What Causes Windshield Wiper Noise?
2 Answers
Windshield wiper noise is caused by: 1. Looseness at the U-joint contact point of the wiper arm or wear/deterioration of the rubber blade; 2. Misalignment of the wiper arm angle, causing the blade to exceed 0 degrees against the windshield; 3. A sticky windshield surface, often due to a stubborn hybrid oil film formed by inadequate cleaning. Regular inspection of wiper blades is essential. When checking wiper operation, note: 1. Always wet the windshield first - dry operation may scratch the glass, and excessive friction could damage blades or overheat the motor; 2. After turning off the wipers, the blades should automatically return to their parked position below the windshield.
When I first bought my car, the windshield wipers always made a squeaking noise, which was really annoying. Later, I learned that the most common cause is aging and wear of the wiper blades. The rubber strips on the wipers harden and crack over time, causing friction sounds when wiping the glass. Additionally, oil stains, bird droppings, or dust stuck on the windshield that aren’t cleaned properly during car washing can also make them squeak while sliding. Loose wiper arms or rusted and deformed linkage mechanisms can also produce unusual noises. If the motor connection is unstable, the entire system won’t function properly. Once, while driving in the rain, my wipers stopped working, and I found out that a leaf was stuck in the wiper blade—the noise was especially noticeable. For safety, it’s best to check for dirt and clean or replace the blades promptly, before they fail and obstruct visibility. Now, I always pay attention to the cleanliness of the windshield during car washes, and the unusual noises have decreased significantly.
