Thinking about that 'What would you do if you didn't get into surveying' thread a week or so back.
I have the answer now, start a windshield wiper blade manufacturing company.?ÿ Just spent $60+ on a pair of blades.?ÿ
Yeah. It wasn't so long ago (well, within a geezer's memory) you could buy the rubber strips to put in the original assembly. Now they only sell the assembly. Wasteful.
Automotive engineers are experts at making things difficult including wiper blades. Wiper blades, how do you get the damned thing out? I always figure it out eventually.
I??ve had good luck with the rain x brand, they seem to last longer. Expensive but not in terms in how often they need replacement.
Wife??s car got a new windshield (Safelite through AAA) so I included the new wiper blades. They sucked from day 1. Have to do it myself.?ÿ
Not sure about the new cars we have, but one mechanic told me that with the Escape we had the the wipers were not user replaceable, a Ford technician had to do it. Didn't get the opportunity to?ÿ see if he was telling the truth or not. That was in SE AK where you wear out blades frequently, my new digs though they'll probably dry rot before they wear out.
And why is it that the wipers that came with the vehicle when new, seem to last 5-6 years, but once you have to replace them, they only last a year or so from then on?
If I wanted to double the value of a couple of my old vehicles all I have to do is fill the tank with gasoline.?ÿ Adding new wiper blades might put the purchase price outside the reach of my potential buyer.
Farm use diesel is over $5 per gallon.?ÿ We can burn $800 in one day of hard work.
Antifreeze in bulk is over $12 per gallon right now.?ÿ No big deal if you own one vehicle and merely need to top it off.?ÿ In addition to 14 vehicles and 5 combines, I need to worry about several tractors.
@dave-karoly Yes, I was talked into new blades once while getting a new windshield at Safelite.?ÿ Really like their glass service, but those wiper blades were not good.
I go to the Auto Zone auto supply store where they put them on for you.?ÿ They never get the right size.?ÿ I would say the "mechanic" tries at least three sets of blade assemblies before he gets it right.?ÿ One blade is shorter than the other (or is one longer than the other?).?ÿ Sets seem to be the same length.
@jph must be nice.?ÿ I replace the blades twice a year on our rigs.?ÿ They get a lot of use.
Just what exactly are your guys doing to those wipers?
@jph?ÿ
Based on John's location, I'm guessing they use them extensively several times per week.?ÿ We normal people have to look around for a bit to remember where the wiper button/switch/lever is located.
Oh, we use them in NE too.?ÿ I guess I have seen many parked running work trucks with the wipers on, even when the sun is out
Everyone to their own but I will NEVER trust Safelite again.?ÿ In September my windshield met a large stone as I was driving about 50 mph down the road towing my camper.?ÿ I called Safelite and scheduled an appointment at the nearest dealership which was 60+ miles away.?ÿ I got three individual confirmations of the appointment both by text and email. To make the appointment you must enter the make, model and VIN so they can check to make sure the windshield is in stock.?ÿ After driving the 60 miles I was told, "Oh we don't have that windshield but we can order it for you.?ÿ We MAY get it next week".?ÿ I towed my camper the rest of the way home with the shattered windshield and got an appointment for the next day at a local shop.?ÿ In and out in 2 hours.?ÿ?ÿ
You CAN'T call a local shop.?ÿ You HAVE TO got through their website.?ÿ?ÿ
NEVER again.
Andy
Ya??ll are killin?? me. I am a car lover living in the land of sun, sand, salt water and rarely have to replace wipers.
If applied correctly, in 3 coats, you won??t even need wipers with this. Been there/done that/successfully for more years than I care to share. ?????ÿ
They last longer if you never turn them on.?ÿ Try it.?ÿ Well, except for when it is raining cats and dogs and you aren't the only vehicle on the road.
@holy-cow Silly Cow, from now until mid-May they are lucky not to get used daily.?ÿ We average well over 3 feet of rain a year, mostly from October to May.?ÿ While other places may get more, ours comes as a near constant drizzle.?ÿ The real fun stuff is the Oregon mist, as the name suggests it basically rains in the form of mist all day.?ÿ A real workout for raingear and wiper blades.
And no, the truck dose not sit idling with the wipers running in the sun.
