Aero wiper blade conversion issue.

[luvsspeed]

I had posted this in the B6/B7 S4 forum since that's what I have, but I haven't really gotten any help. I did an aero blade conversion on my b6 a few months ago and I have had nothing but issues. They skip badly on the down stroke. I contacted the vendor that I bought them from and they sent me a new set of blades. At the time I had applied some rainx to the windshield, so thinking that was the issue I stripped it off. I think from there it didn't really rain steady for a good month so I didn't really use the wipers. Well last week it rained all week and I still had the same issue. At that point I put on the new blades that I was sent and I still had the same issue and now it is a safety issue, since they skip. Am I missing something here, could the new arms be bent causing too much pressure being put on the blades, could I have been sent the wrong blades ( I see there are a few different part #'s out there ). Could the motor or transmission be the issue? I want to try to troubleshoot before, I spend money on something that won't fix the issue.

[k909068]

I think your windshield was covered by oil film, try the oil film remover.

BTW, you should remove all the film on the glass before apply the RAINX.

[SJorge3442]

What about the possiblity that your wiper linkage is jamming up? Might be worth it to pull it apart, clean it up and lube it all, then reinstall. I was having this problem on my b6, then one day my wipers stopped. After fixing the linkage, the wipers work awesome.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

More than likely it's the film on your windshield. I would strip it using some dawn dish soap. Might even be worth running a clay bar over the glass to pull up any little bits of tar/bug nastiness that regular washing wont remove.

Once you get the windshield as clean as possible grab some alcohol wipes and run them down the blades on the wipers (always do this before installing new wiper blades). This should help prevent the shuddering.

Jason

[MacFady]

Original windshield? +1 to stripping off whatever's on there with Dawn and claybar.

My wipers were moving extremely slowly, at the same speed irregardless of the intermittent setting, I thought I was in store for a new wiper transmission and linkage but after a few treatments/sprays with liquid wrench they have been running strong for over a year, even with snow coverage. It's pretty common for the linkages to get gummed up so it might not hurt to spray some penetrant in there either way, easier than removing everything, at least at first.

If the issue is more of a skipping than a hesitation, more than likely still something on the glass.

[luvsspeed]

I have stripped the windshield several times and it has not helped. Its not a hesitation you can see and feel it skipping. The wiper blades almost seem to super grip.

[luvsspeed]

More than likely it's the film on your windshield. I would strip it using some dawn dish soap. Might even be worth running a clay bar over the glass to pull up any little bits of tar/bug nastiness that regular washing wont remove.

Once you get the windshield as clean as possible grab some alcohol wipes and run them down the blades on the wipers (always do this before installing new wiper blades). This should help prevent the shuddering.

Jason

I have done each one of those things.

[imnuts]

Could be the wiper transmission binding up. When mine went bad, the wipers barely wanted to go down, but would come up.

Sent from my Moto X

[luvsspeed]

I looked at the transmission and I really couldn't see it without removing it, or removing everything that was covering it. From what I could see the bushings looked worn and kinda stretched out. If I'm going to have to go through all the effort of removing all the plastic to get a better look at it, I rather just have a new replacement handy just in case. If I don't need it I can just return it.

[SJorge3442]

I looked at the transmission and I really couldn't see it without removing it, or removing everything that was covering it. From what I could see the bushings looked worn and kinda stretched out. If I'm going to have to go through all the effort of removing all the plastic to get a better look at it, I rather just have a new replacement handy just in case. If I don't need it I can just return it.

I don't see the need for a new one. Chances are, you can pull it all apart and clean and lube it and be good to go

[luvsspeed]

Short video on slowest speed. It gets worst the faster the wiper speed.

[luvsspeed]

I don't see the need for a new one. Chances are, you can pull it all apart and clean and lube it and be good to go

I would think so as well, but I know my luck. I'll take the thing apart only find out I need a new one and have to wait for a new to get to me.

[old guy]

I would think so as well, but I know my luck. I'll take the thing apart only find out I need a new one and have to wait for a new to get to me.

If your wiper transmission is still working but moving slowly a dismantle, clean up, grease, reassembly should take care of the problem. I dealt with this about three years ago. Clicky click. Cleaned the linkage up and wipers have been fine ever since.

[SJorge3442]

If your wiper transmission is still working but moving slowly a dismantle, clean up, grease, reassembly should take care of the problem. I dealt with this about three years ago. Clicky click. Cleaned the linkage up and wipers have been fine ever since.

Mine was just like the video. Happened in a rain storm too. Thankfully I had a ton of rainx on the windshield. Also, my one linkage was frozen solid. Here's what it looked like.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xP58XDuyQCE

After I took the system apart and cleaned it up it worked.

[luvsspeed]

If your wiper transmission is still working but moving slowly a dismantle, clean up, grease, reassembly should take care of the problem. I dealt with this about three years ago. Clicky click. Cleaned the linkage up and wipers have been fine ever since.

Thanks for the info. Is there anything I have to worry about as far as realignment?

[imnuts]

It's just in a PITA location to work on. M one seized completely and I broke the old one trying to get it apart. Luckily, it was in the summer and we didn't have any reason, so I was able to go a couple days without wipers until the replacement came in.

Sent from my Moto X

[luvsspeed]

If your wiper transmission is still working but moving slowly a dismantle, clean up, grease, reassembly should take care of the problem. I dealt with this about three years ago. Clicky click. Cleaned the linkage up and wipers have been fine ever since.

Thanks for the link. Mine wasn't seized and moved freely, but it moved more freely when I sprayed some liquid wrench on it. I also cleaned out the old grease on the pivot points, not that there was much grease left on them. Then I added new grease.

[luvsspeed]

It's just in a PITA location to work on. M one seized completely and I broke the old one trying to get it apart. Luckily, it was in the summer and we didn't have any reason, so I was able to go a couple days without wipers until the replacement came in.

Sent from my Moto X

So I see. I didn't really have an issue getting it out , but getting it back in was a real pita.

[DiertyEuroSpec]

So did you do the DIY OG referenced and disassemble and re-lube all bushings? Interested to see results and hope it was your issue since you went through the

[luvsspeed]

So did you do the DIY OG referenced and disassemble and re-lube all bushings? Interested to see results and hope it was your issue since you went through the

Yes I did. It was straightforward, but if didn't fix the issue I'm only left with two things. The brand of blades are the issue, or the motor is the issue. I guess I will find out the next time it rains.

[DiertyEuroSpec]

Just have someone spray your windshield with a hose or eben a cup of water poured on is sufficient to test out your wipers. Hope this solves it for you.

[luvsspeed]

Well after about 20mins of driving in the rain it started to do the same thing over again. Before I lubed everything up it happened at about the 10-15 min mark as well. Is it possible its the motor since my transmission moved freely? One thing I didn't mention, when I was taking things apart I could move the motor arm by hand moving the arms upward. However when I wanted to move them back down I needed to power the motor up. Does that sound normal?

[luvsspeed]

anyone?

[SlickFix]

I suppose it *could* be the motor, but the wipers seem to work correctly as far as how they move. Did the place you purchased the kit from send you the same brand of wipers as a replacement? Maybe try a different brand of wiper insert. From your video it sure does seem to sound like the blades themselves.

[luvsspeed]

I suppose it *could* be the motor, but the wipers seem to work correctly as far as how they move. Did the place you purchased the kit from send you the same brand of wipers as a replacement? Maybe try a different brand of wiper insert. From your video it sure does seem to sound like the blades themselves.

Yes oem audi blades 4B1955425C

[diagnosticator]

Besides some type of film on the windshield glass, the other common cause for skipping wipers is if the alignment of the wiper blade on the arm is twisted so that the angle of the unloaded blade is not 90 degrees to the glass surface. When the angle is more than 90 degrees, with the blade against the glass surface, the edge of the blades won't flip over to the other side as the wipers travel in opposite directions. This is why the wipers skip in only one direction. If the problem was a film on the glass surface, the wiper blades would skip in both directions.

The fix requires twisting the wiper arm so that the blade is at 90 degrees to the windshield surface with the blade held just touching he glass, but with no pressure applied to the blade by the arm spring. 90 degrees of the blade long centerline plane bisecting through the blade body cross sectional area perpendicular to the glass surface.

[luvsspeed]

Besides some type of film on the windshield glass, the other common cause for skipping wipers is if the alignment of the wiper blade on the arm is twisted so that the angle of the unloaded blade is not 90 degrees to the glass surface. When the angle is more than 90 degrees, with the blade against the glass surface, the edge of the blades won't flip over to the other side as the wipers travel in opposite directions. This is why the wipers skip in only one direction. If the problem was a film on the glass surface, the wiper blades would skip in both directions.

The fix requires twisting the wiper arm so that the blade is at 90 degrees to the windshield surface with the blade held just touching he glass, but with no pressure applied to the blade by the arm spring. 90 degrees of the blade long centerline plane bisecting through the blade body cross sectional area perpendicular to the glass surface.

I have done that as well.

[diagnosticator]

I have done that as well.

Then the only aspect remaining is the pressure applied to the blade by he wiper arm spring is excessive. With excessive pressure against the glass surface, the blade edge is unable to flip over when the wipers reverse direction. With the edge of the blade unflipped, the edge of the blade is pointing in the direction of travel, instead of flipping over to the side of the blade that is correct in the trailing direction/edge side for the wiper direction in motion.

Since the wipers only skip in one direction, it's unlikely associated with any excessive free play in the wiper transmission. Even though the wipers reverse direction and move back and forth, the load on the wiper drive transmission parts is fairly constant, and does not experience reversal of applied load drive torque direction.

[luvsspeed]

Besides some type of film on the windshield glass, the other common cause for skipping wipers is if the alignment of the wiper blade on the arm is twisted so that the angle of the unloaded blade is not 90 degrees to the glass surface. When the angle is more than 90 degrees, with the blade against the glass surface, the edge of the blades won't flip over to the other side as the wipers travel in opposite directions. This is why the wipers skip in only one direction. If the problem was a film on the glass surface, the wiper blades would skip in both directions.

The fix requires twisting the wiper arm so that the blade is at 90 degrees to the windshield surface with the blade held just touching he glass, but with no pressure applied to the blade by the arm spring. 90 degrees of the blade long centerline plane bisecting through the blade body cross sectional area perpendicular to the glass surface.

It made it better, but the problem is still there.

[luvsspeed]

Then the only aspect remaining is the pressure applied to the blade by he wiper arm spring is excessive. With excessive pressure against the glass surface, the blade edge is unable to flip over when the wipers reverse direction. With the edge of the blade unflipped, the edge of the blade is pointing in the direction of travel, instead of flipping over to the side of the blade that is correct in the trailing direction/edge side for the wiper direction in motion.

If that was the case wouldn't it be a constant issue, not an issue that occurs have 10-20 mins of use?

[diagnosticator]

If that was the case wouldn't it be a constant issue, not an issue that occurs have 10-20 mins of use?

That makes sense alright. However, what could cause the friction of the blade against the glass to change after running for 10 to 20 minutes, with constant lubrication from a sufficient amount of rain water wetting of the glass? Even when running without a fully wetted surface, my aero wipers never skip. Are your aero wipers genuine OEM Bosch or Valeo, with aero specific wiper arms?

With further consideration, it seems that your wipers blades are sliding on the glass, then at intervals, sticking to the glass, then breaking free to slide for and interval then sticking again, repeating this action for several intervals along the wiping sweep.

The only thing that I can think of that would cause the repeating slide and stick motion, is if the springs in the wiper arms are applying excess down force on the blades. Provoking this behavior would be if the blades are not exactly perpendicular to the glass surface when unloaded. There is some free play in the blade support pivot to the arm, but the blade perpendicularity is bisecting the included total sideways angular range of the free play in the pivot.

[diagnosticator]

It made it better, but the problem is still there.

Genuine OEM Bosch or Valeo blades and aero specific arms? Check for excessive down force from the springs in the wiper arms. See my edited reply above.

[luvsspeed]

That makes sense alright. However, what could cause the friction of the blade against the glass to change after running for 10 to 20 minutes, with constant lubrication from a sufficient amount of rain water wetting of the glass? Even when running without a fully wetted surface, my aero wipers never skip. Are your aero wipers genuine OEM Bosch or Valeo, with aero specific wiper arms?

With further consideration, it seems that your wipers blades are sliding on the glass, then at intervals, sticking to the glass, then breaking free to slide for and interval then sticking again, repeating this action for several intervals along the wiping sweep.

The only thing that I can think of that would cause the repeating slide and stick motion, is if the springs in the wiper arms are applying excess down force on the blades. Provoking this behavior would be if the blades are not exactly perpendicular to the glass surface when unloaded. There is some free play in the blade support pivot to the arm, but the blade perpendicularity is bisecting the included total sideways angular range of the free play in the pivot.

With a down pour my blades do and have skipped. The faster I set the speed the worse the skipping is. Now in regards to the down force there in a lot of pressure on the blades in the middle where they mount and not a whole lot at the ends. I have tried bending the arms away from the glass some. Now as for free play I do have free play at the mounting point where the blades mount to the arms. There is more play on the drivers side blade (well seems like it to me), but when they start to skip or stick rather it appears to be a wobble type effect. If I look at the contact line where the wiper blade stops on the drivers side A pillar side its not a straight vertical line, it more curves at the top like ) the bottom is vertical like it should be. The blades I were sent are in oem plastic with audi sticker part # on them. How can I tell if they are bosch or valeo blades? Also everything came in a vw, audi, seat box and everything was in its own plastic with audi part # stickers on them.

[luvsspeed]

That makes sense alright. However, what could cause the friction of the blade against the glass to change after running for 10 to 20 minutes, with constant lubrication from a sufficient amount of rain water wetting of the glass? Even when running without a fully wetted surface, my aero wipers never skip. Are your aero wipers genuine OEM Bosch or Valeo, with aero specific wiper arms?

With further consideration, it seems that your wipers blades are sliding on the glass, then at intervals, sticking to the glass, then breaking free to slide for and interval then sticking again, repeating this action for several intervals along the wiping sweep.

The only thing that I can think of that would cause the repeating slide and stick motion, is if the springs in the wiper arms are applying excess down force on the blades. Provoking this behavior would be if the blades are not exactly perpendicular to the glass surface when unloaded. There is some free play in the blade support pivot to the arm, but the blade perpendicularity is bisecting the included total sideways angular range of the free play in the pivot.

Well I shimmed the arms where the blades connect, since there was so much free play. It helped get rid of a lot of the wobble, but I won't be able to tell if that works until I get a good rain here. One thing I noticed when I looked at the arms this time was the part #'s on them. The #'s look like they we put on there by a dremel tool. Could I have been sold and aftermarket set of arms?

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[SlickFix]

Maybe, but the GERMANY and rings looked stamped, so hopefully not. What do you mean that you "shimmed the arms where the blades connect"? Got any pics of that?

[luvsspeed]

Maybe, but the GERMANY and rings looked stamped, so hopefully not. What do you mean that you "shimmed the arms where the blades connect"? Got any pics of that?

This as it fit my issue
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...rm-Shutter-Fix

[diagnosticator]

Those are SWF OEM wiper blades. They are not the original genuine Aero wiper blades made by Bosch that I have on my A4. I can only surmise that the SWF parts are looser fitting on the wiper arms, causing the slip and stick problem. The fact that the wiper blades are curved at the upper stopping point is curious, since this should not be occurring, the wiper blade contact on the glass should be a straight line everywhere on the glass surface. It is also possible the spring pressure of the wiper arms pressing the blades against the glass is not correctly matched to the SWF wiper blade construction, and the associated blade stiffness.

[deyrag]

I have had this same problem off and on for a while. I have replaced the blades with new OEM, Bosch icons with the ugly adapter, bent the arm in, bent the arm out, replaced the driver side arm with a new one and still had problems with the blades skipping when there was only a light rain (heavy downpour was always ok)
The last set of blades I just bought were Valeo 900225B and they work great. You might want to give them a try.

[mromanik]

I've replaced my blade with a Denso part # 161-0422. I got it from RockAuto. Works perfect

[luvsspeed]

I have had this same problem off and on for a while. I have replaced the blades with new OEM, Bosch icons with the ugly adapter, bent the arm in, bent the arm out, replaced the driver side arm with a new one and still had problems with the blades skipping when there was only a light rain (heavy downpour was always ok)
The last set of blades I just bought were Valeo 900225B and they work great. You might want to give them a try.

I just got some of those in the mail. I will try those if these new blades I just put on don't work.