How to Use Car Wipers?
4 Answers
Here is how to use car wipers: 1. Light rain: When encountering light rain, first spray windshield washer fluid before turning on the wipers. Otherwise, it may damage the car's windshield and affect the lifespan of the wipers. 2. Heavy rain: Adjust the wiper frequency promptly to avoid unclear visibility while driving. 3. Dry conditions: Do not activate the wiper switch when the windshield is dry. If you need to test the wiper's operation, wet the glass with water first. Otherwise, it may damage the glass, and due to increased friction resistance, it could harm the wiper blades or the wiper motor.
Here's how I usually operate the wipers when driving in the rain: Pushing the stalk on the right side of the steering wheel upward activates a single wipe, perfect for drizzles. For heavier rain, push it down one notch for slow continuous wiping, and push it down to the second notch for fast wiping. Remember to pull it back toward you to turn it off when the rain stops, otherwise the sound of dry wiping will break your heart. Never force the wipers when the windshield is frosted or icy, as it can burn out the motor or tear the rubber blades. First, use the air conditioning to thaw the ice before turning them on. By the way, the rubber blades tend to age quickly after summer sun exposure, so it's better to check them every six months and replace them if they don't wipe cleanly.
I'm used to adjusting the wiper settings first when getting in the car. There are icons on the right-hand stalk of the steering wheel. Gently push down for a single wipe, use intermittent mode for light rain, low speed for moderate rain, and high speed for heavy downpours. If mud splashes onto the windshield, pull the stalk towards you to spray washer fluid – it'll automatically stop after three wipes. Remember to lift the wipers upright when parking in snowy weather, otherwise they might freeze to the windshield and damage the rubber blades. It's best to replace wiper blades twice a year – before the rainy season and before winter – for streak-free visibility and safer driving.
When I was a beginner driver, I always got confused about the direction of the wiper stalk, but now I can operate it with my eyes closed: pushing the right stalk down one notch is for slow wiping, and pushing it all the way down is for rapid wiping. There's a knob on the stalk head to adjust the intermittent speed, which is super handy on drizzly days. It's best to buy antifreeze windshield washer fluid—it won't freeze even at minus twenty degrees in winter. The dumbest thing is driving through a car wash with automatic rain-sensing wipers on—the sensor gets tricked by the water flow and goes crazy, so remember to turn it off beforehand. When driving on the highway and encountering water spray from large trucks, pulling the stalk temporarily to spray water can be a lifesaver.
