PSA: Have you checked your car’s windscreen wipers lately?

Of late, we at CariCarz.com have noticed an emergence of sudden heavy thunderstorms occurring throughout the country. This has brought attention to an essential car component that most of us car owners often tend to overlook – windscreen wipers.

With this sudden wet spell hitting us, perhaps there couldn’t be a better time for all of us to check on them. In fact, when was the last time you had a look at the condition of your car’s windscreen wipers? Here’s a quick guide to help you gauge and assess them.

(Image source: Adobe)

Signs of wear and damage

As a ‘wear and tear’ component, windscreen wipers should be checked regularly as you would with tyres and engine fluids. Here are some tell-tale signs that the ones on your car now may need replacement:

-   The presence of rust or corrosion on the ends

-   The blades starting to separate from the frame

-   Tears and cracks on the rubber lining

-   Squeaky sound when operated

-   Sluggish blade movement or blade-dragging

-   The presence of large streaking lines along the windscreen

Obviously, if you find yourself unable to see the road ahead clearly with every wipe of the blade when you drive, then it’s time to give your windscreen wipers a refresh.

When to replace them

As mentioned, windscreen wipers are wear-and-tear items, which means they need replacement from time-to-time. The frequency to replace or refresh them vary depending on how frequently you use – or abuse – them, as well as other factors such as:

-   Long-term exposure to extreme heat and UV radiation

-   Debris, dirt and dust getting stuck in the blades

-   Corrosion from contact with salt water or acid rain

Take note that long-term under-utilisation can also cause the windscreen wipers to degrade. In other words, if you’ve had your car sat parked or in kept storage for a long time, then there’s a chance that the windscreen wipers may not be in ideal condition anymore.

Ultimately, the safest practice is to have them replaced annually (once a year) at the very least.

Where to buy replacements

The good news is that windscreen wipers are easily acquired from several places such as:

-   Most major petrol stations (Petronas, Shell, Caltex, etc.)

-   Most major chain supermarkets

-   Most car parts and accessories shops

-   Most service centres and third-party workshops

-   Leading DIY stores (Mr. DIY, ACE Hardware)

-   Online shopping (Shopee or Lazada)

What to buy

Though there are a tonne of choices abound in the market, we’ll keep things simple by advising the following:

-   Pick wipers of the correct size and length that fits your car

-   Always stick to reputable name brands (i.e. Bosch, Hella, PIAA, Wischer)

-   Make purchases through reputable retailers to avoid fakes/counterfeits

Top Tip: You can remove your current wipers and measure them to ascertain size, or you can simply bring them into the store and compare just be sure. Just don’t forget to install the new replacements before driving off. Whilst you're at it, give your rear windscreen a look too (if your car has one).

Rubber vs Silicone

Generally, wipers made using silicone materials offer better cleaning performance whilst also lasting a lot longer compared to ones made using regular old rubber. However, silicone wipers do cost more than rubber wipers, which arguably works just as well at a lower cost.

We’ll be brief and end this debate by advising you to stick to what best fits both your car and budget.

And there you have it – our quick and easy guide to staying safe on the roads during this wet spell. Will you be changing your windscreen wipers today then?