[PTM101]

Does anyone else find the windscreen wipers on the LEAF completely useless?

I've tried cleaning them with various car shampoos and glass cleaners, but they are still useless, especially on the drivers side.

Before I get new ones does anyone have anything else I could try, or recommendations for replacements?

 

[Paul]

Mine seem fine. Tell the Nissan dealer, they could replace them FOC as it's quite important to be able to see whey you're going.

 

[PTM101]

Do you think they are replaceable under warranty? It's in for the first service next week, so I can see what they say. I certainly think it will need two new front tyres. Though they have fared slightly better than yours, I've got 12,000 miles out of them!

 

[Paul]

Worth asking.

 

[E Geeza]

New wiper blades would eliminate the blades being the problem. If it turns out they're not you have a spare pair for when you do need 'em!

 

[AndrewR]

I have a similar but much smaller streak and smear effect from the wiper and I think mine has been caused by putting brochures and leaflets under the wiper while in the showroom. This stretches the rubber and causes this effect. If the car is reasonably new I would complain and try to have them replaced, they're not cheap!

 

[633]

All cars get this, not just the Leaf. It's because there is something on the surface of the window. Tree sap, the remains of bird diarrhoea, even sea salt or dirt from nearby industry. I get it really badly on my Mitsubishi, leaving near the sea and a rubbish burner, and the car park at work having lots of trees with sap and extremely ill birds.

A normal car wash doesn't always work, you might need to get some proper cleaner and clean the windscreen and wipers by hand.

 

[bryand]

Looks like oil or grease on the underside of the blade. Try cleaning them with Iso-Propyl Alcohol (or Meths).
I also use gtechniq's hydrophobic coating which makes the water bead up and roll off the glass without using the wipers at all.

 

[planetf1]

All seems fine here - car 2.5 years old, wipers changed just under a year ago. no smearing

 

[Paul]

I use Rain-X too, use it as instructed and it's fantastic.

 

[Gary Cambridge]

im obsessed with waxing my windows, i now wax them and use armor all sheild but i also use it on the windows naughty i know but love how the water beeds on the vehicle

 

[PTM101]

I'm wondering if it's wax causing the problem? I used Muck-Off split second wax a few weeks ago, on the body but wind was strong. I tried taking the wiper off today and cleaned it with fairy, in a bid to shift any oily residue. I manually used it on a window and it worked fine. Starting to think I may need to thoroughly clean the windscreen.

 

[Paul]

Glass polish is good and then start over with whatever rain-replant you like. These can also disagree with your wipers though.

 

[bryand]

Glass polish is good and then start over with whatever rain-repellant you like. These can also disagree with your wipers though.

Halfords Glass Cutter is a slightly abrasive window polish that will remove stubborn and silicone-based nasties. Also Autoglym glass cleaner is a blue version of the old-fashioned pink Windowlene that dried to a dust. The one that used to work!

 

[Halldor]

Does anyone else find the windscreen wipers on the LEAF completely useless?

I've tried cleaning them with various car shampoos and glass cleaners, but they are still useless, especially on the drivers side.

Before I get new ones does anyone have anything else I could try, or recommendations for replacements?

Buy new ones and problem solved.

 

[Edd Beesley]

Buy new ones and problem solved.

I would agree, but be careful. I bought replacement wipers from ebay, and they were for a LHD Leaf

The actual bit of rubber is removable from the blade assembly and is in fact the only bit you need to replace. Should only be a few pounds!

 

[glyn stacey]

one assumes they haven't done this from day one, although you don't say how old they are, so they need replacing. However, as the 'problem' seems to be on the return stroke, then it may well be that the arm needs tweaking. Stop the arms at the vertical and remove the blades. Gently set the arm on to the screen and see if it sits very squarely onto the glass. If it doesn't ask the dealer to reset them, or do them yourself. IMHO replace blades with Bosch blades and change your screen wash liquid.

 

[633]

This kind of thing can happen when you park near trees or anything that produces pollen and sap. One side of the blade picks it up. Windowlene and some kitchen wipes that remove grease work.

 

[PTM101]

Thanks for the replies. I had new wipers fitted under warranty at the first service last October as they have always been poor. The new ones are slightly better but still streak. It is not often parked under trees, so it's unlikely to be sap, and it is really just the drivers side wiper that smears. The dealer stated that the problem is where the blade contours to the windscreen. I may try changing the washer fluid, but if it doesn't improve it will go back again especially as it is just in line of sight.