General Useless Fiat wiper blades

[stevehg]

We'd forgotten how annoying the standard 500 aero wiper blades are with the judder. The small blade especially sounding like it's going to break when it sticks.

Fronts now replaced with Bosch aeros.

 

[ahmett]

We'd forgotten how annoying the standard 500 aero wiper blades are with the judder. The small blade especially sounding like it's going to break when it sticks.

Fronts now replaced with Bosch aeros.

My Fiat wipers started dying barely a year into ownership, and that in Athens where it really doesn't rain that much!
Have used the Bosch aerotwins for the past 2 years, still no judder at all and no need to replace them for now.


Fiat manual says change the wipers yearly. Yes, with the rubbish OEM parts, maybe, not with Bosch parts!

 

[dave]

who makes fiats wipers?

 

[DBunX]

lol, I've been putting up with a shuddering right front wiper since I picked up the car last month. Wish I'd seen this earlier!

Funny thing is, I put Bosch's on my rust-bucket Clio 2 weeks before I sold it so you would think I'd know better...

 

[portland_bill]

There's at least one other thread on here about this.
A common problem with 500s is that the wipers catch each other near the bottom of the screen as they start to rise. This is nothing to do with the quality of the blades, only the fitted position of the arms. The blades are very close together at that point and will only miss each other if they start in the right position. However, it is difficult to reposition them as the arms fit onto splined pivot pins which cut splines into the arms as they are first tightened on. They will need to move less than one spline, and will resist. If the car is still under warranty, go back and complain until they fix them or fit new arms in the right place.

 

[frupi]

We've still got the original factory fit wipers on ours. Yes, I have noticed them judder occasionally and yes, they should probably have been replaced by now but my missus has her windscreens replaced before the wipers! (just recently had a brand new Fiat screen).

I've noticed the Bosch wipers aren't exactly cheap, but I guess quality will always cost a little more. That's the Wife's Chrimbo present sorted then! :devil:

 

[306maxi]

There's at least one other thread on here about this.

Heaven forbid someone might use the search function.....

 

[Adzee]

Anyone got the bosch part numbers? I also assume they are note RHD / LHD required?

 

[frupi]

Anyone got the bosch part numbers? I also assume they are note RHD / LHD required?

Bosch A300S - ebay around £23 for a pair delivered

 

[frupi]

Heaven forbid someone might use the search function.....

Here you go then maxi just in case you'd forgotten how to use the search function.....

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/242810-windscreen-wipers.html

 

[Adzee]

Bought these wiper blades... Not completely satisfied... Still gripping a bit.

 

[Heidi]

I use Ford ones and much better than the original fiat ones I had on the car. Mind you only replaced this year so fiat ones lasted 4.5 years

 

[portland_bill]

Bought these wiper blades... Not completely satisfied... Still gripping a bit.

If the arm is in the wrong position, the blades will always catch each other, no matter which ones are fitted. Need to diagnose the problem.

 

[Super Uwe]

I have a cheap and very short-term solution to any issues that you have with your wipers on the 500 (and new shape Panda too) if it is really bugging you when driving:

1. Nip down to your local shop and keep a packet of baby wipes in the car. A packet of Tesco Value ones will do the job (46p for 72 wipes).

2. If using the Value ones, two or three baby wipes per blade are usually enough to clean each one off. You may need to use more if there is still grime showing up on the baby wipe, but I generally find the third one has very little muck left on it.

3. Once the wipers have been cleaned off, give your windscreen a blast with screenwash and let the wipers do their job.

You should find the blades are much less jittery and also quite a lot better in terms of not smearing the windscreen.

Of course this is only a very short-term solution (probably won't last more than a week to be honest). But it will at least allow you to get on with your journey without getting hacked off with your wipers!

 

[stu0710]

Bosch A300S - ebay around £23 for a pair delivered

Did these actually cure the dreaded juddering? If so - I'll buy a set?

 

[stevehg]

Did these actually cure the dreaded juddering? If so - I'll buy a set?

[sarcastic tone on]
No, that's why when the new 500 arrived, I went out and spent £23 on a set of Bosch blades for the fun of it
[/sarcastic tone off]


I can only say from experience on two different 500's that yes they do work. It's best to clean properly the screen before fitting though.

Just one caveat, I use Gtechniq G1 on my windscreens followed by a coating and top ups of C2v3. One thing I will say that even with G1 and C2v3 on, the Fiat blades still juddered. Bosch have no problems.

Cheers

Steve

 

[306maxi]

Personally i found the more you clean the screen with product or apply rainx, the more the wipers judder.

 

[Super Uwe]

I agree with you Maxi. Hence why I only bother using baby wipes as (a) they're cheap and (b) they have very few chemicals in them.

As that famous phrase goes, if they're good enough for a baby's bum, they're good enough for my wipers!

Not saying the products quoted are no good by any means, but it's surprising what a good job baby wipes can do...also, you have got an immediate solution at hand whenever you need it.

 

[stevehg]

Personally i found the more you clean the screen with product or apply rainx, the more the wipers judder.

No matter what design or brand, no wiper blade will sweep cleanly if there is insufficient lubrication on the screen. That being said the compound that Fiat's blade supplier use, must be inferior as they judder far too much in normal use. The design apparently looks the same as the Bosch aero wipers, so I suspect it's more due to compound that accounts for the difference in performance.

I use G1 & C3v3 as they keep the screen clean all year. There's clearly less friction there for the wipers, it keeps screen bug free in summer, easy to clean in winter no matter what conditions. Lastly it helps reduce frost build up making screen and windows easier to clear the ice in low temps too.

The Bosch wipers work for me, they did on previous 500 for over two and half years and no doubt will on this new one. In relative terms, they are hardly a huge expense, and I had no hesitation in fitting them to new 500, once I was immediately reminded on how inferior the standard Fiat ones are.

You are free to use the standard Fiat wipers, and Super Uwe, you are free to keep on using baby wipes to clean your wipers and screen

 

[Adzee]

If the arm is in the wrong position, the blades will always catch each other, no matter which ones are fitted. Need to diagnose the problem.

They are not hitting each other. Just snapping across the windshield and not wiping smoothly. They do clean properly, but still judder...