With warmer weather comes summer storms, which can make driving difficult if your vehicle’s windshield wipers are starting to deteriorate. Watch out for:
Hardened Rubber. Check the rubber of your windshield wipers to see if they still have good flexibility. If it’s hardened, then its more susceptible to cracks, which you might already be able to see happening.
Streaking. When your windshield rubber has hardened, it won’t do as well of a job wiping away the water. Drivers will start to see streaks of water left after swipes, and it will only get worse over time.
Skipping. Damaged rubber that has been warped by opposing temperatures will also fail to pass along the glass properly, which causes it to skip as it moves. Drivers could also notice it feeling like it vibrates as it swipes.
Smearing. When the rubber has naturally worn away and the edge becomes round instead of sharp, it will leave smears of water behind. This can cause an almost cloudy look and really impair the driver’s line of vision.
Squeaking. A worn or damaged rubber edge could begin to squeak as it moves over the glass. Since it does not mold to it properly anymore, it will not move quietly and efficiently.
Windshield wipers should be changed every 6 to 12 months. Weather, temperature, UV rays, and age will all affect how well your wipers aid your vision when driving in rainy weather. Even if you see minor issues, they could easily be worsen not long after.
If you do notice your line of sight decreases due to bad wipers, then try to safely get your vehicle home or to a repair shop for replacement. Summer storms can lead to heavy rain, so you’ll need adequate wipers to see the road. Even then, a downpour can happen and cause visibility to go down to almost 0 even if you have good wipers. Remember to always:
- Slow down when it’s raining and especially if you’re on a highway. Keep to the right lane and drive at a pace you’re comfortable with, which should ideally be a little under the speed limit.
- Turn your headlights on. This will help you be more visible to other drivers and see the road.
- Pull over if you don’t feel safe driving. If that downspout does cause visibility to go down drastically, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Don’t think you’re prepared for summer storms? Bring your car into Superior Service Center for expert mechanical repair. We have locations in Eagan, MN and Apple Valley, MN.