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Hi
I have a 2005 Honda Accord. And yes the wipers are annoyingly noisy. Especially the driver-side one makes scratching noise when at the top right corner. I gave it to Honda and they replaced the whole wipers (very expensive) but it didn't help. The guy there recommended some windshield polish, which I never found at the shops. I then bought a new set of wipers (not just the blades) without success. I then put silicon blades on the wipers but GOD it is still very annoying. I have two questions - (1). Does replacing the wiper assembly means replacing the metal rod that comes out of the car? that would be bloody expensive I guess. I have replaced the wiper assembly couple of times already.
(2). Recently someone recommended to get the spring tension adjusted. I have no idea how to do it or who can do it for me, and how much it would cost..
Any help would be greatly appreciated....
I'm assuming you've been using genuine Honda parts - especially as it went to a Honda dealer. Starting from the basics, make sure all the parts are genuine.
I would be very surprised if the wiper spindles (the metal parts you refer to) have been replaced. It normally takes many years for them to wear, and I wouldn't expect much to be wrong at this age. It's more likely that the wiper blades and refills (the metal and rubber parts of the blades) are the parts that have been replaced, and the cause is likely to be in this area. Any loose pivot points or sloppy joints have the potential to cause problems.
Windscreen surfaces can be a potential cause, so ensure the recommended washer additive is used. Also, the advice given to you by the mechanic could help. There's a product called Ezeclear available from Ezewash that can be applied neat to the windscreen, which can help.
Another common problem is if the blades are not set perfectly perpendicular to the screen. In this instance, the wipers will be fine going in one direction (wither up or down), but cause noise in the other direction. I'm aware of some manufacturers having a special tool for their workshops to adjust the blade angle - perhaps Honda has one too?