One of the most basic ways to ensure you and your passengers get to your destination safely is to maintain optimal visibility through the front and back windshields. Your vehicle’s windshield wipers help preserve visibility even in inclement weather. For this reason, your wipers are arguably one of the most important safety features on your car, truck or SUV. However, many vehicle owners don’t realize their wipers’ importance and fail to replace them when they are no longer as functional as they used to be. Keep an eye out for these sure signs your wipers are on their way out, and make sure you get them replaced promptly for safety’s sake.

The Sound

You’re probably familiar with the groaning, low-pitched sound of a windshield wiper running across the glass. It’s loud, awful and irritating, and it isn’t the sound your wipers should be making. Think of your wipers like two squeegees. If your wipers sound like a squeaky squeegee or make no sound at all, they’re probably working just fine. But, when they start to skip and make loud, sputtering noises, you could likely use some replacement wipers.

The Streaks

In addition to an annoying sound, you might notice that your wipers aren’t cleaning the windshield like they used to. Whether you’re swiping away rainwater and snow or trying to clean your windshield with wiper fluid, if your wipers are ready to be replaced, you’ll see streaks of fluid or debris that isn’t being pushed along the wipers’ path. Sometimes, rather than missed spots, you’ll see a strange film across your windshield that you can’t seem to get rid of, no matter how often you spray wiper fluid. This film is residual dirt and grime from the rubber of your wipers and is spread around your windshield when the wipers are in use. While wiping the rubber part of the wipers down with a towel can remedy the issue in some cases, if you’re still struggling to see clearly past the film on your windshield, it’s time for wiper replacement.

The Structure

The most reliable way to know if your wipers need to be replaced is to examine them directly. If your windshield has streaks and you have heard awful noises coming from the wipers, take some time to take a look at their condition. The rubber should be clean and smooth, while the frames should only be slightly curved to follow the shape of your windshield. On old wipers, the rubber will likely look brittle, chipped, split or cracked. Old frames often bend with temperature fluctuations, accidents or even rough handling when you clean them. These thin pieces of metal are fragile, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their shape. If you’re seeing streaks on your windshield that look untouched by the wiper, it could be that your frame has bent in such a way that your wiper no longer makes full contact with your windshield. Look closely to see if there are any bends or dents in the frames. If there are, you need a replacement.

Maintain Your Toyota With Service From Toyota of Seattle

Even the seemingly unimportant components of your vehicle can have a major effect on its functionality and safety. Numerous seemingly-minor maintenance tasks, like replacing your windshield wipers, should be completed regularly to ensure your car, truck or SUV is ready to drive for years to come. At Toyota of Seattle, you can trust us with all your Toyota maintenance needs, whether you need wiper replacement, an oil change or tire rotation. Our team of Toyota experts are well-versed in the needs of all Toyota models. Contact us online or call 206-382-8812 to schedule your service today!