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Continuous buildup of dust and debris such as dust, smoke and mineral deposits from rain water reduces the efficiency of the windshield wiper blades on your car. Poorly performing wiper blades create hazardous driving conditions when its raining, potentially leading to accidents or even death. Performing frequent wiper blade maintenance significantly improves the efficiency with which the wipers remove dust, debris and water from the windshield and saves the cost, frequency and hassle of purchasing and installing new windshield wiper blades.

Instructions

1

Pour 1 cup of rubbing alcohol into a measuring cup.

2

Soak 10 cotton balls in the alcohol until the cotton balls become saturated with alcohol.

3

Pull the windshield wipers away from the windshield to allow yourself easy access to the blades for cleaning.

4




Wipe one cotton ball along the entire length of the wiper blade. Discard each cotton ball after it is used. Repeat the process as many times as necessary until the liquid runs clear from the wiper blade.

5




Soak a soft linen cloth in a solution of 50 percent rubbing alcohol and 50 percent warm water. Wash the windshield surface from top to bottom to remove dust, dirt, oil and other grime from the windshield and improve the performance of the wipers.

Windshield washing components all have specific jobs to do and they work in concert with each other to accomplish the major task of keeping the front or rear windshield surface clean and clear of debris. The entire system relies on pumps, motors, wiper arms and blades, reservoirs and windshield washing fluid to get the job done. Any one part can fail and result in the breakdown of the system.

Wiper Blades

The wiper blades, made of rubber and sometimes having two or three blades, wipe over the window creating a seal that removes excess water and debris. They form a squeegee-like seal that always keeps force on the glass surface by use of a spring in the wiper arm. With a control knob on the dashboard or steering column, the speed and frequency of the wiper blade can be controlled.

Wiper Arms

The wiper arms hold the rubber wiping blades in place with slots or snap-connectors. They have special metal hinges that allow for flex on curved surfaces. The base of the wiper arm has a spline slot for connection to the wiper motor main shaft. The wiper arms can be replaced as a unit which contains the arms and the rubber wiper blade inserts in one component.

Windshield Wiper Motor

The windshield wiper motor sits inside the front windshield galley area. The motor contains an armature and a coil. The motor runs off the batterys 12-volt system and powers the windshield washing linkage arms by turning a splined shaft in a constant 360-degree rotation. The motor has a relay and fuse that protect it from overload and shorts.

Windshield Wiper Linkage

The windshield wiper linkage consist of a number of rods that have hinged ends and connectors. The linkage arms, driven by the motor, permit a reciprocal motion that turns into a back-and-forth wiping motion. They travel back and forth with approximately a 130-degree arc, repeating the wiping motion so long as the motor drives it. The linkage arms require periods of lubrication to keep them from binding and to keep them turning smoothly.

Windshield Washer Reservoir

The windshield washer reservoir consists of a plastic tank, usually bolted against the firewall inside the engine compartment. It holds washer fluid to a certain level, dispersing it through the use of a pump and feed line. The contents of the washer tank usually hold a mild soap-and-water solution or a factory-approved cleaning fluid.

Windshield Washer Fluid Pump

The windshield washer fluid pump sits below the tank, recessed into the plastic mold. It runs on the batterys 12-volt system. It is designed to force washing fluid through a small plastic or rubber hose that travels up to the base of the wiper arm where the fluid gets sprayed on the window. The windshield washer electrical system protects it with a fuse and a relay.

Rear Windshield Washing System

Many vehicles, including Toyotas, have a complete duplicate windshield washing system located in the rear of the vehicle to clean the rear window glass. They have only one arm and blade to clean a large rear view area. This arm and blade must be longer to accommodate a single surface area. The reservoir and pump typically sits in a recessed quarter panel area that has access through a flip-top lid. Linkage, driven by a motor, operates in the same fashion as the front window system.

Motor and Washer Delay Control

The motor and delay control device actuates by an electronic circuit that senses a pulse that makes it operate only for a specific period of time. A separate electronic circuit allows the pump to pulse, releasing fluid for the wash cycle.

Automatic wiper-activated headlamps in vehicles are helpful when driving in rainy conditions. This feature allows the vehicles headlamps to automatically turn on in the daytime when the wipers are activated.

Function

Automatic wiper-activated headlamps are connected to the vehicles wiper system, turning on when the vehicle is in gear and the windshield wipers are activated. The headlamps can be turned on and off manually like regular headlamps; however, if the headlamps are off, activating the wipers will immediately turn them on.

Features

The mechanism that triggers the headlamps works with a relay circuit that connects the vehicles headlight circuit and wiper circuit, both of which work to turn on the low-beam headlamps when the windshield wipers are activated. The relay circuit includes a delay circuit that allows for the continuous operation of the headlamps and an interlocking safety mechanism to prevent the low and high beams from operating simultaneously.

Manual

Normal or manual headlight operation will automatically be triggered when the vehicle is placed in the Park or Neutral positions, or if the windshield wiper blades are turned off.