Hi .... have done a few miles in my 500 X Cross Plus, having covered @ 20 k in the past 18 months.
Apart from some mapping updates or lack of, everything is fine except one matter!
I have gone through 2 x rear wiper blades?? Guess my OCD has now really kicked in!!
These have been OE Fiat parts, but they only seem to last a few months before they judder and squeak! I have noticed they seem to become brittle as time passes ! Is it i am overusing the rear dehumidifier or are they of poor quality??
I have also tried using vinegar to keep them clean but the angle/rake of rear screen seems to pick up lots of dust/dirt. To no avail it cleans it then back to the juddering after a few days.
I am now awaiting for some Bosch blades to see if any difference! Never had an issue with them
Anyone else having this issue?? Or is it me and my OCD

I'm a windscreen person, I like my screens clean & free from wiper noise/judder. My findings over the years, use flat blades, oh & I tend to use rainx on my screens as well. Sometimes in the pouring rain I do not have my wipers on.... Just my thoughts & findings.

Funnily enough I've just come inside after cleaning my screens & administrating my rainx & clean the rubbers as well.

Hi
I have found that fiat OEM blades are crap, like you say last no more than six months......They are just rebranded cheapo blades
Bosch is the way to go and last forever
On my screen I use Autoglym Glass polish and this also buts a film on the screen that repels water, the wiper blades glide smoothly over the glass and leaves the screen spotless
Autoglym also do fast glass which I use to get all the grime off and then finish off with the glass polish
LUIGI

The likes of glass cleaners are just that, they do clean all the crap of screens inside & out. Rainx & similar products work in a different way by forming a deflective barrier against water/rain that lasts for some time. Class cleaners don't do this. Added good point about rainx, in winter although it doesn't stop ice forming on your screen, it does help by making it far easier to get the ice off.

Yes....
But the Autglym glass polish works in the same way as rainx
If I was to chuck a bucket of water at the screen it immediately falls off.
The glass polish is a new product from Autoglym and is Used in conjunction with fast glass
LUIGI

2668GRIFFIN said:

Yes....
But the Autglym glass polish works in the same way as rainx
If I was to chuck a bucket of water at the screen it immediately falls off.
The glass polish is a new product from Autoglym and is Used in conjunction with fast glass
LUIGI

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Erm, rainx is a very different product from any glass polish, look it up, nothing to do with polishing. It penetrates & seals the microscopic pores of glass & creates an invisible barrier Although you may be able to throw water at your screen with polish & initially it will fall off, any polish would do that, but it wont last in actual driving conditions, it's just a polish/cleaner whereas rainx will last a few weeks & more.

This is not just my findings by the way, experts in the industry state these are well known facts.

Aye! I have some Wicked Wheels (?) glass polish which is a liquid paste in a bottle, rather than a "glass cleaner" type product in a spray bottle. I use it when the windscreen is particularly fly-spattered or deeply grimy, since it's mildly abrasive and can cut through/dissolve the contaminants.

It must have a base solvent that is good at dissolving slightly greasy marks and that will remain behind on the surface and repel water for a few days, for sure... but it's not designed to hang around and is presumably also water soluble, so it will evaporate or be washed off in no time. Rain-X is more persistent.

As for the OP... my rear screen also catches a lot of dust and dirt thrown up by the truncated tail aero'...

My blades tend to smear a bit rather than judder... but that seems to be because the arm can't curve to match the rear screen so is only passing over it very lightly. I think the OE Fiat part is made by Valeo which is not that bad but I've tried several brands and there's not a great deal of difference between them, so now I use the cheapest rear blade I can find on fleabay and it's okay for a season. Fit it in October and it'll get through the worst weather when it's new. When it's summer/getting old you won't need to use it so much... then replace it again in October.

If you get judder then replace the whole wiper head (I guess 500X has a plastic half-arm) rather than just the blade.. and put some Rain-X on the window.

Ralf S.

I should have asked, do. Have to replace he whole plastic arm, the garage did it for me last time, diy this time!?!

Alex4x4 said:

I should have asked, do. Have to replace he whole plastic arm, the garage did it for me last time, diy this time!?!

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Not at all, just cut a rubber insert to size & old on out, slide the new rubber in.

jimboy said:

Erm, rainx is a very different product from any glass polish, look it up, nothing to do with polishing. It penetrates & seals the microscopic pores of glass & creates an invisible barrier Although you may be able to throw water at your screen with polish & initially it will fall off, any polish would do that, but it wont last in actual driving conditions, it's just a polish/cleaner whereas rainx will last a few weeks & more.



This is not just my findings by the way, experts in the industry state these are well known facts.

Click to expand...

Today I discovered Rainex Screenwash. Anyone tried it yet?

Alanw47 said:

Today I discovered Rainex Screenwash. Anyone tried it yet?

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Yep, keeps the screen clear & water beads off. Not quite as good as the original rain x treatment but it does work to a degree.