Windscreen wipers

[Lagondanet]

My wipers have a habit when on of occasionally touching in the middle and as a result the passenger side flicks over. I think either a clip is missing or worn on the passenger side unit, but I am worried about damaging the screen.

Is the whole wiper arm arrangement available as a spare part, off the shelf? Where to source? OEM? Can anyone on here supply?

Anyone else had a similar problem?

Thanks.

[Lagondanet]

Or should I just replace the blades with Bosch Aero Twin for a smoother ride?

https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchRouter?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&action=search&srch=windscreen+wiper+blades

[dave the builder]

inspect the clip ,if it's broke replace it
if you don't have a clip, buy new blades that have new clips
(winter is upon us ,so good to have decent blades to clear the screen)
arms don't wear

[TheBoy]

arms don't wear

They do, they are a service item.  But rarely the at the blade attachement end

[Lagondanet]

I've had a closer look now the deluge has ended. It appears the locking tab (clip?) is either missing or broken on the passenger side and maybe loose on the driver's. Do these tabs come with the blades?
Thanks for answers so far.

[dave the builder]

Most blades come with a selection of clips to fit many applications 

[Doctor Gollum]

I've had a closer look now the deluge has ended. It appears the locking tab (clip?) is either missing or broken on the passenger side and maybe loose on the driver's. Do these tabs come with the blades?
Thanks for answers so far.

They do indeed. The plastic the clips are made from eventually goes brittle with sunlight, so re using them is ill-advised, not to mention pointless.

21" passenger and 24" driver. They're practically an annual service item

[Nick W]

I've had a closer look now the deluge has ended. It appears the locking tab (clip?) is either missing or broken on the passenger side and maybe loose on the driver's. Do these tabs come with the blades?
Thanks for answers so far.

They do indeed. The plastic the clips are made from eventually goes brittle with sunlight, so re using them is ill-advised, not to mention pointless.

21" passenger and 24" driver. They're practically an annual service item

Yes, bin them as soon as they start smearing the screen. Even expensive blades like Bosch don't cost enough to waste time on.

[biggriffin]

I use to get GM ones for a few quid, but since tc went, I now use Halfords ones, cost bout the same, new set every year... Or you could go Lord Opti and pay £2.99 Inc delivery from ecp.

[Lagondanet]

Thanks all for your comments.

[TheBoy]

Yup, replace the blades.  And replace again when they start smearing or making a noise when changing direction.  I find about 3-6 months from traditional types (which are better on Omegas) and about 9-15months from aero style (not great on Omegas).


If you have the stupidily daft auto wiper option on yours, with its ability to detect a single drop of rain within a 5 mile radius, half those estimates above.

[johnnydog]

Whilst you suspect the clip may be at fault, it may also just be worth checking -
a) that the arms have been positioned correctly (especially the passengers) if they've been off previously (which is almost certain). If the passenger arm is too high, it can foul the drivers arm in worst case scenarios, especially...
b) if there is wear in the linkage, which is easily checked by just lifting the drivers arm slightly and seeing there is any noticeable free play in the direction of the sweep.
c) also whether the blades are the correct length.

[shyboy]

For the cost involved it's not worth faffing around.
If you have, or can get access to, a Halfords trade card the discount on wiper blades is excellent, and all the varieties I've used on several vehicles have been perfectly good enough.
I got mine simply by talking nicely (no other commitment involved, other than a promise to buy half the store's stock on a regular basis- ) to a bloke behind the service counter.

[Lagondanet]

All good advice thanks.
Propose to go to my local Halfords in the morning to fix. 

[dave the builder]

All good advice thanks.
Propose to go to my local Halfords in the morning to fix. 

If you pay them to fit them , hope they get them the right way up 
(sister in laws 206cc screen did not like them the wrong way up)