on here. Meths, coke, nail polish remover (with acetone), and all kinds of glass cleaners and detergents, without any of them making much difference. I then bought some Auto Glym Car Glass Polish, the white creamy one, not the spray type which they also do and after several applications I have managed to remove most of the film, which is actually visible as the Auto Glym is applied.

I see however that you have changed the screen and wiper blades so can only suggest new wiper arms, in case there isn't enough pressure being applied. Did you buy decent brand blades, as the cheap ones aren't as good.

 

[Terry_]

The wiper box hasn't jumped out of sync has it? This causes a nasty smearing screen

 

[steveoelliott]

Thanks all...

Well I'm going to try several different methods of the next couple of weeks but so far vinegar seems to have made a vast improvement.

The arm looks to be in sync and working correctly.

It's hard to tell on the amount of pressure applied. But... I have notied that even on a dry screen it doesn't make that awful sound that many wipers do, is this common on the w208?

Blade is a Bosch one.

 

[Dec]

Put it up on you tube, pictures speaks a thousand words, all you need is a willing teenager with a camera.

Dec

 

[flango]

Nothing to do with blades or screen I suspect, particularly if the screen has been changed, as WG M-B the wiper box the most likely culprit in this scenario

Re: Rain X only problem with this product is people don't read the Instructions of how to apply and then it smears like hell, All my cars are regularly treated with Rain X when I clean them and never had a window smear yet.

 

[steveoelliott]

How would I tell if something was up with the box? The wiper appears to work nice and smoothly although not really sure how to check pressure on the screen itself.

 

[Dec]

With the wiper arm cocked up you can see the two springs, as in attached picture, on the underside of the wiper arm that keep the wiper blade pressed on to the glass, if the wrong wiper blade is fitted then these 2 springs may be too strong for the rubber edge of the blade and flatten the blade too much resulting in poor results.

There is a lot of useful fitting information in .pdf format in the link below.
Bosch - Wiper Blades

There is nothing in the mechanism or in the motor that would cause poor cleaning of the screen, unless there is something loose under the Black plastic cover that houses the sliding mechanism… see video… then the problem you have would be to do with the condition of the glass or the type of blade fitted or in the way that the blade…if it is a refill… was fitted.

If you want to clean the screen really well then use Cif and rinse it off with a garden hose as it is a kitchen cleaner it will be corrosive to bare metal.

Lubricate the mechanism as per video.

Dec
[YOUTUBE]XCVhpeDLUHY&NR=1[/YOUTUBE]

Edit, Alternative to the missing video.
[YOUTUBE]8w6g2TMZCGE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[steveoelliott]

Thanks for the info... I'm convinced now there is nothing with the mechanism.

 

[steveoelliott]

Well... If I rub the screen with a microfiber, even with nothing on it then it seems to clear up whatever is on it and the wipers run clean.

I did this last night and it worked but this evening it was back even though the car has not moved. After doing the same again, all was well.

Seems strange to me, almost like some kind of film is building up on the surface. Maybe something in rain water I guess as it sits on the screen,

 

[flango]

Well... If I rub the screen with a microfiber, even with nothing on it then it seems to clear up whatever is on it and the wipers run clean.

I did this last night and it worked but this evening it was back even though the car has not moved. After doing the same again, all was well.

Seems strange to me, almost like some kind of film is building up on the surface. Maybe something in rain water I guess as it sits on the screen,

Don't live near a Power Station by any chance do you?

 

[Dec]

Any slime in the windscreen washer tank?

Dec

 

[steveoelliott]

No power stations nearby and happens without using the washers. Strange but good to know a quick buff / clean will sort it.

 

[steveoelliott]

I am really at a loose end with this now

I have tried everything from fairy liquid, various branded window cleaners, vinegar and of course Autoglym glass polish but whilst they may for a short while stop the hazing, it soon comes back.

As you will recall I've had my windscreen changed and my wiper shortly before to try and clear this. I've cleaned both frequently to try and get rid of this problem.

Now I have no idea what else it could possibly be. I can't see it being anything to do with the arm or mechanism as the wiper seems to function normally and clear the droplets, it's the haze it leaves for 2 or 3 seconds after it's swipe that's the problem.

One thing I did notice was if I breath on the screen from outside you see like a multicolour patch. Maybe there is still grease or something on it?

 

[Howard]

Wipe the screen with acetone ( not nail varnish remover as this has conditioning oils in it )

Go to the chemist and buy a little bottle of acetone and wipe the screen thoroughly with it a few times , changing cloth between each wipe , don't be shy with the acetone , soak the cloth in it

Put a new wiper blade on after you have done this

 

[steveoelliott]

OK... I'll give this a go.