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MG MGF Technical - Wipers

Not a big problem, but when I'm doing about 40 or 50mph, the driver's side wiper starts making a hell of a clacking sound when it reaches the full extent of its movement - not sure if its catching the seal around the windscreen or what. Anyone else had this? Thoughts on how to sort it?
Ian

Ian........

I have the same loud clacking but mine depends on how wet the windscreen is as opposed to the cars speed. tried adjusting the wiper arm but doesnt help or i end up with the wiper halfway up the windscreen . or halfway under the bonnet almost.
D Jamieson

Have the same problem - have never quite figured out the reason but it does seem to be more related to amount of water on windscreen than anything else. Also, have radial scratches on windscreen glass towards end of wiper reach.
John

and here
JohnP

Me too, I've got the same problem.
And me too, I do think it's related to the amount of water.
I've got a *partial* fix : if the wiper "spoiler" is removed, the claking sound disappears. Don't ask me why !
Downside : at "high" speed, the wiper lifts of the windscreen.

I'd be happy to have a *total* fix ;o)

BTW, my car is LHD.
Fabrice

>Also, have radial scratches on windscreen glass towards end of wiper reach.

If this happend.... in worst case the rubber slipped off from the metal strips. Metal strips scratch on the glass... voila.
Known old MGF trouble and not only with cheap wiper parts.

I'd recommend to check the outer ends of the wiper blades from time to time and push the strips and rubber back together to the U-shapes.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

Got this when I changed my wiper blades about 18months ago to Bosch items purchased from Halfords.

No noise before, but now an almightly 'clack' when at the top of the sweep if the windscreen is even vaguely dry. No noise if wet.

Can't *see* any evidence of the wiper blade striking the windscreen surround seal - I suspect that it is the wiper blade itself that is at fault.

Hopefully will disappear when I replace them (the noise drives me mad!)

I hadn't appreciated that this was such a common problem. Is there a common factor here?

Rob - '96F, Bosch Wiper Blades. Noise from driver's side (RH) wiper at full reach.
Rob Bell

Did you try the U-shape parts which grip to the rubber bending 'smaller' ? may do them to get more stable ... Err, or no longer working and fall apart ?
Dieter K.

Rob,

Noise started when I got a new set of blades from Halfords during the summer. Also on drivers's side, rubber at bottom of blade does not push hard against glass.
David Clelland

Me too. Halfords Wipers, drivers side clacks on highest point just before down sweep.

Also have large scratched curve from highest point of wiper blade on passenger side glass. Will have too replace windscreen one day I suppose, unless Autoglass can polish out.
Chris

Really obscure question here - why does the ZS wiper spoiler have 'ABS' etched on its underside?

Answers on a postcard...
David Bainbridge

Ian,...... See wot youve started !!!... :-)
D Jamieson

The ZS wiper probably says ABS on it because that's what it's made of.
I Dale

Looks like Halford's are in for a hell of a lawsuit:-)
Yep me too.
I got the Bosch ones although he said that "Bosch don't actually make them for MGF, though these should be ok"
My main problem is the drivers blade doesn't wipe on downward pass.

Just my 2 cents!
darce

Ok, we seem to have discovered a common area here so
who has a recommendation for wipers that do not clack.

Who is the original manufacturer, although I personally suspect these were the ones that scratched the screen on my F iun the first place.

Options appear to be... no Clack but scratch or clack and no scratch.

Clack and no scratch is the cheapest option but gets on your nerves.

Suggestions????

Chris

Get your Rover dealer to supply and fit, more expensive than going to Halfords but no problems either.
John

OK ... I'm the odd one out here ... I've got the Halfords supplied Bosch blades and don't have any clack or racket or any noise whatsoever ... my only gripe is the end of the passenger blade does not touch the windscreen on the extreme left.

Gaz
Gaz R

>>I Dale, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom

>>The ZS wiper probably says ABS on it because that's what it's made of.

So what does 'ABS' stand for in this context? Sorry - am I being really thick here?

David Bainbridge

Dave

ABS = acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Basically its the name of the building blocks used to make the polymer. Most plastic parts these days carry a code to which tells recyclers what it is made from.

Chris
Chris

Having purchased unacceptably poor wiper blades from Halfords before I paid the extra for MGR items 14 months ago and they're working fine for the second winter.

Consider yourselves lucky, for the wife's GTV we have to buy complete wiper arm assemblies when it needs new blades.

Neil
Neil Stothert

>>>ABS = acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

A-ha! Thanks for that.
David Bainbridge

Ah ha! Thanks guys! Halfords Bosch blades are ones to avoid then!

I'll be off to purchase replacements from my MGR dealership when I get a chance next week :o)
Rob Bell

Well, what I thought was going to be a fairly simple question has opened a real can of worms! Looks like replacement blades from a dealership are the way forward then. Anyone recommend one near me - Kilburn/West Hampstead in London?

Cheers for all the responses
Ian

If all you want is wiper blades I should think any of the dealers shown in the list of dealers at the top of the bbs would do?

I'm sure there will be opinions about their service abilities but if Halfords can sell blades then surely any mg dealer can!


London
F J Keen & Sons Ltd 72 Queens Circus, Battersea, London SW8 4ND. Tel: 0171 622 9922

The Chequered Flag 548-560 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 5TX. Tel: 0181 400 1331

Palmsville Garage Ltd 202-204 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London N10 1ES. Tel: 0181 444 7231

Winchmore Hill Garage Ltd 804-8 Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, London N21 2SB. Tel: 0181 360 6652

Kensington Rover 125-133 Old Brompton Road, Kensington, London SW7 3RP. Tel: 0171 586 2000

Park Lane, 77 Park Lane, Mayfair, Tel: 0171 514 0400

JohnP

I always buy pattern parts like wiper blades, batteries oil filters etc. from our local motor factors. They sell at trade price and only sell quality brands.

I have Wipac blades and have no problems.
Brian

FYI

The Chequered Flag in Chiswick no longer exists. Shut down about a year ago!

Talk is that MG are looking to start up a flagship dealership somewhere in the N/W or NW London area.
Billy Bob

Yeah I tried the Halfords wipers too & got so annoyed by the racket that I bought a pair of Champion wipers from the local motor parts shop. Bought the complete units, not just the rubber, for about £15 & they're much better. Can't say they're completely silent, but about the same as the original MG wipers.

Chris
Chris

Me too - Bosch wiper blades from Halfords. Same noise on driver side blade at full extension.

1998 VVC
Jeff

Me too - original factory blades - no problem, changed to Halfords - got clacking at high speeds! Have considered removing the spoiler, but seems impossible without destroying the bracket.
Duncan

Yep I had the same problem with the halfords wipers. I found it was the spoiler hitting the window. I pulled the spoiler off the wiper arm it appears to have sorted it. The spoiler took a little persuading but came off reasonably easily. It doesn’t look quite as good but I have found it still wipes the window ok.
Hope this helps
Andy

I have found the opposite! - Bought Champion wipers and found they lifted badly on the motorway, so changed them for Bosch wipers (from Halfords!) and find them okay - no nasty noises.
I am thinking about getting the next set 1 inch longer which would clear more of the top of the screen where I look through!
Jason H
Jason H

Coming late to this site (which is a great one!), most of the above has gone straight over my head! However, I too had scratching of the windscreen, by the pillar.
I moved the wiper spoiler to the next outer set of slots and cured the problem without adversely affecting the operation of the wipers. Had to replace the windscreen because of stone damage and the scratching has not re-appeared. I think it was the leading edge of the spoiler catching the windscreen at the end of the vertical sweep.
Paul C

Yep had the Bosch blades and they clacked. Temporary removed the spoiler and no noise but soon got fed up with poor wiping.

Ended up buying ones from B&G and no problems after that.

Paul
Paul

It appears that the wiper spoiler is too efficient at speed and is forcing the blade onto the windscreen causing it to clack.

I wonder if a series of holes were drilled into the spoiler it would reduce the surface area and therefore reduce the amount of down force on the blade therefore illiminating the clack.

A bit drastic and it is easier to buy another set of blades but it may work.
Chris

Actually, I don't think that's the problem Chris. My Bosch wipers will 'clack' when the car is parked up - and therefore no airflow! Removing the aerofoil probably helps because it is allowing the blade to lift slightly, and places less pressure on the blade rubber itself. IMO the problem is that the material is too stiff, and makes the noise when it flips from one direction to another - and the top of the sweep is where the wiper arm puts most pressure on the wiper blades to the screen.

Best option is replacement. A job for me at the weekend!
Rob Bell

my OEM offside blade chatters on the downstroke at speeds above about 50. Worse with less water, but still bad in torrential downpours. The nearside doesn't even touch the screen at the extremity when parked. So OEM isn't necessarily the answer.
David Mills

I've got the standard halfords ones and have no problems whatsoever with them.
Halfords also offer (iirc) a re-rubbering service, which may be cheaper than buying oem blades.
Kingsley

Mine are the same as David's, only clack at speeds above 50 mph. No clack at all below 50, wet or dry.

I think Rob is right that it is the rubber blade that is clacking when changing direction but why so many different stories for the same manufactured blades is still a mystery and doesn't solve the problem.
Chris

Ahhh, bliss!

I purchased a pair of wiper blades from my local MG dealer over the weekend, and fitted them yesterday.

That irritating 'clack' has been erradicated :o)

Bosch wipers now consigned to the bin!
Rob Bell

Ahhh, bliss!

I purchased a pair of wiper blades from my local MG dealer yesterday, the young guy even insisted on fitting them for me while I drank coffee.

That irritating 'clack' has been erradicated

SORRY ROB I couldn't be bothered to type something original for the same actions.
JohnP

LOL!
Rob Bell

Hi Rob - which is the closest dealer to you in North London?

Ian
I A Charlton

Removed Wiper spoiler with much effort and relief no more clack at speed. However, there is slight lift of the wiper from screen above 60mph. Therefore I conclude: Wiper spoiler is directly proportional to clack, in my case anyway.
Chris

>>Hi Rob - which is the closest dealer to you in North London?<<

Ian, Palmsville in Muswell Hill. It's just around the corner from me. :o)

Dangerous actually... went out one day to buy curtains - didn't find one of those, but came home with a nice, shiny new car ;o)) An expensive trip there then ;o)
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob (and Chris). I shall go to Palmsville with exactly the right money for my new wipers and leave credit cards and the like at home!
I A Charlton

Would be interested to hear how much lower your bill is compared with the £39.19 I paid Diamond for the pair.
JohnP

John, the receipt is at home - will check it tonight for you. I seem to recall the invoice stating that they were 11 quid each, plus VAT. That'd bring the tally up to £25.85...
Rob Bell

Sorry I've come in to this thread late. My drivers side wiper has been clacking from Day 1 but only at 70 m.p.h plus.

I decided it is speed related and is due to the airdam compressing the blade rubber. When the arm changes direction the arm lifts clear of the glass and then smacks down again.

I had a Golf that did the same and eventually it marked the glass.

If you are wondering why I didn't take it back to the dealers they were in Arnhem and I got as far as Birmingham before the monsoon hit.

Andy
Andy

I have a more radical problem with my wipers: only one is working! The linking rod from the wiper motor to the passenger side wiper keeps disconnecting. The connection seems really flimsy. It looks like a ball and socket affair with a rubber washer. Has this happened to anyone else? How do I fix it?
Danny

This thread was discussed between 10/01/2003 and 04/02/2003

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