As a first-time car owner, car repair and maintenance requires a learning curve, and one of the car parts you need to deal with is your windshield. Your windshield is durable, but it doesn’t mean it’s indestructible because damage may result due to road tar, tree sap, and any foreign substances collecting on the wiper blade or the glass.
With extensive use, your wiper blades wear, and the square rubber edges become rounded over time. Also, splitting happens due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays that penetrate the wiper rubber squeegee, eventually separating from the frame. Windshield damage may lead to accidents due to obstructed driving. That’s why it’s essential to maintain and replace your windshield regularly.
Here are the windshield maintenance tips for a first-time car owner like you:
1. Wiper Blade Inspection
The ideal time to replace your wiper blades is every six months or up to one year. When windshield wipers start to squeak, skip, chatter, or smear, you need to change it immediately. It can cause obstructed driving due to reduced visibility. It is because the wiper won’t come in contact with the surface of the windshield anymore.
Here are the things you need to look for when inspecting wiper blades:
- Broken frame or frame arm detachment at connection points
- Metal Corrosion seen at joints and claws
- Visible tears, cracks, and rubber squeegee edge’s missing pieces
- Check the flexibility of the rubber squeegee. Aged squeegees have difficulty conforming to the windshield’s shape, creating streaks.
- The rounded edges of the rubber squeegee prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the surface of the windshield, reducing wipe quality.
- Ensure that the wiper blade is installed securely on the wiper arm by tugging it.
- The rubber squeegee should be secured in the wiper frame.
- Checking the wiper blades should be a part of your car’s routine preventative maintenance program.
2. Park Your Car in a Shaded Area
Temperature changes will cause your car’s glass to expand and contract, and extensive heat can also weaken the glass, so park in a shaded area whenever possible. While window shades don’t do much in protecting the glass from the direct heat, it protects the dash from cracking and fading. It also prevents extended high temperature exposure.
3. Driving Recommendation
Bits of pavement and stones usually flung back from your car. Objects may also blow out of windows or fall out of trucks. That’s why you need to know what to do with your car to ensure you apply good driving practices.
Here’s the best driving recommendation and its benefits:
- Give yourself enough distance between your vehicle and another vehicle.
- This step protects yourself and your windshield.
- A safe distance gives you more reaction time.
- The extra distance makes a big difference to keep debris away from your car that’s striking your windshield.
4. Wiper Blade Maintenance Tips
After careful assessment, make sure to try your best to apply effective maintenance tips to prolong the life of your windshield.
Follow these simple steps to extend the life of your car’s wiper blades:
- Make sure to clean your windshield whenever you fill the gas tank.
- Remove any oil or loose dirt by gently wiping the rubber squeegee using a damp paper towel.
- Use an ice scraper to remove the ice in your windshield. You can also use your defroster to melt the ice or snow.
- Pull the wiper blades away from your windshield in winter to prevent ice build-up and ice from sticking to your windshield.
5. Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals
Don’t use harsh chemicals when cleaning your windshield. Harsh chemicals cause glass discoloration and strip away the protective coating.
Here are some tips when cleaning your windshield:
- Use your automaker’s approved or recommended cleaning products.
- If you want to make a cleaning solution, use a water and vinegar solution. Rinse it off right away when you’re done.
- Don’t use cleaning agents with ammonia content because it dries vinyl and plastic. Ammonia also causes damage to the glass by drying out its protective barrier.
6. Avoid Slamming Your Car Door
Treating your car right will help prolong the life of your windshield. Don’t slam the car door. It will only send shock waves that weaken the glass. Slamming the door of your car is like an earthquake that may cause minor and major problems in the future.
Conclusion
Your windshield is a vital part of your car because it affects your driving visibility for a safe driving experience. Don’t compromise your safety. Make sure to check your wiper blades regularly and replace your wipers every six months or as soon as you see problems.
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