Windshield wiper arm puts too much pressure on blade (buckling)

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techman41973@yahoo.com - 08 Oct 2006 00:38 GMT

I have a 97 accord (190K). Over the past 40K miles, I noticed that the
drivers side wiper blade leaves streaks. I tried replacing the blade
from a Trico to a Honda stock. Still the same problem.
Recently I noticed that the blade is buckling in certain parts as if
there is too much pressure from the arm. There is no such buckling on
the passenger blade which continues to wipe fine.
Is there some way to adjust the pressure of the wiper arm on the blade?
This problem may have something to do with getting a new winshield a
year ago. However, I am not sure if this problem was happening before
that.
Thanks

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Art - 08 Oct 2006 01:01 GMT

Does it feel like too much pressure when you lift the arm? If not, if you
are just replacing the rubber instead replace the blade.

>I have a 97 accord (190K). Over the past 40K miles, I noticed that the
> drivers side wiper blade leaves streaks. I tried replacing the blade
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> that.
> Thanks

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Bob M. - 08 Oct 2006 01:12 GMT

>I have a 97 accord (190K). Over the past 40K miles, I noticed that the
> drivers side wiper blade leaves streaks. I tried replacing the blade
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> that.
> Thanks

I doubt there is any adjustment.

Did you replace just the rubber blade or the entire wiper frame? If just
the rubber, go back to the dealer and get the entire frame with rubber.

Swap passenger side & driver side wipers and see if the problem follows.

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hls - 08 Oct 2006 16:44 GMT

"Bob M." <no@nospam.com> wrote in message

If just

> the rubber, go back to the dealer and get the entire frame with rubber.

Dealers a.s, homey. Is that the best you can come up with?

Sheesh!

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notbob - 08 Oct 2006 17:28 GMT

> Did you replace just the rubber blade or the entire wiper frame? If just
> the rubber, go back to the dealer and get the entire frame with rubber.

I concur. If you acquired this car used, the previous owner may bave
already replaced the stock arm/blade with an aftermarket unit. This
is quite often the case as aftermarket arm/blade combos can often be
purchased for less than OEM blades alone. But, in the end, it's a bad
idea. I tried this once and had to go back to stock.

Stock units are designed to work with the specific vehicle on a
specific windsheild at speed. Aftermarket units are not so
thoughtfully designed. The aftermarket unit I bought worked fine
around town, but above 60 mph, the poorly designed arm acted like an
air dam and actually lifted the whole arm/blade assy up away from the
glass, making it useless at speed. At least go down to the dealer and
look at an OEM arm/blade assy. A side-by-side comparison may reveal
the problem.

nb

> Swap passenger side & driver side wipers and see if the problem follows.

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Steve W. - 08 Oct 2006 14:24 GMT

> I have a 97 accord (190K). Over the past 40K miles, I noticed that the
> drivers side wiper blade leaves streaks. I tried replacing the blade
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> that.
> Thanks

Check the wiper blade angle. When the blade is halfway through it's arc
the blade and it's holder should be at a right angle to the glass. If
the wiper frame is tilting either direction GENTLY bend the arm in the
opposite way. I usually use a small square on the side of the wiper
frame to check for the angle. Ideally the entire blade should fold over
on each stroke. When you get streaks it is because of wear on the wiping
edge OR the blade isn't folding completely.

Signature

Steve W.

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John S. - 08 Oct 2006 19:14 GMT

> I have a 97 accord (190K). Over the past 40K miles, I noticed that the
> drivers side wiper blade leaves streaks. I tried replacing the blade
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> that.
> Thanks

Lets eliminate the simple problems first.

1. Throughly clean the window to remove any the builtup road grime.
It doesn't take much to make wiper blades jump and grab like crazy, and
it will appear only as a slight radial streak at places along the wiper
radius.

2. Did you replace the wiper assembly or just a rubber wiper insert.
If the latter replace the frame too.

3. Check to be sure the wiper flexes easily and pivots properly.

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