I currently own a '87 'vette with about 40k miles on it. Great condition, runs beautiful with all power and kick. The problem..... the windshield wipers.

The wipers "skip" across the windshield. OK, so you're thinking, change the wipers? Did that. When they finally made contact.... I had to have the driver side arm replaced. Thinking this would fix the problem, it didn't. OK, so I tried Teflon blades. No luck. Tried "Rainex" against my better judgement, OK for about 5 minutes. The dealer couldn't even figure it out. He tried wax!

OK, before I finally get killed in a rainstorm..... what, if anything can
you recommend?

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

 

Springs

 

I know what you mean about RainX on the windshield (my flame suit is on). But it did point out one thing: it isn't the blade or the arm.

Something's on your windshield causing any blade, seemingly, to skip. Usually, it's the residue of deteriorating rubber, stuff in the sky, dirt, oil, grease, etc., all of which isn't from you but from the "environment".

I'm assuming you've looked very carefully at the blade and seen that it does, in fact, contact the windshield at all points.

OK, long way of saying get the windshield clean. First, try Stoner's windshield cleaner, if you haven't already. Use paper towels, and if you want to get really messy, use newspaper. Next, if that doesn't work, try a very, very mild abrasive. I've used (very carefully and with very little pressure) electric ceramic top cookstove cleaner. You can find them anywhere including Target, Home Depot, etc. Very softly use it and make sure you wipe it off, and then just to make sure you leave nothing go over it with windshield cleaner like Stoner's with clean paper towels (since this is a mild abrasive, you don't want to leave any behind for the wipers to grind into the glass---that's the reason for being compulsive about getting it all off).

Finally, if that doesn't work, go to/call ahead and ask a real hardware store and see if you can find the black can of Bon Ami cleanser. The gold and red can sold in most stores is not safe for glass use (per the warning on the can).

Except for the Stoner's-only cleaning, after each cleaning use a hose or water bucket and try out your wipers while pouring water to see which of these steps actually works.

Hope this helps.

 

Have you checked the linkage? There is a little pop out section in the air intake screen right above the wiper motor. You can see the pitman arm and the joints to the connecting arms with that removed. Perhaps the pitman arm is loose, or the joints need to be re-greased. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you to the fellow C4 owners for your advice and suggestions. They are very appreciated.

 

This comes up periodically. I finally gave up. I replaced the transmission, arms, motor, and blades and did all the "cleaning" of the windshield. It now takes about 5 minutes of wiping to start stuttering, but it STILL DOES IT!! I've just learned to live with it. I did adjust the blades so that they are far enough apart that they don't clash. Everthing in the wiper system has been replaced EXCEPT the electronic circuit board that sits inside the wiper motor. It COULD be something on there, but that thing is almost $200 so it'll have to wait before I try that. Good luck.

 

Hi Everyone.... Teal Jewel again~

OK, I tried the suggestion of the linkage.... I got to the Pittman arm and yes, it's loose, but I could not get it to tighten up. I believe the bearings between the driver side (biggest wiper problem) and the passenger side must be worn out. I tightened both screws on each side of the arm but it is still loose.

It's in a spot where I would have to take the whole front end off to get to it, but if the bearings are worn out, then I ain't messin' with all that.

I'll try the other suggestions before I take to my Corvette guy and spend the $$$.

Who in the world came up with the crossing of the blades anyway????

Teal Jewel