Electrics: 850: wiper baldes

[fmac]

Folks, very new to this forum.

I have a 1997 850 (german build) LHD. Recently the front windscreen wipers only manage to clear water away from ca. 60% of the drivers viewing area (despite several sets of blades etc). It seems as if there is no pressure onto the screen, despite the fact the blades still move fully across the screen.

At the same time the rear wiper is doing the same on the top 30% of the areas to be cleaned.

Any suggestions would be helpful, as it's becoming a nuisance, esepcially on the motorway in winter,

thanks!

[BIGH66]

Originally Posted by fmac

Folks, very new to this forum.

I have a 1997 850 (german build) LHD. Recently the front windscreen wipers only manage to clear water away from ca. 60% of the drivers viewing area (despite several sets of blades etc). It seems as if there is no pressure onto the screen, despite the fact the blades still move fully across the screen.

At the same time the rear wiper is doing the same on the top 30% of the areas to be cleaned.

Any suggestions would be helpful, as it's becoming a nuisance, esepcially on the motorway in winter,

thanks!

Have you tried bending the wiper arm to put more pressure on the blade to contact the screen more ??

[fmac]

Yes I've been down that route, no good either

[RollingThunder]

It sounds like the springs in the wiper arms are getting weak. I don't think they're a stock item so getting new springs will probably be difficult.

One possible fix is to use the aerofoil type wiper blades - they use airflow to push the wiper blade onto the screen, but I'd imagine it only works well over 40mph (?) so you'd still have a problem with urban driving.

Replacement wiper arms are available, but they are surprisingly expensive - I checked them a few years ago and IIRC they were £30 or so each even then!

[David 850 GLT]

Try this, it worked permanently on mine
http://volvospeed.com/wiperarm.php

[fmac]

will try and let you know if it helped