You probably don’t spend much time thinking about it, but your windshield wipers are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Understanding just a little bit about how this important component works can help you when it comes time to replace your windshield wipers.
A windshield wiper works by forcing the rubber insert from the wiper blade to sweep across your wet windshield. When this happens, water builds up in a wedge formation. This is, in many ways, the same sort of thing that happens when you use a squeegee. The wiper pushes the water off of the windshield. It leaves your windshield clear and clean, allowing you to continue driving safely.
There are a number of different components that make up a windshield wiper. The windshield wiper system includes splined shafts on which the arms of the wiper pivot. In addition, there is a component that creates the back-and-forth motion of the windshield wiper. Finally, there is an electric motor for the wiper that creates the power for the entire wiper system.
Underneath a plastic cover is a small nut that holds the arm of the wiper onto the splines. The splines function to keep the shaft from slipping. This is why windshield wipers don’t just spin around in a fully circular motion. There is a metal crank assembly attached to the arm on one end, and the motor on the other. This reciprocating mechanism is also found on rear wipers, although it is usually a lot smaller than front wipers and it is often build into the motor.
The speed of your wiper blades is dependant upon the amount of energy that the motor sends from the wiper switch. The lower the voltage, the lower the speed. Some windshield wiper systems feature intermittent action. This is created by an entirely separate electrical module. This module is wired between the motor and the wiper control switch on the dashboard or on your steering column.
Regularly checking your wiper blades for wear and replacing them when necessary is an important part of keeping your car safe and maintained. If you have more severe automotive issues, such as accident repair, stop by our Allentown auto body repair shop today.
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This is the third in a three part series about new car maintenance. You can read the first and second parts of the series here.
Keep those tires rotated.
In the last car maintenance article we talked about your tires, and making sure they were properly inflated with sufficient tread levels. The other thing you need to know about your tires is that they need to be properly rotated to ensure a long and happy life. If you have the time and equipment, you can do this yourself, or you can stop in to your and have the service department do it for you. For more serious damages, try our Allentown auto body repair shop.
Keep your belts organized.
The belts in your new car are in great shape now, but they’ll either get loose or wear out over time. You can go in yourself and check your belts yourself — you’ve probably got a serpentine belt and a timing belt in there somewhere — but when it’s time to replace them you’ll want to bring them into the service department. You know it’s time to replace your belts when you start seeing deep cracks in them. They’re not expensive to replace, and worn out belts are a fast and easy way to find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a busted engine.
Finally, keep your brakes braking.
The most important — and most frequently utilized — factor in your road safety is your brakes. Properly functioning brakes are critical to your own safety and the safety of everyone else on the road. Get your brakes changed professionally. Some things to watch for are grinding or screeching noises when you brake, or if you feel the steering wheel start to wobble when you’re braking. Brakes aren’t something to mess around with, so if you sense any sign of trouble get them checked immediately. There are lots of signs that you might need your brakes looked at, so make sure you’re aware of all of them.
So that’s it, your crash course in new car maintenance. (Pardon the pun.) If you make sure to keep an eye on your vehicle before there’s a problem, you’ll prevent a lot of problems in the future and keep your vehicle running happily and healthily for years to come without breaking the bank on service and repairs.
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