Windshield washer nozzle position

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by Raymondca, Jul 14, 2019.

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  1. Raymondca

    Raymondca Member

    When I squeezed out windshield washer for the first time, I thought it was empty. Then I realized there was liquid on both edges of my windshield. So it was not empty. But I didn't see water on the main area of the windshield and it didn't feel very clean.
    I did some search and found out the washer nozzles are mounted on either side of the wiper arms, not on the base. I wonder if anybody has the same problem? It's not malfunctioning. I just don't feel it works as well as those nozzles on the base.
     
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  3. bpratt

    bpratt Active Member

    Yea, the windshield washer really sucks.
     
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  4. AlAl

    AlAl Active Member

    I never really had any issue with the washer setup. Just hold the stalk for a few swipes so the top and bottom jets have a chance to lubricate the blade
     
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  5. craze1cars

    craze1cars Well-Known Member

    Many have complained about it here before. I’m not among them. Clarity washers have always worked up to my standards.
     
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  6. stacey burke

    stacey burke Active Member

    The cleaner comes out of the wiper itself. On one side of the wiper as it goes up and the other side of the wiper when it goes down. You have to watch closely but you can see it as it wipes...
     
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  8. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    Although several have complained about the windshield washer, it’s working fine for me. I just find I have to run it a few cycles longer than my old spray from the bottom ones.

    And to keep @insightman from having a heart attack if I failed to “shill” for RainX...I do use it on both windshield and in the wiper fluid. No streaking, no wiper chatter, great visibility (usually) without having to use the wipers, and bugs don’t stick.


    “What’s the last thing that goes through a bug’s mind when he hits your windshield...

    his behind!”
     
  9. tim

    tim Member

    I'm one of those that haven't been completely satisfied with the Clarity wipers.

    The first problem I had was that the filter for the washer fluid was clogged, leading to just a trickle for the fluid. I got the dealer to fix that, although I'm not completely satisfied with the amount of fluid now.

    I still have a problem where the top of the driver-side wiper doesn't get enough fluid, so the wiper just smears whatever gunk is on the windshield. I believe part of the problem is the design. The fluid comes out at just the right time for the wiper to wipe it away toward the center of the windshield. The timing leads the top of the driver-side wiper to not get enough fluid. I suppose this problem might be solved if the amount of fluid coming out could be increased.

    The only way I get around this is to repeatedly pull on the wiper fluid, and even that works only if I'm lucky. Because I use so much fluid, I find myself having to refill the fluid tank often. Part of this problem is the capacity of the fluid tank which is undersized at about half a gallon, which is half the size of the other cars I've had.
     
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  10. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    Sorry you’re having problems. Mine gets the top OK, so there is hope for yours.

    And the reservoir is worse than you think. It’s only 1.43 qts or slightly over 1/3 of a gal. I almost put more wiper fluid than gas in mine and I certainly spend more time doing so.

    And as always...try the RainX. It makes it easier to clean and it spreads the fluid better over the windshield.
     
  11. BobS

    BobS Active Member

    Where is the filter for the windshield washer?
     
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  13. Mowcowbell

    Mowcowbell Well-Known Member

    I've owned cars for years and never used the windshield washers. Always preferred to get out with a microfiber cloth and cleaning solution and doing it by hand. No smearing, no chance of scratching the windshield with grit under the wiper blades, 100% of the windshield cleaned.
     
  14. sniwallof

    sniwallof Active Member

    I've been using the Adams glass sealer for three or four cars now (front and rear windows), probably learned about it from the Volt forum.
    I think it's this one: https://adamspolishes.com/products/adam-s-perfect-vision-glass-cleaner-sealant-combo (their stuff has frequent sales and coupons). Still using the original kit, although the red plastic part they have you form the clay bar over https://adamspolishes.com/products/adam-s-visco-clay-bar is falling apart now. I think there was another "how to" video that I used, but this one is about the same:



    The Adams sealer (after a pretty good cleaning to a smooth surface with a clay bar) seems to make the wiper's job easier, probably similar to the Rain X concept. I use the orange Rain X in the winter, because it's one of the few that does not freeze into the minus 20s F.

    For those not getting enough fluid, try to hold the lever longer before letting go. It will feel like a very long time, compared to regular spritizing with a conventional nozzle type windshield washer. (obviously not a solution if the problem is clogged tubes).

    I too was surprised by how small the reservoir is (Volt is just over 1 gallon, so when empty, you can dump an entire new jug in).
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2019
  15. Passenger side fender slightly behind the wheel, under the hood. Holds about half a container or less, IIRC (not large) and it's a pain to fill without overfilling since the clear container itself is encased in sheet metal. It does have a dipstick, but it takes a while if you're constantly checking it.
     
  16. I think he was asking about the filter, referenced by tim.
     
  17. Ah, filter not filler.
     
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  18. Raymondca

    Raymondca Member

    I held the stalk for a few swipes like @AlAl said, no big difference. The center of the windshield was not dry, but the volume of water was just not enough to do the work. I noticed the sides were pretty flooded. I have to live with this. I don't use the washer very often, not a big deal, I think. I eventually bought RainX which @KentuckyKen suggested. It's very good. Thanks.
     
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  19. E10

    E10 New Member

    Is the car actually moving when you are having this problem? The wipers could be designed to flow the fluid best only while moving.
     
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  20. David Towle

    David Towle Well-Known Member

    Ken I haven't used Rainx for 40 years, I used to find if I didn't apply it several times a month it would get smeary and worse than no Rainx. I assume that's not the case anymore? How long can you go without applying it now and have it still work?
     
  21. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    I agree that it’s a pain to buff off until there is absolutely no hint of cloudiness but I found leaving a little cloudiness is OK since it seemed to go away at the first rain. Surprisingly, it’s kept its rain beading ability for a whole year. I was expecting to have to reapply long before now.

    I attribute that to hardly ever having to use the wipers and adding the other RainX product to the wiper fluid. A side benefit of this that my blades are still working streak free a year and a half later. So I’d say that it lasts at least a year or so for me.

    Passengers are always amused at how the rain flies up and off the windshield when going over 35 or 40 mph.
     
  22. MPower

    MPower Well-Known Member

    @KentuckyKen - after hearing your paeans of praise for RainX, I had a look at it in the store. I was hoping to be able to use it on the rardar and rear camera as well as the windows, but it said to use on glass only and my guess is that the radar and camera are plastic. What are your thoughts and do you recommend anything to use on the radar and rear camera? I would especially like something that would slough off the winter road slop so that I don't have to pull off the interstate to wipe off the big H.

    Having never washed a car, let alone put stuff on it, I am a pure novice in this area, but the wimpy front wiper spritzers and lack of any wiper on the rear window is driving me crazy.
     
  23. KentuckyKen

    KentuckyKen Well-Known Member

    Well... I did try it on the radar sensor “H” on a corner to see if I could use it to keep bugs and ice at bay. The good news is that it does not seem to affect the plastic from only 2 applications, but didn’t seem to help much with the snow and ice. I then threw caution to the wind and gingerly rubbed some on the rear camera. Same thing: didn’t adverse affect the display (within the low resolution Honda gave us!) but also only helped a little with dirt build up and water droplets.

    So I’d say definitely use the RainX on both windshield, rear window, and reservoir (2 different products). I’m confident that if you do, you will become one of my many RainX converts (They should give me stock options).
    The plastic radar and camera lenses are a gray area. It doesn’t seem to hurt but it doesn’t seem to greatly help either. But as always YMMV. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the aerodynamics make the rear of the Clarity collect dirt more than any other car I’ve owned. So I’m not applying further treatments to cameras or side windows.

    Here are the technical details of RainX like products for the curious or skeptical:
    These products work by making the surface of the glass hydrophobic or water hating. The chemical is usually silane or a derivative in an alcohol base. The alcohol evaporates and leaves the silane coated on the glass. It is then polished and buffed off. The result is that the water beads up instead of making a glob. This is much easier to see through and above about 35/40 mph, the wind blows the spherical droplets right off the windshield as they move upward and collect into larger drops, leaving the windshield dry until the next raindrop hits. It actually works better in moderate to heavy rain. I find it clearer than using the wipers almost all the time. The first time you see it, it’s quite entertaining.
     
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