Scrape-scrape-scrape: Pressure "tension" on wipers?

[iracema1]

Hi Everyone:
Rains have started again in Northern California, and I have been driving the "new" 88 Milano Verde in the rain. I have a question: Is there any way to adjust the spring tension or pressure on the wipers so that they don't "jump" across the windshield in a series of noisy scrapes? The windshield is smooth, (and will be further polished this week), and the wiper blades are good. I just long for that nice, effective smooth "stroke" when I hit the wiper lever.
WHICH brings up another point, don't 88 milano verdes have a single-stroke position on the wiper...or do I have to notch-in a setting? Just curious
thanks
Andy Smith

[verdemilano]

I would try replacing the blades, anyway. If they are dry, the jumping may occur.

Re your second question, I forget because I have mu Milano inside this winter. Doesnt pulling the stalk towards you do it?

[Roadkill]

I have the same problem, the wipers scrape and wipe jerkily. The blades are new, so that's not the issue.

But what puzzles me most is that the new Bosch blades do not sit correctly on the wiper arms --> there's more tension on the other side of the blade. Has the wiper blade design been changed to be non-75-friendly? Any solutions out there?

[lowmileage]

Rain X and forget the blades

[MaxSport]

"I have the same problem, the wipers scrape and wipe jerkily. The blades are new, so that's not the issue. "

Same here.

"Rain X and forget the blades"

That's what I did!

[alfaspence]

with your wiper blades you should have got 2 maybe 3 adaptors! they look very similar but you must be careful when selecting the correct one! they should be a nice tight fit and clip to the arm...
hope this helps

[Roadkill]

Cheers, that could be the ticket! I just took the most obvious adaptors and didn't think of it any longer. You live and learn, even if slowly.

[lowmileage]

In my case, it was easy to see what adapter to use - it had a hole in the end to fit the protrusion on the wiper arm. There was a piece already on the wiper blade but it had to be taken off and repositioned. You'll see what I mean because if you don't "reposition" it, the wiper blade won't lie flat against the window.

[fraz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfaspence with your wiper blades you should have got 2 maybe 3 adaptors! they look very similar but you must be careful when selecting the correct one! they should be a nice tight fit and clip to the arm... hope this helps

[alfaspence]

i must admit ive never replaced blades or arms due to worn joints...(and it rains alot here in the uk) normally the rubber loses its ability to clear the screen properly first!!

[fraz]

It rarely rains in Cali and it seems I put on new arms(cartriges) like once a year. They are only $35US for the pair. I have put new blades on older arms and never gotten them to be that great. Good blades cost like half the whole cartrige so I figure what the heck.

[Roadkill]

A language check:

Blades: the rubber part?
Arm: the metal part where the rubber is attached?

So far I had thought that the thing you buy at your favourite gas station is called "blade" and that wiper arm is the one that stays fixed to the wiper motor. A bit confused with the vocabulary as English is not my mother tongue.

Anyway, yesterday I tried all adaptor combinations there was with the Bosch unit and was no wiser - the wipers still suck. Guess I have to wait for the sunnier days.

[Gubi]

Yeah, I think Fraz is a little confused in his terminology. The "arm" is the part attached to the car - you don't replace those. The blade (metal piece with the rubber wipe) snaps on to the arm and can be bought at your local auto parts store, usually with adapters for a variety of arm types. You can also buy just the insert, which is just the rubber piece that slides onto the blade.

Usually you can just replace the inserts to save $, but if that doesn't work for you replacing the whole blade makes sense. You never replace the arms unless they break.

[romroc]

Hope this helps. The wipers are supposed to 'flip' to one side then the other side of the blade. If you don't see them flip going in one direction, get out a vicegrip and a rag, put the rag as a protector over the disconnected wiper arm, clamp the vicegrip over the arm/rag, and rotate/twist it so the flip action is restored. It might take some adjusting to get it right, the wiper arm has a lot of spring, but once the correct angle is restored, you'll have good action restored to the assembly. I don't know why this happens, but Alfas can be prone to this problem, it keeps me up nights, and my eyes won't close. Let's hope it never rains again! I've had great luck buying blades really cheap at walmart, incidentally, and they're open 24/7 for you insomniacs out there.