Conference terri::cars_uk

If the windscreen was coated with "travel wax" (the goo new cars are covered in
to stop them getting dirty on the way to the showroom) then you'll have to go
to a garage and get the special solvent they use for removing it.

If it's a different sort of sticky-stuff, try white spirit, paraffin, acetone
(in increasing order of effectiveness).  Don't get acetone on rubber, plastic,
paint, etc: it's a very powerful solvent.

If the sticky stuff is on the wiper blade (more likely), try white spirit.  Or
buy a new wiper blade.  Or take the existing one back and complain.  Or buy a
new car with better wiper blades...

Scott

    Try cleaning it with acetone.  Ordinary cleaning agents and alcohol are
    not capable of removing everything.  Acetone will.  If you use it,
    protect your hands and rubber and plastic pieces, since it will dry
    your skin like nothing you've ever seen before, and attack the rubber
    and plastic bits.  It's also highly inflammable, and the fumes are
    toxic.

    In your list of cleaning agents, you did not mention 'Glass Polish'.
    
    This is serious, it is produced by Auto-Glym (the ones who use an
    Aston Martin in their adverts), available at 'goody' shops.
    
    It works extremely well at getting grime and other crap off of car
    windscreens, as it contains a very mild abrasive.  You could try
    toothpaste - that contains abrasive too - and you would get a strong-
    smelling car, although I it may be even messier when finished !
    
    It (neither product) would probably be a bit safer than using acetone...
    
    One other thing, you original 'reply' mentioned use of wipers "when wet",
    do you regularly use them when the screen is dry ?
    
    John

    
    Rather than putting something on the screen, try bending the wiper arms
    a bit, as they might have been slighly bent while replacing the screen. 

    
    After 75,000 miles of noisy wiper blades, that made every irritating
    sound you can imagine, and during that time I'd had four new sets 
    fitted by garages, I bought.....
    
    A set of Bosch ones and fitted them myself. Purrfect. No noise. 

    I've also read several reports that suggest detergent - eg washing
    up liquid and some other products - like household window cleaner
    also make the wipers make lotsa noise. Don't know if this is true.
    
    

Another good way to render your screen wonderfully sticky is to take the
car through a car wash.   Especially one which "waxes" your car... and
your windscreen.   

They leave a wonderful film of some nasty waxy substance on the glass, which
not only makes the wipers squeak and smear, it also seems to attract and hold 
every microscopic dirt particle for miles around !!


Bring back the old bucket and sponge !


IanP

    Re washing-up liquid:  I read once you should never let this anywhere
    near your car.  Most brands contain damaging salts, apparently.
    
    Jeff.

>>    Re washing-up liquid:  I read once you should never let this anywhere
>>    near your car.  Most brands contain damaging salts, apparently.
    
	I vaguely remeber this, it was put out by the manufacturers of
	car wash compounds.

	I'd say that the reason for poor wiper performance is not
	normally related to the screen but the wipers. My suggestions -

	1. Make sure the blades are at right angles to the screen. Bend
	if necessary.

	2. Make sure that the blade is not loose in the arm etc. allowing
	it to drag along the glass.

	3. Clean the wiper blades very thoroughly.

	Some blades are better than others too.

	-John

    I'm worried,
    
    I've been using washing up liquid for screenwash for years now, I dont
    seem to have any problems. Should I really be using something else?
    
    Mind you if I've run out of swarfega and use neat fairy liquid it
    certainly ISNT 'kind and gentle' on my hands! It's nearly as bad as
    cement for drying out hands.
    
    Huw.

    As I understand it, the reason you shouldn't use washing up liquid in
    the washer bottle is that it "gums up" the washer nozzles, in the same
    way it "gums up" the top of the washing up liquid bottle.

    I use only water in the washer bottle, but regularly use diluted
    washing up liquid and a sponge to wash the windows on the car. You
    can't beat it for getting rid of the dead fly population and general
    road grime.

    - Roy 

Have you never seen the wipers from a Series 1,2,3 landrover?

None of this fancy shaping,. just a thin, flat piece of rubber. 

I have a spare one at home, I shall bring it in if anybody is interested in
"non-starters", they aree almost useless.

Simon

    Fairy Liquid - for hands that do dishes
    
    Palmolive - forever blowing bubbles ?
    
    Me, I use a screenwash with an added extra in cold weather - METHS !
    
    If nothing else, it smells good enough to drink !!! ;^}
    
    J.R. (hic, hic, God I'm going blind !)

With regard to screenwash smells. After a recent service visit to Ford main
dealer and driving home I squirted water onto the windscreen. Phoo! Phew! 
What in hell is that nasty niff. Oh! Err! The screenwasher additive they
put in at the garage at mega cost to the lease company. 

Got home and emptied out the 5 litres of as fast as I could.

I use the Car Plan stuff from Halfords 500mm to 4.5 litres water summer or
1-2 litre to 4-3 litres in winter depending on prevalant weather.
Clear vision and no nasty niffs.

Dave

    I have used 1 thimble full of Fairy liquid + another of methylated
    spirit and the results have been brilliant, no smears or drags. I dare
    not try this on a lease car in case it affects the insurance claims.
    
    Perwesh

    How much does this screenwash cost then??
    
    I'm concerned because I fill up the Washer bottle on my Sierra with a
    watering can, I think the capcity is about a gallon and a half.
    (judging from my 2 gal can). This I have to do regularly. 
    
    Anyways, it marvellous how many screen-jets you can unclog with a
    single needle.
    
    Huw.