Keep your wipers, windshield clean

Although manufacturers provide an owner’s manual, it is rarely read by drivers because they think they have enough understanding of their vehicles. As a result, they have no idea what the various features in the car are for and how to use them properly.

Over the years automobiles have gone through a considerable evolution so misuse of modern equipment can lead to damage. Many car owners blame the manufacturer for these damages, but the fault in fact lies with the owner who fails to either read the instructions or listen to people like mechanics from general garages.

However, in some cases the fault does lie with the manufacturer. Before a new model is produced and introduced to the market, the owner’s manual has to be translated into Thai, and here is where mistakes could occur. If the translator has no automotive knowledge, the translation could contain mistakes or could be difficult to understand.

A good example is about the front windshield. Many owners like to leave the windshield wipers up even when their vehicle is parked under the sun. They believe that if the wipers are left in the original position, the heat collected on the glass will make the rubber blades deteriorate sooner than they should.

But they don’t realise that keeping the wipers up for a long period of time will loosen the springs that keeps the wipers nicely against the glass. As a result, when driving in rain, the wipers don’t wipe away all of the water on the windshield surface and you are left with poor visibility.

The wiper blades of every automobile in the world are designed to withstand these conditions. And even if you have to replace them, change only the rubber, which could be as cheap as Bt80 each. Most people don’t know this and waste money replacing the whole wiper or wipers.

Having good visibility while driving is very important as it concerns safety, so a clean windshield is what you should always try to maintain.

In some cars the wipers shudder while in operation, leaving patches of water on the glass. Apart from poor visibility, this could cause added stress for the driver and is likely to affect his/her concentration.

The cause of this problem is the residue on the windshield. Sometimes, the soot (made from combustion gases as well as unburned diesel) from buses or trucks in front of your vehicle may end up on your windshield. The soot is invisible, but when the wiper blades come into contact with it, they will start to slip and appear like they are shuddering. Then your view straight out the windshield will become wavy and the resulting squeak will disturb your concentration.

In order to get rid of the problem you need to clean your windshield and remove the oil patches. Wet the windshield and a sheet of newspaper. Spray glass cleaner or dishwashing liquid on the paper before wiping the glass with it. This will remove the stains and you can then wash the windshield with clean water before wiping it dry.

For the wiper blades, clean them with a soft cloth soaked in glass cleaner fluid. Wipe the blades lightly to remove any oil stains.

Just follow these instructions and you can be assured of good visibility while driving either in normal or rainy conditions.