Glad to hear they've got some business from helping me out!

Ooh - they've used my video of them working...

http://www.puntowipers.com/video croma.AVI

And my photos. Direct link to buy them...

http://www.puntowipers.com/page49.html

Bad news - the Wipex rods have failed. As with the originals, the one socket that faces upwards has worn and fallen off. As the Wipex rods are heavier than the originals, this has happened a lot quicker than the original ones.

This isn't Wipex's fault - it's a badly designed mechanism. Usually the sockets face downwards, so gravity helps to hold them on. The Croma (and the Punto at least) have one that faces upwards.

I'd say it's bad that something that works so hard depends on a bit of plastic that's held on by friction.

A new mechanism is £219.77 from Fiat. But that will still fail at some point, as it's a crap design.

So I've ordered a new set of rods from Wipex, as they now don't clip at all, just pop straight off. I've also ordered these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261042823...m=R40&_nkw=261042823348&_rdc=1#ht_2099wt_1344

The ones linked earlier in the thread were for a Punto, and showed the original type of rods. This listing shows the same type of rods as the Wipex ones, so hopefully they'll all work together. The two clips may in fact be identical, as they're the same seller.

I've ordered four clips, and I'll fit as many as possible. Arguably only one is needed, but I've had enough of messing with it! Total damage about £50, including the Wipex rods and delivery.

If these clips fit then I'd suggest they're an essential for every Croma - original or Wipex rods. Otherwise you're just waiting for them to fail.

I'll update this thread with news when I fit them, after the parts arrive.

did you email wipex and tell them? they probably would have sent new set for free

dave said:

did you email wipex and tell them? they probably would have sent new set for free

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I emailed at first, no reply weeks later.

Phoned last week, told me to email details. No reply.

Not answering the phone today (tried 4 or 5 times).

I can't complain too bitterly, as my first set were free as I provided the measurements. I'd guess it's a part-time business run as a sideline.

they are normally very good in the early days of punto ones id email and a new set would arrive next day foc, often with an upgrade of some sort so they do work to improve them all the time, and like to hear feedback to do this.
i'll email them

I got the clips today, but not the new Wipex rods, so decided to re-fit the Wipex rods I already have, together with the clips - just to get it running until the new rods arrive.

I'm pleased to say the clips are very very good. It's impossible to pull the rods off now, even though one of the rods has lost all its clipping-power - it just plops on and off without the clip. With the clip it's rock-solid.

There's a bit of play with the worn out rods fitted, but this will go when I get the new ones.

I found it was best to fit them at 90 degrees to the rods, not as shown on ebay, as I found that the wipex rods and clips won't go fully together if you try and assemble as shown. They are each different ways round to avoid clashes with anything else, but nothing is catching or rubbing.

I did have to remove the rubber seals to make space for them - otherwise the clip squeezes the rubber against the metal and rubs while it operates. Without the rubber there's very little added friction, even with all four fitted. The seals only seemed to trap water inside anyway, especially on the one ball that faces upwards.

I also found that it's easiest to part-fit the clips to the rods before fitting the rod - if you get the lip just past the penny-shaped lump on the top of the socket then you just have to ease the prongs on the other side of the clip back slightly before it pops on. They are reassuringly difficult to get on - they won't fall off.

So all is good - I'm confident that this is a solution. Photos attached.

I'm not having any luck with Wipex. Order placed 8 days ago, nothing received, no email replies, nobody answering the phone, their voicemail says "memory full", so can't even leave a message.

I'll leave it a bit longer before I apply for a refund via Paypal. It looks like Wipex have gone out of business. Either that or he's on holiday but didn't bother to tell anyone on their website. I think it's a one-man business.

Interesting - the wipex shop on ebay is still running, and people have left feedback very recently. I don't know what's going on then. I've sent a message via ebay messaging asking whether Wipex has gone out of business.

i didnt get a reply to my email either, very unusual, i think there is more than 1 person as ive had emails signed ken and odell before

Panic over - he's emailed to say he's on holiday, back Friday. He did say his site stated this - I haven't seen anything.

Presumably the ebay shop is either just someone else selling from stock, or it's delayed feedback from people who were waiting to leave feedback after fitting.

The wipers are still working fine with worn out rods and those clips. I'm going to try sawing a notch into the rods for the clips to lock into. Then it will be physically impossible for them to ever come off. I'll stick another photo up after I get the new rods and fit them. Then I'm certain the problem is permanently fixed.

did this get sorted?

Yes, in the end. My order had been lost. I rang, he apologised and got them in the post the next day. We're all allowed a little human error now and then.

I did do what I said with the clips, and it worked brilliantly. I just part-sawed through the metal, near the ends of the bars. The tabs on the clips just spring into the slots, so they'll never come off.

I did notice that the springs had got a covering of surface rust since I fitted them though. Nothing serious, but not good. I'll email the ebay seller suggesting they should be zinc plated or something similar.

did he chuck in some free wipers?

Nope.

i asked him too for good will

I've had a nice reply from the ebay seller that makes/sells the clips after I emailed about the rust on them. They say that they were intended for emergency short term use, so rust shouldn't be a problem. However, they are leaving some outside so they can see what happens for themselves.

I did reply to say that for the Croma (and possibly the Punto) these are a longer term fix. Due to the crap design of the mechanism, one of the sockets faces upwards so gravity is constantly wearing the lip of the socket and trying to pull it apart.

I'll update if I hear more from them. It would be perfect if they could make a zinc-plated or even stainless version.

Fitted Wipex linkage today. Minus 3 knuckles and 2 sq. ins. of skin.
Filled cups with white grease which made it a right squeeze to get the ball joint seated but I know its done. Got a pack of the disappearing plastic studs for a fiver from the factors. Whole thing is tidier (and quieter).
Owning a Croma must be worth at least an Honours Degree!!

Didn't use the clips as per Doofer as I expect the wipex items to last longer than my stewardship of Cromatology.

cjlar said:

Didn't use the clips as per Doofer as I expect the wipex items to last longer than my stewardship of Cromatology.

Click to expand...

Im glad my measurements worked then!

I just reviewed the dates of my previous posts, and the replacement rods lasted about 7 months. I then replaced them with new ones, plus the clips and so far they've been fine for 18 months (and still working and judder-free).

The problem is the combination of the socket facing upwards, plus the fact that the Wipex rods are heavier than the originals. Really Wipex should be bundling clips with them where the sockets face upwards. Gravity will beat friction in the end, and all your lovely grease will probably help it to fall off.

I have remembered about the rust issue on the clips though, from reading it. I will now hunt for some rustproof ones.

Edit: I've ordered four (2 pairs) of these for a tenner. Different design, diferent seller, zinc plated (yay!)...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221282460295

I'll update this thread after I try fitting them.

Well just been driving back from a weekend away at Centre parcs coming down the M11 at 70mph in the pouring rain when, 'TWANG' no more windscreen wipers. pulled on to the hard shoulder, and after taking my life in my hands discovered the linkage had broken. Ended up on the back of a AA recovery truck... So have ordered the new rods and the clips, due here on Wednesday... Was one of the most terrifying experiences i have had while driving..

Quick question.. How do you remove the Black plastic trim to get access to the wiper Arms? Thanks

The Black plastic cross cut "screws" are a 1/4 turn and then they should pop out . A flat bladed screwdriver should provide the best lever if needed. But go easy!