Winter Weather Wiper Tips + More

1engineer

1engineer

Moderator
Some of the older members here already know this so this is for the new guys:

When it gets really cold, your wipers, especially the right side, won't conform well to the double convex shape of the windshield. To combat this, you can "bump" our wipers up the windshield a bit. This will let the defroster thaw them out better and they will not freeze as much.

How? Simply and quickly "bump" the wiper stalk up. Normally you would push it up for a single swipe but in this case you just bump it with the heel of your hand. They move up the windshield a few inches and stay. If they wipe the complete cycle you did it too slow.

Next make sure, when you are pumping gas or even walking behind the vehicle, to lick your thumb and use it to clean the backup camera lens. Pretty soon you get in the habit and you won't have a dirty backup camera.
 
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Despite what my wife says, I don't really care if she can see out the windshield, I'm the one that matters cuz I'm driving, always.

:playball:


But for sure, wiping that backup camera is clutch.
 
Its common for the TPMS light to come on when the vehicle has been sitting during a drastic temperature drop. In most cases once you drive around a bit, it will turn off, but its a good idea to at least do a quick visual inspection. Checking with a guage is even better.
 
Windshield Wiper Tips - from the great white North.

a) Always buy Winter Washer Fluid (-40 degrees C = -40^F rated), use it year round / I always keep a gallon jug or two, in garage.
- summer Washer Fluid shouldn't even be sold
b) Always clean gutter snow & freezing slush out, below blades / have a good brush/scraper, on hand.
c) Always gently lift each wiper blade, and clean off any ice, with finger tips...before starting engine.
- so wipers are not stock to windshield & the wiper motor is not overloaded &/or shorts out (costly repair $$)
d) IMO, best year round wiper blades are BOSCH ICONS...give them a try / great all season design / beats all OEM.
- The award-winning design of Bosch ICON distributes more uniform pressure along the entire length of the blade for ultimate all-season performance that lasts up to 40% longer than other premium wiper blades. Bosch ICON is the perfect choice for your wiper blade replacement needs. https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-22A-ICON-Wiper-Blade/dp/B005JU5VH8#productDetails
e) Finally, don't forget the rear window attention / single blade needs to be in good condition & clean also.

Could save your Life:
f) Store extra gloves, knitted toques, in SUV / in case your ever stranded, on side of road - always have to keep warm.
g) Good booster cables (4 gauge cooper or heavier) for battery & a short shovel (Costco sells a nice collapsible shovel, made from aluminum).
h) And carry a charged cell phone, to phone for help.
i) Never winter drive with low fuel level - added water condensation forms when gas tank is under half full.
 
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Always leave your wiper blades propped up to 90 degrees if there's any chance of snow, frost, freezing rain. Makes a big difference when cleaning, plus the blades don't stick.
 
Beaumont67 said:
Windshield Wiper Tips - from the great white North.

a) Always buy Winter Washer Fluid (-40 degrees C = -40^F rated), use it year round / I always keep a gallon jug or two, in garage.
- summer Washer Fluid shouldn't even be sold
Click to expand...

Summer washer fluid cuts through bugs much better than winter fluid- which is a much bigger deal in the 4Runner than any other vehicle I've driven.
And winter fluid eats through rain-x very quickly.

There's a use for both.

But I agree with your very thorough list!
 
1engineer said:
Some of the older members here already know this so this is for the new guys:

When it gets really cold, your wipers, especially the right side, won't conform well to the double convex shape of the windshield. To combat this, you can "bump" our wipers up the windshield a bit. This will let the defroster thaw them out better and they will not freeze as much.

How? Simply and quickly "bump" the wiper stalk up. Normally you would push it up for a single swipe but in this case you just bump it with the heel of your hand. They move up the windshield a few inches and stay. If they wipe the complete cycle you did it too slow.

Next make sure, when you are pumping gas or even walking behind the vehicle, to lick your thumb and use it to clean the backup camera lens. Pretty soon you get in the habit and you won't have a dirty backup camera.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to lick your thumb again after you clean the backup camera.
 
This thread got me thinking about rear view camera cleanliness and hygiene so I started researching.

To wit:

"Some automakers have come up with clever ways to keep rearview cameras clean. Select 2014 Nissan Altima, 2014 Nissan Rogue and 2014 Nissan Murano models have a built-in rearview camera cleaning system that sprays water from a small tank to clean the lens, and then squirts a puff of air to dry it."

Now for fun I am going to go scan the the Nissan forums looking for "dirty camera no longer gets wet or blows".
 
bofa said:
Its common for the TPMS light to come on when the vehicle has been sitting during a drastic temperature drop. In most cases once you drive around a bit, it will turn off, but its a good idea to at least do a quick visual inspection. Checking with a guage is even better.
Click to expand...

Not gonna lie.. was perusing the site late last night and barely glanced at the title... didnt notice "wiper" in the title. So dont mind me. :whistle:
 
nb rob said:
Summer washer fluid cuts through bugs much better than winter fluid- which is a much bigger deal in the 4Runner than any other vehicle I've driven.
And winter fluid eats through rain-x very quickly.

There's a use for both.

But I agree with your very thorough list!
Click to expand...

Rain-X 2-in-1 combined with the heated wipers worked amazingly well on my recent trip up north. I will be using it year around as my part of Florida also gets to freezing a couple of weeks a year.
 
TrkyMfns said:
Rain-X 2-in-1 combined with the heated wipers worked amazingly well on my recent trip up north. I will be using it year around as my part of Florida also gets to freezing a couple of weeks a year.
Click to expand...

That Rain-X 2-in-1 is what I use as well. The orange stuff works great year round and even clears off thin layers of frost.
 
I would add from recent experience that the rear sprayer will stop working as fluid gets low while the front will still work. Nice reminder that you need to fill up, prior to finding your self out of fluid.
 
The windshield wiper blade de-icer is such a waste of time. Here in Alberta, people go through windshields generally once per year due to stone chips / cracks. Needless to say, I didn't bother spending the extra $20 for the windshield with the heating strip. The 'bump' method works much better. Combine that with proper windshield clearing, -45 degree fluid and you're set.
 
How do you keep the bears from taking a dump through your sunroof?

AirspeedX said:
The windshield wiper blade de-icer is such a waste of time. Here in Alberta, people go through windshields generally once per year due to stone chips / cracks. Needless to say, I didn't bother spending the extra $20 for the windshield with the heating strip. The 'bump' method works much better. Combine that with proper windshield clearing, -45 degree fluid and you're set.
Click to expand...
 
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