Windscreen Wipers Skipping / Shuddering / Squeaking

[Brendan_A]

Use a clay block and mint lube on the screen. That will get rid of any contamination on the screen, then you can finish it off with Duragloss Nu-Glass. I had the same problem on my rear screen.

[brad]

The Bosch blades are the best I've ever used on any car... including swapping out 3 different brands of silicon blades within a few months back in my pre-VW days cause I wasn't happy with the OEM ones on previous cars.

If they're skipping on the Golf, I'd just fix why they're skipping. Also, don't replace them in 15,000km - they really don't need it - unless you only do 15,000km in like 5 years... they don't need it. If they did need it, it'd make me wonder about what products are being used to clean the car, or where the car is being parked etc, which has made them deteriorate so quickly - and whether that is what is possibly causing the skipping...

i'd agree with all this. I used to change wiper blades every 6 months on my old cars. Still on the original Bosch aero after 2.5 years/60,000km. They work like new.

[Corey_R]

Use a clay block and mint lube on the screen. That will get rid of any contamination on the screen, then you can finish it off with Duragloss Nu-Glass. I had the same problem on my rear screen.

Yeah - this is good advice, because even if a window looks clean, it can still have contaiminents on it.
From our friends at Car Care Products...

Mint Grey Clay Bar + Lube + Cloth kit for $29.95

Also, get rid of your Windex and use a product specifically for automotive glass that won't upset your wipers... I use Meguiars glass cleaner, but that's mostly cause I've got most the bottle left and when I bought it I was one of these uneducated people who thought that Meguiars were actually good. So as per TDiJetta09's suggestion, try Duragloss Glass Cleaner for $16.95. I haven't specifically used it, but I've been using several other Duragloss products, and I have no doubt it would be great.

Whilst you're there, I can highly recommend the Mint Microfibre Glass cloth for $9.95. This is the first microfibre cloth I've seen specifically designed for glass. If you look at the closeup photo, it's actually "ribbed" in its construction - so you wipe it in the one direction. I fold it into half (length ways) and then thirds, and use one surface to do the initial wiping, and then another surface to do the "final wipe".

Also, make sure you visit the Bodywork/Trim & Detailing forum here at VWwc and get your discount code for Car Care Products

[khamtran]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will try TDiJetta09's suggestion of using a clay bar, mint lube and Duragloss Glass Cleaner.

And thanks Corey_R, regarding the discount code for Care Car Products

[hooba]

I'd also recommend you'd stop using windex on it.

[khamtran]

I hear you on the Windex front.

[khamtran]

I popped into the dealer today and a technician had a look at the wipers for me.

Apparently, the tension just needed needed adjusting on them. They work fine now.

[BezzyR]

Gotta say after driving the R in the rain this week Im finding the wipers pretty noisy.. The ones on my VE SS were quiet as a mouse! ?

[Brian]

Gotta say after driving the R in the rain this week Im finding the wipers pretty noisy.. The ones on my VE SS were quiet as a mouse! ?

Have to agree with you on this BezzyR, could not hear the blades on the old SS. The VDub is VERY loud

[prise]

Shuddering drivers side wiper fix

If you suffer from a shuddering drivers side wiper you might want to try the following as it worked for me. The following procedure will remove the freeplay between the wiper arm and blade assembly that was causing the 'shudder' but still allow the blade to pivot so that it can adjust to the contour of the windscreen.

1) Put the wipers into the service position (read the owners handbook if you don't know how to do this)
2) Fold the arm forwards and away from the windscreen and remove the wiper blade assembly after pushing the rectangular button that prevents it sliding out of the channel at the end of the metal arm.
3) The end of the wiper arm has a metal channel that the wiper arm slides into. Cut some black electrical tape into narrow strips and stick one layer of tape to the inside of the channel so that it runs along each of the two sides. Slide the blade blade assembly back into the channel on the end of the arm until it clicks . The tape should look like this when it's in place:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14542234/Mk6%20Golf%20-%20tape%20to%20fix%20wiper%20shudder%20-%201of2.JPG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14542234/Mk6%20Golf%20-%20tape%20to%20fix%20wiper%20shudder%20-%202of2.JPG

4) Check to see if there is any side to side free-play. If there is, repeat 3) until the free-play goes away. If you add too much tape the blade assembly will not be able to pivot and adjust to the contour of the windscreen as the arm sweeps and you may get areas on the screen that don't wipe properly.

[Corey_R]

Thanks prise.

I've merged that into the existing thread, and also left a redirect for a week so that people won't miss it. Cheers

[Angryman]

When I picked up the R I also noticed the windscreen wipers were noisy, however after using them constantly every day for the past two weeks they are just as quiet as any others I have used...Perhaps there is a coating on them that needs to wear off before they run quietly...just a thought...

[weewilly]

on the subject of wipers, when cleaning the Black, I've noticed with some aggravation that you can't pull the wipers away from the windscreen to clear properly. I can the turn on the ignition and pull key out and they stop in vertical and then can be pulled out from glass, but seems not quite right in design.... also the left side wiper doesn't go all the way down but hits the hood and returns completing the cycle. when stopping the blade seats properly below the hood. seems messy, not right....

[Corey_R]

Hey weewilly. Please refer to your owners manual. The wipers are specifically designed that way, as they are on many new cars where the wipers are "concealed" under the back edge of the bonnet (for aero and "sleek look" reasons). There is a "service mode" (it may be what you are kinda describing above, but you miss out a step). Turn on the ignition (no need to start the car), turn it off, then press the wiper stalk, and they go into their service mode. You can then pull them off the glass as you can with any regular car.

[weewilly]

thank you Corey, once again.....