Canada - Wipers/Washers - Wiper Blade Maintenance

Bulletin
TSB2286

Issue Date
2005-01-07

Market
Canada

Title
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING

Component
BODY COMPONENT

Models
'98 - '06 All Models

INTRODUCTION:
The following procedures are recommended to maintain windshield wiper blade performance.

APPLICABLE VEHICLES:
- 1998 - 2006 model year Toyota vehicles.






WARRANTY INFORMATION:

MAINTENANCE CLEANING AND USE:

Recommendations for Windshield Wiper Maintenance, Cleaning, and Use:
1. Scheduled Maintenance
- Check wiper rubber blades every 4 - 6 months or 12,000 kilometres for wear, cracking, and contamination.
- Clean glass and rubber wiper blades if blades are not clearing glass adequately.
If this does not correct the problem, then replace the rubber elements.

2. Cleaning Procedure
- Wiper Rubber: Bugs, dirt, sap, and road grime on blades will cause streaking.
- Clean wiper rubber of road and environmental debris using cloth or paper towel soaked with windshield washer fluid or mild detergent.
- DO NOT USE fuel, kerosene, or petroleum based products to clean rubber wiper blades.
- Windshield: Bugs, road grime, sap and car wash wax treatments decrease wiper performance.
- Rinse windshield with water and apply non-abrasive cleaner with a sponge.

NOTE:
Make sure to use plenty of water with all powder based cleaners so the glass is not scratched.

3. Contributors to Poor Performance/Decreased Rubber Blade Life (require rubber replacement)
- Dusty areas cause the rubber edge to wear quickly.
- Sand and salt used for road conditioning during winter causes the edge to wear quickly, so areas with significant snowfall require more frequent wiper replacement.
- Heat and time cause the rubber to become excessively "permanent set," so the rubber does not turn over, resulting in streaking and/or unwiped areas on the glass.
- Rubber is easily cut or torn while using ice scrapers on the glass.
- Rubber can be torn when pulling blades off a frozen windshield.
- Using wipers instead of an ice scraper to remove frost and ice from the windshield during a car warm up can dull, nick, or tear the rubber.
- Banging wiper on the glass to remove ice & snow can cause the blade to bend and rubber to come out of the blade providing the potential to scratch the glass.
- Ice forms in wiper blade pin joints, which causes streaking and unwiped areas. To remove ice from pin joints, compress the blade and rubber with your hand to loosen the frozen joints. To prevent this condition, use winter blades with a rubber cover.

NOTE:
Issue of this Technical Service Bulletin is to ensure that proper repair information is available. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIR. Normal provisions of the formal warranty policy, as applicable, will apply.