Technical What I think of the windscreen washers on the 500

[frankster78]

Hey folks,

I've got a Cabrio 1.2 and it'd developed a really annoying judder on the windscreen wipers. Basically at any speed and any amount of rain, i.e. full on torrential to little spits of rain, the wipers just judder up and down!. I've spoken to Fiat, both local dealer and to Italy, who claim it is a 'characteristic' of the car!

Has anyone else had a similar experience or know of a 'good' Fiat dealer that can actually help rather than be totally useless and deny it's a design fault!.



Frankster

 

[Mark Elvin]

Try cleaning the wipers AND screen with IPA. worked on mine.

 

[306maxi]

Hey folks,

I've got a Cabrio 1.2 and it'd developed a really annoying judder on the windscreen wipers. Basically at any speed and any amount of rain, i.e. full on torrential to little spits of rain, the wipers just judder up and down!. I've spoken to Fiat, both local dealer and to Italy, who claim it is a 'characteristic' of the car!

Has anyone else had a similar experience or know of a 'good' Fiat dealer that can actually help rather than be totally useless and deny it's a design fault!.



Frankster

It's not a design fault. Just allow the wipers to wear in and they'll be fine and don't clean the screen with anything special or clean the wiper blades. Everyone's car has done this at some stage. Leave them alone and it's all good

 

[frankster78]

Thanks for the tips, must say I have never had a car with this problem before and seeing as the blades are now 3 months old i doubt its a bedding in problem!

 

[Mark Elvin]

If you are in the Bristol area I'll gladly machine polish the screen to ensure it's 100% clean.

 

[frankster78]

Cheers Mark

That's a bit of a round trip from Croydon, but that's a cool offer though thank you.

 

[nebrog23]

It's not a design fault. Just allow the wipers to wear in and they'll be fine and don't clean the screen with anything special or clean the wiper blades. Everyone's car has done this at some stage. Leave them alone and it's all good

I have had this problem for since the car is new and disagree they wear in. Had 2 sets of wipers in 2 years and have tried cleaning or leaving for months and they still stick and judder as frankster suggests. Going to mention it at next service. Seems to be the curvature of the screen and I'm not sure if it is something to do with LHD to RHD conversion.

 

[metro]

I bought my car from Thames, Croydon. Not impressed

 

[306maxi]

I bought my car from Thames, Croydon. Not impressed

What's that got to do with windscreen washers?

 

[olopboy]

Now Thames call back to confirm that I have agreed to pay half hour labour at... wait for it... £48.50!

This is even more insane than I first thought, I have just changed mine, 3 minutes of checking it all over to make sure I had a very clear idea of how it was mounted, actual change time 30 seconds if that. Small flat head down the side of the jet to dislodge the lugs, pop out, pop off the pipe, fit pipe to new jet and then push back in place.

Job done and I am a comlete numpty to hands on stuff, how they could even contemplate charging for that is beyond me.

 

[Lloyd71]

For those having problems with the wipers juddering; what are you washing the car with? Certain shampoos can cause this problem, as I found out. My wipers are silky smooth having switched to PH neutral shampoos and cleaning the window with an 'eco' cleaner.

 

[nebrog23]

For those having problems with the wipers juddering; what are you washing the car with? Certain shampoos can cause this problem, as I found out. My wipers are silky smooth having switched to PH neutral shampoos and cleaning the window with an 'eco' cleaner.

Using autoglym car shampoo but have tried using glass polish or cleaner and just not washing the windscreen. Any Ph neutral shampoo recommended?

 

[DraigFlag87]

Using autoglym car shampoo but have tried using glass polish or cleaner and just not washing the windscreen. Any Ph neutral shampoo recommended?

Another idea would be to use something to soften the rubber on the wipers rather than attempting to treat the glass. Autoglym's Vinyl and rubber care will soften the rubber, but may smear onto the screen too. Mine judder too, very annoying, worse in cold.

 

[crabman]

Hi guys,

Well... I ended up taking the car to Fiat Marylebone and they replace them in about 20 minutes whilst I waited for free.

I'd suggest steering clear of Thames Croydon, they're all smiles until there'sm an issue or a bill.

crabman

 

[sadgit]

Had been very smug reading this thread as I have had no problems all through the cold spell, then yesterday out they pop!.
Phoned Palmers of Watford, they were great, "no problem sir bring it in first thing 2morrow & we will sort it while you wait"
Arrived at 08.15, they open at 08.30, lady booked me in (first paperwork indicated I needed to pay ! she quickly appologised and said its warrenty ).
Before I had finished my coffee the tech was handing me back the keys . time 08.28 . I joked that I would see him again soon as they are bound to pop out again but he said that Fiat has done a 'mod' and should have no more problems.
Fingers crossed he is right.
Great & friendly service from Palmers, who says Fiat Garages can't do customer service

 

[olopboy]

Told you it was a quick job

 

[Lloyd71]

Typical, I go through all of winter with no issues then last night I left my car out on the street overnight and on the way home the washer tube popped out. Luckily it was still sat there so I could remove it when I got back to my parents' house, is there any way of fixing it yourself? I can't be bothered to go to the garage just yet.

 

[MissR]

Typical, I go through all of winter with no issues then last night I left my car out on the street overnight and on the way home the washer tube popped out. Luckily it was still sat there so I could remove it when I got back to my parents' house, is there any way of fixing it yourself? I can't be bothered to go to the garage just yet.

The replace the whole thing not just the tubes. I gave the garage the ones I had rescued and he said that I didn't need to as once they were out they would keep coming out x

 

[Lloyd71]

Thanks for the help, my trouble now is when to get it seen to as I work every weekday from 9-5 and can't go an entire week without the washer jets since I work on a mucky industrial estate. :bang:

 

[306maxi]

Thanks for the help, my trouble now is when to get it seen to as I work every weekday from 9-5 and can't go an entire week without the washer jets since I work on a mucky industrial estate. :bang:

Use some pliers on the end that does into the washer jet body first and squeeze it a bit so it gives friction against the body