Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Windshield Wiper Streaking

Am I the only one with this problem? I have replaced my wipers four times in the last 1,000 miles. I tried Lexor, Pylon, Bosch and currently have Anco blades. I even scoured the windshield with Bon Ami, as suggested by the wiper manufacturers, thinking that a previous owner may have used some "mystery chemical" on the glass. I have tried several "mystery chemicals" myself, scouring well between each one; nothing has worked!
The only time the streaking is evident is when there is overhead lighting, such as street-lights, etc. Streaking is not evident when driving in total darkness. Streaking is even bad when driving in the daylight if the sun is shining through the rain. Even though my windshield is not excessively pockmarked, I am seriously considering replacement. I haven't because it may be the angle of the windshield and I would still have the problem.
Any suggestions? I am ready to try almost anything!

I'm assuming you've cleaned the inside, too, right?

Originally posted by delmar:

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I'm assuming you've cleaned the inside, too, right?

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Yeah, a clean inside is key. Maybe someone oversprayed Armor All on the inside of the windshield.

The inside is spotless! All the streaks are on the outside and follow the trail of the wipers. When operating the wipers on intermitent, the streaks disappear in a matter of seconds only to appear again following the next swipe of the wipers.

I got that too. In my case it was oil mist from when I got the car undersprayed. Nasty stuff. Squeegee at gas station didn't help at all. Went to a do it yourself wash and turned the foam brush on it. Lift the wiper blades and foam brush them too get get at the oil.

All good now.

Might be a long shot but when my wipers wern't working too well I very slightly bent the arm inward, (towards the glass) which put more pressure between the blade/windshield contact.

I have permanent streaks on the outside etched in the glass (from the wipers). Its really annoying when the sun hits the winshield in the scratched part.

Sounds like you're ready for windshield replacement.

The only other way to remove ground in scratches in a windshield I know about is to use a glass polishing kit which involves fine abrasives & lots of time with results unspecified.....my $.02

clean the class with Stoner's invisible glass or even better, white vinegar mixed with water.

it removes any water spots or streaks that may be on your windshield. I too went through the same situation with blades and that water/vinegar mix worked well in getting the issue resolved.

I find just polishing with regular car (paintwork) polish usually does the trick. Not the cutting type though - maybe someone before you used that........