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Car Forum / Honda Cars / February 2005squeaking windshield wiper - too much arm tension?
I have an '04 Accord EX sedan. The driver's side wiper makes an annoying, loud squeak at each end of its travel, no matter how much or how little water is hitting the windshield at any given time. The dealer changed the inserts, but to no avail. Next they tried adjusting the tension. No dice. (Just what they did, and to what, I do not know.) After that, I checked the tension myself. Lifting the passenger side wiper, the tension feels "normal," but the driver's side tension feels enormous. One time I lifted it it slipped out of my hand. I believe that that pressure of the wiper blade (insert) upon the windshield is causing the squeak. The service advisor told me to bring it in again, and we'll first see if other cars have the same problem.... In advance of that, I'm surveying you who have '03's to '05's to see if the tension of the driver and passenger wipers is as disparate as mine, and if you're enduring this same squeaking. Howard > I have an '04 Accord EX sedan. The driver's side wiper makes an > annoying, loud squeak at each end of its travel, no matter how much or [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > side wiper, the tension feels "normal," but the driver's side tension > feels enormous. The car is under warranty. Go back and *insist* (politely) that they replace the wiper arm. If the tension is that strong, something's either bent, binding or incorrectly assembled. Considering the wiper arm is probably less than $100, I'm very surprised the dealer would not have tried replacement already. Are they having trouble getting warranty claims reimbursed by Honda? If I were the dealer, I'd remove the arm, spray water on the windshield and run the wipers. If the noise is gone, that would be a clue, and I wouldn't even have to order a new wiper arm to do it.  SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > The car is under warranty. Go back and *insist* (politely) that they > replace the wiper arm. If the tension is that strong, something's either > bent, binding or incorrectly assembled. This dealership treats me very, very well. I'm sure they'll take care of me (in a good way!). Since I'm prone to exaggeration, I borrowed a "pull scale" (I don't know what it's really called) to measure how much force it takes to lift the arm off the windshield. From my best efforts, it appears the tension on the driver side arm is 50% greater than the passenger side arm. (The driver side is the one that squeaks.) Specifically, the scale measured 3 lbs on the driver side; 2 lbs on the passenger side. I hooked the scale to the exact same relative points on each arm. Tonight I'll examine the underside of the arm to see if there's anything *I* can adjust to relieve the tension. For me, Excedrin works wonders. Howard > Tonight I'll examine the underside of the arm to see if there's > anything *I* can adjust to relieve the tension. For me, Excedrin works > wonders. You could also use a fish scale. It would have a handy hook on the end of it, too. On older cars, what can bind from corrosion is the pivot. That's the part that swivels when you lift the blade off the glass. A few drops of 3-in-1 on either side and working the wiper up and down may free it up if something's binding there. SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > > Tonight I'll examine the underside of the arm to see if there's > > anything *I* can adjust to relieve the tension. For me, Excedrin works > > wonders. > You could also use a fish scale. It would have a handy hook on the end of > it, too. The fish scale didn't cure the headache, but it allowed me to take comparative measurements of the wiper arm tension. >> > Tonight I'll examine the underside of the arm to see if there's >> > anything *I* can adjust to relieve the tension. For me, Excedrin [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > The fish scale didn't cure the headache, Then you're using it wrong! LOL SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > > The fish scale didn't cure the headache, > Then you're using it wrong! LOL :) Wanna hear a good fish story? Back in '92 I hooked a 2900 lb. Honda by its wiper, and..... > Since I'm prone to exaggeration, I borrowed a > "pull scale" (I don't know what it's really called) to measure how > much force it takes to lift the arm off the windshield. In UK, it is called a 'Spring Balance'. HTH SignatureGraham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ PGM-FI page updated, Graphics Tutorial WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro-society.freeserve.co.uk/ Wessex Dorset UK Astro Society's Web pages, Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter. I've experienced the same wiper noise with my '04 Accord EX sedan. It does seem out of place for a new car. I think I'll visit the dealer to have this problem looked at as well... Bryan > I have an '04 Accord EX sedan. The driver's side wiper makes an annoying, > loud squeak at each end of its travel, no matter how much or how little [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Howard > I have an '04 Accord EX sedan. The driver's side wiper makes an annoying, > loud squeak at each end of its travel, no matter how much or how little > water is hitting the windshield at any given time. The dealer changed the Maybe some metal piece is resonating. I doubt if the rubber on glass is causing the noise. Does it sound the same at high speed and low speed? That would rule out an actual rubber/glass squeak. Jam a chunk of paper towel into the spring area on the bottom side of the arm and see if that dampens a vibrating spring. I recall some car that had clear plastic tubing on the spring to dampen the vibrations. If that clears it up, some silicone sealant on the spring might be a permanent fix. Are you sure it's the side with the heavy pressure? Maybe it's the side with the light pressure. Try running the wipers with one of them parked up away from the glass. --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5 dold@xrexxsquea.usenet.us.com wrote: >> I have an '04 Accord EX sedan. The driver's side wiper makes an annoying, >> loud squeak at each end of its travel, no matter how much or how little >> water is hitting the windshield at any given time. The dealer changed the > Maybe some metal piece is resonating. I doubt if the rubber on glass is > causing the noise. Does it sound the same at high speed and low speed? > That would rule out an actual rubber/glass squeak. I meant wiper speed, not road/wind/rain speed. > Jam a chunk of paper towel into the spring area on the bottom side of the > arm and see if that dampens a vibrating spring. I recall some car that had > clear plastic tubing on the spring to dampen the vibrations. > If that clears it up, some silicone sealant on the spring might be a > permanent fix. > Are you sure it's the side with the heavy pressure? Maybe it's the side > with the light pressure. Try running the wipers with one of them parked up > away from the glass. > --- > Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5 Signature--- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5 <dold wrote > > Maybe some metal piece is resonating. I doubt if the rubber on glass is > > causing the noise. Does it sound the same at high speed and low speed? > > That would rule out an actual rubber/glass squeak. > > I meant wiper speed, not road/wind/rain speed. Yes, I understood that. :) It does the same thing no matter what wiper speed. I'm quite sure it's the driver side, as I ran the wipers while standing outside of the car by the driver side, then walked around to the passenger side of the windshield. Yes, the car was parked. ;) It does sound as if it is coming from the far end of the wiper: the end that sweeps the large arc. I can't be sure about that, but next time it rains I'll listen more carefully. Can't gather too much data, ya know? I'll try your suggestions -- thank you! Howard > sound as if it is coming from the far end of the wiper: the end that sweeps > the large arc. I can't be sure about that, but next time it rains I'll > listen more carefully. Can't gather too much data, ya know? There's that little barbed clip of flat metal at one end of the refill that holds the refill in, and some blades have a thin strip of metal down each side of the refill. I wonder if that needs some repositioning. Touching a moving wiper blade is harder then you would think, but you might try pressing on, or touching, the various parts of the blade to see if it's one spot that's squealing. Maybe with a pencil eraser. Signature--- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5 <dold wrote > > Maybe some metal piece is resonating. I doubt if the rubber on glass is > > causing the noise. Does it sound the same at high speed and low speed? > > That would rule out an actual rubber/glass squeak. > > Are you sure it's the side with the heavy pressure? Maybe it's the side > > with the light pressure. Try running the wipers with one of them parked up > > away from the glass. I tested this out and found that both sides are squeaking. So since it's both, I suppose the tension isn't the culprit. It IS a rubber/glass squeak, not metal. With the wipers running in intermittent mode, there are three defined squeaks occurring: one when the wiper starts to lift, one when it reaches its furthest most point to the left and turns around, and one when it reaches its resting point. Now, here's another clue: why does it NOT squeak during the first 30 seconds of operation? The rains starts, I start up the wipers when they become needed, the wipers are working for about 30 seconds.... and then the squeaking begins. What might that be telling me? Smartass suggestions are allowed. Hell, I give 'em, I can take 'em. ;) Howard > <dold wrote > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Smartass suggestions are allowed. Hell, I give 'em, I can take 'em. > ;) Better to be a smartass than a dumbass! What happens if you thoroughly clean the windshield and wiper rubbers with Windex? Does the noise stay away for a while? Do you notice smearing or striping when you hear the noise? SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > Better to be a smartass than a dumbass! Unfortunately, ONCE in a while I'm the latter. ;) > What happens if you thoroughly clean the windshield and wiper rubbers with > Windex? Does the noise stay away for a while? I haven't tried that yet. "Unfortuntately" it doesn't rain here very often, though lately we're doing quite well in that department. Translation: I don't know when I'll get another chance for this. I should keep a bottle of windex and a roll of paper towels in the car. > Do you notice smearing or striping when you hear the noise? No, none at all. Howard |
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