What Causes Windshield Wiper Noise?
4 Answers
The causes of abnormal noise in car windshield wipers include: 1. Looseness at the U-joint contact area of the wiper arm or aging/wear of the rubber blade; 2. Incorrect wiper arm angle, causing the wiper to exceed a 0-degree angle with the glass surface; 3. Sticky glass surface, often due to a difficult-to-remove mixed oil film formed from lack of cleaning. When using windshield wipers, regularly inspect the wiper blades. Pay attention to the following when checking wiper operation: 1. First moisten the windshield with water; otherwise, it may scratch the glass, and the high friction resistance could damage the blade or burn out the motor; 2. After turning off the wiper switch, the wiper blade should return to the lower side of the windshield and stop.
I remember when I first started driving, the squeaky wiper noise drove me crazy. I thought it was a major car issue, but it turned out to be quite a common problem. Most of the time, it's caused by aged or hardened wiper rubber blades that screech when in motion, or by uncleaned oil stains and dust on the windshield. It could also be due to improperly adjusted wiper arms during installation—either the spring is too tight or too loose. A simple fix is to wipe the glass before heading out in the rain or replace the rubber blades. Don’t underestimate this issue—blurry vision while driving is unsafe. I learned the hard way when the noise on the highway made me panic. Now, I know better: regular maintenance and replacing wipers every two years keeps things hassle-free.
Having driven for decades, I'm no stranger to wiper noises. The most common causes are worn or cracked rubber blades, or bird droppings and pollen on the windshield causing clattering sounds when wiping. Also check the spring tension of the wiper arm – excessive tightness causes friction noise while looseness leads to rattling. I make it a habit to replace wipers quarterly as preventive maintenance, using dedicated washer fluid for glass cleaning. Ignoring it risks accidents during rainy nights with poor visibility. Experience tells me early intervention is both safer and more economical – don't wait for minor issues to escalate.
I prefer doing it myself. For wiper noise, first check if the rubber blade is full of cracks—take it off to see if it's hardened. Then inspect the lubrication at the arm pivot; adding some grease can quiet it down. Replacing a new wiper blade is simple: just order the correct model online and swap it in minutes. Don't forget to clean the windshield—soapy water works well for removing dirt. DIY brings lots of fun and saves a trip to the repair shop.
