So, here's a pic of the windshield on my 96 98.



I'm not sure if it's a very good pic, but I'm tired of windshield streaks and a dirty windshield.

I recently installed new Bosch wipers on my car. This is actually the first time I had to use them. I also thoroughly cleaned the windshield.

First I washed the car with Turtle Wax Zip Wash. Then I cleaned the exterior of the windshield with a solution of tap water and white vinegar. Next I sprayed Windex on the interior/exterior of the windshield. Finally, I used Stoner Invisible Glass glass polish on the exterior.

What did I do wrong? The windshield is covered in streaks and the wipers hardly work. I didn't get top of the line Bosch wipers but I did get the Bosch ones over the Ancos.

For my 71 I wash it and wax it twice a year and I use Turtle Wax carnauba wax on the windshield. The windshield has never been this dirty but I hardly ever drive it in the rain. The same wipers have probably been on it for 10 years.

Help, what do I do for a flawlessly clean windshield on my daily driver?

 

Clean it off then use rain x .

 

What kind of shape are the arms in.

 

I get Bosch ICON blades, and I do NOT use anything besides soap and water. Sometimes it'll get the wax from the car wash, but I never get streaking like that. You didn't by chance buy wipers that had a Rain-X type product advertised as being on the blades, did you? Just thinking maybe you have an interaction between that and the glass polish? Also, check to see if your arms are tightened down. Or, perhaps your arms are just getting tired, and the spring is losing its tension.

As a side note, I have only purchased a set of blades one time that had the Rain-X "built in", for lack of a better phrase. They were on special, and same price as the ICON's, so I gave them a try. They were fantastic, and the rain would bead up and fly off the windshield. It lasted for a couple of months or so, then went back to the normal performance.

 

Try cleaning it with vinegar and dawn soap. I'd use distilled water too and a couple of rounds of wiping.

 

I usually wash my windshields with Aerosol glass cleaner (Stoner, Sprayaway, 3M, whatever I happen to have) but use 0000 steel wool, wipe it, lightly spray it again and wipe with quality paper towel (A Tork or similar), newspaper or microfiber. Never an issue. The steel wool takes bugs, flora and fauna right off with no scratching.

I detest washing my cars so usually all I do is wash the windshield.

Whether this would help your issue, I’m not sure but it won’t hurt anything.

—-

 

Thanks for the words of wisdom gents. I think the likely culprit is the Stoner Glass polish. I've never had trouble with RainX in the past. I'll clean the windows again and provide an update.

 

Not to imply we have it worse, but maybe from a different perspective, try driving in AZ.. Most of the highways are lined with thousands of small rocks, sure, looks pretty and clean, but those rocks work their way onto the road, under the cars, and up onto your windshield while you're cruising at 70 - 80mph.
I put a brand new windshield on my 76 Supreme (daily driver, mind you) and it wasn't even a month later I got my first smack! Ugly nickel sized chunkage taken out. Since then, have about 2 or three more...
Almost have to change our windshields as frequently as our batteries around here...

james

 

The larger rocks also get pulverized into sand sized particles by all the vehicles running over them, and those particles get blown around on the roadway (along with the naturally occurring desert sand) so that they effectively sandblast the windshield as you're driving along at 70 MPH. After several years the windshield gets extensively pockmarked. So if the larger rocks don't put a coin-sized pock mark in your glass, the smaller ones will eventually do in the entire glass surface.

 

Glass Wax was always a favorite of mine. I do not know if you can buy it anymore. It came in a metal pink can. It was liquid and dried to a haze, then polished off like wax.

Don W

 

Get a new windshield. I think your windshield is so un-flat with the various polishes you've use on it that that streaking is not dirt but an inability of the wiper to make good contact with the glass.

 

I the impression Stoner has changed their formula recently. I had few old cans I recently used up. The new stuff with the same label (Invisible glass?) leaves streaks even when I use it with a known clean microfiber. I hate it when good products go bad.

Happened to KYB shocks. I had great ones from 2007, new ones are grey, not white and don’t work as well. Ugh.

Chris

 

I use the windshield wash w rain X built in. The windshield sheds the water like when you use rain x but it lasts as you apply more w each windshield wash squirt

 

This is a pet peeve of mine; I hate not being able to see. The old school strip is straight windex and newspaper. It's the equivalent of washing the paint with dish soap. It will strip all the wax and grease out of the glass. That said, you may want to polish or Rain-X/treat it after. YMMV

 

Not to belabor this discussion but the best results I have had in years is white vinegar and hot to warm water 50/50. I myself use two pieces of white non synthetic bath towels. One for the first wipe and the second to polish. My windows have never been cleaner inside and out. Profesional window washers swear by it.


Wayne

 

First mistake is using windex. Clean the car and windshield using regular car wash soap. Get 0000 very fine steel wool and using it dry on the dried windshield go up and down on the glass. Do not go in circular motions. Then I put on Griots glass polish, follow the directions. At this point you can see if this worked well if so you're done. If not as a final option put on some RainX and follow the directions on that also. When using these products make sure you use a cotton towels or old white cotton socks. For weekly cleaning of the glass use Sprayway foam or Invisible Glass cleaners. I was able to make the glass on my 55' Olds look like new. Hope this helps good luck !

 

What's wrong with Windex and newspaper? The ammonia cuts and the paper sucks/blots/absorbs

 

Jesse - It's frankly impossible for any of us to determine the material constituents of the grime on your windshield. There are two compounds which are leaders in removing the most stubborn grime (including all sun-baked salt glazing) from glass:

(1) Feldspar; or, (2) Cerium oxide

Make a paste (with either water or vinegar, your choice) of either or the consistency of tooth paste. Apply and hand scrub your windshield with your hand using a simple dish sponge or wash cloth. Done.

 

Whoda thunk cleaning glass was so controversial?
not this guy...

 

Always look for the least expensive option first. Before spending a ton of money on the latest spray or replacing your wiper arms and blades, pick up a clay bar at any auto store or Walmart and use that. If you run your hand on the windshield and it feels anything other than perfectly smooth, take a clay bar to it.

They work wonders.

 

Always look for the least expensive option first. Before spending a ton of money on the latest spray or replacing your wiper arms and blades, pick up a clay bar at any auto store or Walmart and use that. If you run your hand on the windshield and it feels anything other than perfectly smooth, take a clay bar to it.

They work wonders.

 

1) Contact the 55' tech advisors from the OCA or NAOC for some installation tips 2) There are 4 Texas OCA chapters perhaps they could assist 3) Any reputable auto body or glass installation shop should be able to handle a job such as this. Also if any shop damages your parts or glass they are responsible for that.

 

Plenty of good advice on this thread. I cleaned the windshield again and applied RainX. The wipers worked fine after that. Too bad I had to scrap my 96.