Wanted to replace the wiper inserts on my E today as we have been getting torential rains and mine have been streaking. I knew this was going to be a problem, as most stores do not have the E in their indexes yet. Called the dealer and of course they said, "sure, bring it in and we'll do it". They wouldn't give me the part number but said I could order the proper ones from the parts department. GEEZ ALREADY!! So, I took my wiper blade off (easy) and took it in to Salvo. It matches perfectly with Trico's 46-200 wiper refills. Just in case anyone needs to know....

Im baffled by this, I work as a warranty administrator for a couple local honda dealerships and all of them have the parts catalog up to date or atleast within a couple months and all of them show the part numbers require for wiper blades.

Generally as a rule of thumb wiper blades are covered under warranty for 12 months/12,000 miles so you should still be covered under the factory warranty for wiper blades, so why are you looking to aftermarket for wiper blades. Also I've found that the factory wiper blades work far superior to aftermarket blades (untill you get into those blades that cost about $35.00 for a set).

As far as I know the wiper blades are pretty standard, and ones 16" (or whatever they are) is anothers 16" blade.

Ive only had 3 to 5 Elements come in for warranty repairs since they came out, and none of them have needed wiper blades, most are rattles, and things like that.

I dont know what dealership you are dealing with, but they should be current on their updates if not then their parts director is not doing his job and should be fired for not updating their parts cataglog.

A lot of smearing is due to dirty glass. An occassional good cleaning with an automotive glass cleaner helps a lot.

RainX, man.

on this rain-x thing, i treated the glass on my e after the first wash (that was about a month ago). yesterday, i was driving on a road trip and got into some serious rain. the wipers were "grabbing" on the windshield and at the leftmost point of travel, grabbed to such a degree that there is now built-up black rubber on the glass. the only "change" i made was by treating with rain-x, which i have done with many cars in the past. i'm a little baffled by what happened. anybody got any thoughts?

I understand that you have to reapply the Rain-X on a regular basis else this will happen.

LakesideZ:

1) I am past the 12,000 mile mark.

2) The dealer simply wants me to come in and spend the money there. Sorry, but I'm not spending that kind of money on wiper blades. There is nothing wrong with the blades, I just needed new insert refills. $6.00 at Salvo. Why would I pay $35 at the dealer when they now work as good as new?

3) as for the streaking, I cleaned the windshield and the problem didn't improve much. Changed the inserts. Problem solved.

4) Rain-X sucks. Just my personal opinion. Used it on one car and will never do it again.

Bosch micro edge excel blades worked for me

Have any of you that run your E's in the snow replaced your wiper blades with the covered winter type? Ie, Anco, Trico, etc. I have been searching all night all over the web for the replacement number and size and can't find it anywhere. Does anyone have a part number for a winter blade?

I use Anco 30-20 (2 of them). Got em at Wal*Mart.

Hello. I am curious which wiper blades are the best for the E and in general. Any thoughts?? Have heard good things about the piaa ones but looking for somewhere other than e-bay and a good price.

i love my piaa super silicone blades. Very good.

I have been getting mine from Honda, OEM. They're not expensive, and they last a lot longer than anything I've tried from a store.

I have been getting mine from Honda, OEM. They're not expensive, and they last a lot longer than anything I've tried from a store.

Don't know why something so obvious has escaped my attention. I've always had very good luck w/Honda/Acura blades as well. I think I'm going to get these when needed. I drive right by the Honda dealer every day.

I do not like the silicon blades I've gotten from Wally World. They were not PIAA. In fact, I've never been very impressed with any of the aftermarket blades I've tried. I've always been disappointed.

the honda oem replacement rubber inserts are only abourt $10 for all three at H&A. i bought mine there along with the filters for the 30k checkup.

wow I found this ancient thread.

Anyone have any suggestions for winter blades ,2 years later?

I bought a set of Traco that the book at pepboys suggested and they are too large (ie the blades do not touch the windshield entirely) i'm trying to prep for a rough winter.

Just use the regular size. I had my oil change guy put them on.

I just put on a pair of 20" Trico winter blades this past weekend. Yeah, the very ends of the wiper don't touch the windshield entirely, but I'll try to be optimistic and hope they will eventually conform to the shape of the windshield. At the very least, I'm hoping they won't be prone to the freezing buildup of snow and ice the way the factory wipers are.

I just put on a pair of 20" Trico winter blades this past weekend. Yeah, the very ends of the wiper don't touch the windshield entirely, but I'll try to be optimistic and hope they will eventually conform to the shape of the windshield. At the very least, I'm hoping they won't be prone to the freezing buildup of snow and ice the way the factory wipers are.
Mine do the same thing...they are fine. The wipers that were on before did the same thing as well and they worked fine too.

Cool...I didn't want to have to go through another winter where at every traffic light I've got my left arm out the window waiting to "catch" the wiper on its upswing and "snap" it against the windshield to dislodge the icebergs jammed in it.:x

Well I think that sounds like fun!:twisted:

Cool...I didn't want to have to go through another winter where at every traffic light I've got my left arm out the window waiting to "catch" the wiper on its upswing and "snap" it against the windshield to dislodge the icebergs jammed in it.:x

Ha ha, same here. Last winter I cringed everytime I did that thinking this time the windshield will definitely crack from the impact.

I used the Trico winter blades last year, and they worked well. List of blade numbers (http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/parts.htm#wipers)

I went to the local Advantage Parts stoe today and bought the Trico
20"winter wipers. Kid came out and put them on for me. If they are good enough for ramblerdan, they are good enough for me.

Side note: The kid comes out, asks how I like the car, how he preferred 8 cyl. engines, asked if I had thought about putting in an 8 cyl in my E. LOL Kids these days!

I put in my vote for Anco. Do they make them small enough for the rear?

When I got my E, the wipers were all shot and I was by autozone so nipped in and bought 2 Boch Icons. They are brilliant and worth the money ($19.89, had them on my Audi as standard equipment). Also got a cheap Anco replacment wiper for the rear at $6.99. Took out the actual blade and metal inserts and installed them in the original rear wiper blade holder. Job done.

http://jobs.boschusa.com/AutoParts/WiperBlades/ICON/

Just got those Bosch Icon wipers and they are amazing. I was getting streaking problems with others I had tried. This completely cured it. They have an airfoil shape that is basically solid so it would probably function as a "winter" blade too. They look good on the E.

Hi,

I'm looking to replace my original wiper blades, with a sturdier, all season set, that can handle freezing rain and snow.
Am I asking too much for one set of blades to do everything?
The “Valeo” Blades, advertized on TireRack, caught my eye. Is anyone familiar with these blades?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

This Thread has some good recommendations.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5336&highlight=wiper+blades

Welcome to the EOC......Oh and no offense but.....Please fill in your "Location".:cool:

I use PIAA blades ONLY! BEST wiper blades I have ever used. No sticking, catching, scraping, bumping etc in any weather. They are silicone. Totally worth the couple buck more they cost.

Wiper blades are an "expendable" item, and ought to be replaced every six months in the ideal world. Fortunately, living in a climate that varies between the two worst extremes, it's fairly easy to remember to do that, here in Minnesota.

I've used Trico winter blades the past couple of winters and am very pleased with them. Because the entire blade assembly is covered with a rubber "bootie", it doesn't tend to freeze or accumulate slush that may freeze later. Since they only get used about four months per year, I manage to typically get two winter's worth out of a pair. I think the only difference between Trico's and Anco's is the color of the plastic cap on the ends of the blades.

The last summer blades I bought were Rain-X brand, and they were quite a bit better than the Bosch refills I'd been using the past few summers. They've remained flexible, and the frames have plenty of air space to compensate for the significant low pressure generated at the base of the Element's windshield.

Some people here have raved about the new design Bosch blades that are now standard equipment on many German-made cars, but considering wipers honestly need to be replaced once or twice a year, they seem overly-spendy to me. (Consider, even the slightest streak, smudge or smear makes me crazy, so I'm a fairly harsh judge of what's "good enough"!) :???:

Damned Arizona kiln-level dry heat seems to have rendered my wiper blades sub-par in less than a year. Any suggestions on an excellent replacement blade? I know with our scary drought going on it may seem unnecessary; but when it DOES rain here, we get brief, biblical-level storms that would be scary to drive in with my current wiper performance.

I appreciate any help.

---- Mark

PIAA - I will NEVER go back to "regular" wiper blades! They are truly awesome! And we get some of the same varied hot-cold-wet-dry conditions you do. I bought mine online at Stylin' Concepts for just a couple bucks more than reg blades and I got fast delivery too.
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts.aspx/partfamilyid/1337/brand/PIAA/brandid/86

I picked up a pair of Bosch Icon wiper blades last night. Although expensive, they are incredible. Through the rain last night on my way home, it looked like I was looking through a brand new windshield again. They are very quiet and have a low profile shape, much different than what most people are used to.

I second the PIAA blades.

I had the Super Silicone Wiper Blades for my E. I liked them so much they are on my Christmas List for my Accord. :)

I have the PIAA Super silicone blades too. They do perfom pretty nice but are expensive. I got the carbon fiber look set and after only a few months the clear coating on them is peeling and flaking off, not what I expected for such a pricey item. The Bosch Icons look nice and I am planning on getting them after the winter.

are these so much better than spending $4 on replacement blade inserts from H&A? i've just been tossing in a new set every 1.5 years and they work fine.

also, they last longer and work better if you periodically clean them with a scrubbie, and stuff builds up on the rubber.

It's probably a toss-up, myspark1. This is the second thread where I've read rave reviews of the new Bosch Icon wiper blades, but the conditions you describe are exactly why I'd be reluctant to fork out the big bucks for an item that the environment is gonna destroy in such a short period of time anyway. Since wipers are an expendable item, I'd rather go for a mid-range blade, and replace it more frequently.

It's also been years since I've had any confidence in Bosch, or any other German-made products (including entire vehicles). For one thing, German engineers have no clue what the American desert is really like, as you could probably attest! I've yet to encounter a German-made car with an A.C. system even barely adequate for typical American summer conditions! :mad:

I have the PIAA Super silicone blades too. They do perfom pretty nice but are expensive. I got the carbon fiber look set and after only a few months the clear coating on them is peeling and flaking off, not what I expected for such a pricey item. The Bosch Icons look nice and I am planning on getting them after the winter.
If those were MY wipers I would contact PIAA and ask for a refund or a replacement. PIAA cannot make right what they don't know is WRONG. Companies like PIAA usually make good on defective or faulty product. I would give it a shot if I were you.

I like the new Bosch Icon....but very pricey. I'm thinking they will be good this winter too.

The mid level Bosch or similar would probably be fine, especially considering your location/weather.


Will

The Bosch Icons are great but pricey...(they're on the other car)...found some framless ones by Michelin at Costco, up here in Canada. So far so good.

...btw the end caps on the Icons can be popped off and the insert replaced...only a small tab needs to be bent to remove insert...

I've had the Icons ever since I got my E and they are brilliant.
Judder free sweeping, they look awesome and they will outlast the standard type wipers.

I've used both Bosch and PIAA, the PIAA silicon ones are the best! On all of our vehicles, wouldn't consider anything else.

I have had 2 cars with the Bosch Icons and love them made a HUGE diffrenct on the Accord I had even in the winter. Never froze. I got them for my e because I noticed that the factory blade on the drivers side was torked...they got tossed and on went the Bosch. Love trhem they help "scrape" off bugs too.

Thank you very much for all the replies, you nice people, you. :)

Looks like I am going to have to decide between the PIAA and the Bosch, huh? Cool. Do all of these have to be ordered online, or can they be picked up at an AutoZone/Checker/Pep Boys? Just curious, as I am planning to jet out for the weekend to the Mogollan Rim country up north this weekend and would like to have a solution in place.

Again, my thanks.

---- Mark

all of the majior chanes have them.

I got my PIAA's online because I couldn't find what I wanted at any stores nearby - but that doesn't mean other locations or different stores don't carry them. I know regular BOSCH blades are pretty available anywhere, but don't know if all stores carry the Icons. Of course last time I wanted the whole arm, just not the refill - may be easier to find the refills? I just bought my sis a set of PIAA's (front and back) for her PT Cruiser and she loves 'em. The PT still had the OEM blades and they were worn out and dreadful. Like the E OEM blades, they are fine when brand new, but get a couple of mos on them and they chatter, stutter and jump - not to mention trailing black rubber goo all over the windshield. The PIAA's last longer and work the same thru-out, even worn they are better than average. And as to saving $$ by changing every 6 mos and using the el cheapo ones - I just find they are not that great to start with and with our gullywashers and wind-driven rains (like today with rain & 54MPH gusts) they just do not perform the way I need them to to drive safely. I'd rather pay more and have better blades and hopefully make out even since I can safely leave them on a little longer. I don't mind paying a little extra for safety equipment type stuff if there is a noticable difference in performance. Sometimes "adequate" just isn't good enough.

BTW - the rear blade is a refill only - the arm is not a replaceable type. I had a hard time when I needed the blades, finding a PIAA refill for that size so I bought the whole arm and removed and switched out just the blade. I now have a source for just the refills for my next change.

PIAA,,,,,,,,the best out there.

Buy one of each and see which works best side by side ;-)

Thank you very much for all the replies, you nice people, you. :)

We sure have you fooled :shock:

I get my PIAA Silicon wipers (and tires) from Tirerack.com. We're quite remote so the selection at the stores usually isn't beyond the basics.

Ordered up a pair of the Super silicone PIAA's from Stylin' Concepts - thanks for the link, Tango! - after not finding 'em anywhere around here. LL and I are taking a big scouting trip to Oregon during Christmas break, and I want good wipers in place before then.

Question: the dude mentioned something about a silicone treatment for the windshield.....does anyone know anything about that?

---- Mark

are these so much better than spending $4 on replacement blade inserts from H&A? i've just been tossing in a new set every 1.5 years and they work fine.


Same here. Cheap, easy to replace, and work super if you change them out every year or so. Besides, never can get the replacement inserts to fit as well as stock, and why buy the entire blade assembly if ya don't need it?

You've both probably struck a "social nerve" here Scooter 05 and biocube, in discovering there's a noticeable smugness-factor involved in all the advice to spend the maximum amount of money on certain items. For all their advice about which wiper blades are the absolute best (and which also, obviously cost the most) - not a single one of those posters live in the desert conditions the original poster lives in!

While I don't typically buy the cheapest replacements for expendable parts, I do consider my environment carefully before spending the maximum amount. From (20+ years' worth of) personal experience, it's strictly my own opinion that German engineers just plain don't comprehend the American desert (or maybe just rubber in general). Even the most expensive rubber is going to deteriorate much more quickly there than it will in any sort of moderate climate, where all the "Bosch and PIAA junkies" seem to live.

That being the case, having "bragging rights" for such a short period of time seems shamelessly shameless. My own personal "snob zone" probably includes tires (along with personal computers and MP3 players). While it's certainly a general rule of thumb that "one gets what one pays for", in most cases, merely spending in the upper half of the possible range is usually "good enough" for most applications.

I'm all in favor of leaning toward the high end when it comes to products that improve visibility and enhancing a driver's opportunity to gain more control over any given situation -- as opposed to spending extra for strictly appearance, automation, or audio enhancements.

It's just that sometimes, spending that last bit for the "best" is only good for the ego of the buyer, and nothing more. Frankly, I was just happy to hear of someone realizing wiper blades don't last the life of the car itself! :wink:

^ Yep, what he said. The cost/quality line is often sharply curved, where at the high end, modest increases in quality come at great increases in cost. (A $20 bottle of champagne might be twice as good as a $10 bottle, but a $200 bottle isn't likely to be ten times as good as the $20 one!)

Excellent points, both of you.

I appreciate all the opinions and help offered. I DID consider just getting the $4 OEM replacements from H & A; I have no real snobbiness on this issue (though you'll find some if you go scatching around in my Home Computer and Home Theater caches!) and like supporting that sponsor of this site. But in the end I went with Tango's suggestion of the PIAA's. Her weather isn't that different from ours - not QUITE as hot or dry, but close - and I spent the $$ accordingly. They arrived yesterday & I'm putting 'em on whenever it is that I sign off here. It may well be that I got these in the same sort of spend-for-peace-of-mind that leads me to buy extended warranties (which I do) and leads some to get 4WD even if they don't really need it (which I didn't.....but only just barely decided against). We'll see.

Frankly, next time I ask for this recommendation, I hope to be posting from Oregon. LL and I are headed there for relocation scouting during her break from school - our hopes are high on the Willamette River Valley there.

---- Mark

good luck! you'll get a chance to use those new blades. i was around eugene last week, and it rained 1"/day. unfortunately, the area has become much more expensive in the past few years, comparable to pheonix (but still less than SoCal)

We were thinking Salem-ish, but are of course open. I'm disappointed to hear that it has gotten more expensive, but not surprised. It doesn't look like that is equal to the Phoenix area yet - not in Salem, anyway - what with a median price for new-build homes at $175k (HALF that same number for Phoenix!) and nice apartments at several hundred less than we are paying.

But honestly, we want cleaner air, more progressive politics, and less population density (plus temperatures you can actually step outside into during half the year). The crazy growth here over the last decade has made this the very definition of The Madding Crowd. Salem lists a population of about 150k, with the entire metropolitan area around 370k souls. That makes the whole area smaller than Mesa, Arizona (an adjoining town); and less than a tenth the population of this Valley of the Sun. After living here for so long & having been raised in Orange County, CA, that sounds like a bit of Heaven, man. Plus, Lovely Laura would be making more as a Special Education teacher there. Poor thing gets less than $39k/year here, and that's with a Master's in her specialty & working in the worst district in this, the worst state in the nation for education (new rankings released recently).

I lived in Germany for 6 years in the military, so *I* have no qualms about Oregon's weather. LL does, which is part of the reason for the dead-of-winter trip. I figure it's a fair bet that we'll get some inclement weather over the ten days we plan to be there. If she can handle it, great. If not, at least we know. I've heard from several people that moved there from SoCal that the first year is tough to get acclimated to, but that after that you wouldn't change for all the tea in China. I do also need to make sure that the VA in Portland is good to go, and that the satellite clinic in Salem is responsive and convenient. So - love from afar, but realistic about what to look at.

'sides, I'm hoping to get a mistaken-nepotism break from the locals. My name is Mark Hatfield. :)

---- Mark

i went through so many different kinds of blades this past yr because the blades my e came with from the dealer after about 3-4 months didn't help me in anything .. i tried getting valio blades that are similiar to bosch icons but i didn't like those either .. so now i have on double bladed red spot blades and so far i love them .. but where can i find piaa ?? .. i never seen those anywhere ..

The PIAA wiper blades can be found at this website: www.tirerack.com

Here is where I bought my PIAA blades.
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts....IAA/brandid/86
I have bought several things from them and they have been great.

Hi guys,

I need to replace my wipers because mine suck! I've seen a few post and some brands seem to stand out. I googled them to get some reviews but I'd like to have some input from those of you that use them on your Element.

Which of these three would you pick and why? (I live in MI so I need something that works good in snow/ice/rain) THANKS!!!

1. Valeo wipers 900 SERIES
2. Bosch Icons
3. PIAA

I don't mind paying a few extra bucks because I commute 40 miles one way at 4:30am and I like to see where I'm driving :D

This isn't what you asked for, but I thought I'd give you another review on the Valeo in case you hadn't seen it... Very positive.
http://www.volvoxc.com/features/ultimate_wiper_blade/

This isn't what you asked for, but I thought I'd give you another review on the Valeo in case you hadn't seen it... Very positive.
http://www.volvoxc.com/features/ultimate_wiper_blade/

Thanks for the link DJA. It was a good review but one thing stood out that makes me question getting them. You can't purchase just the rubber replacement as with traditional wiper systems, you need to replace the entire assembly.

Love to know how they work on the E. Anyone have the Valeo Blades?

Hi,

I purchased these blades (buy one, get one free at TireRack). They sweep the water off the windshield better than the originals, but on the passenger's side of the windshield, the top end of the blade doesn't lay on the glass completely, so it misses a small part of it's sweep. That doesn't dissapoint me as much as the center piece on the housing that secures the blade. It is very chintzy and I have to snap it back in from time to time. I am going to try the Icons next, and I will post my experience with them.

I put the PIAA's on mine and I DID replace the holder and the blade both because the PIAA blade holder is better (and better looking). You can buy just the refill PIAA's if you prefer. The rear window wiper you HAVE to use just the refill because the holder mount is custom.

I LOVE the PIAA's - they really do the job in the rain. Don't know about ice, I park in a garage, but the PIAA'S have been superior in heavy rain, snow and sleet. No skipping and no sticking. I buy mine online - better price than I can get locally and no tax - some places no shipping either. I always check online prices against local places - sometimes online is by far the cheaper once you figure sales tax.

Well considering where you live have you thought about a set of winter blades? The whole blade is covered in a rubber boot so they don't get iced up and distorted. I think the last set I got were Trico http://www.tricoproducts.com/index.cfm?location_id=65. I know I will be picking up a set tomorrow after we got our first taste of winter. I like to have a set of winter blades and a set of every other time of the year blades:) Drew

I've got PIAAs on my E and I really like them. I got mine from Jason at Burtman Industries (http://www.burtmanindustries.com).

I third the PIAA's...super silicone all the way baby :)

Had them on my and now my Accord

How about some free blades??? I was pleasantly surprised to find out that until you have 12,000 miles or 12 months on your new E, your dealer can install new blades under warranty for free!!!! At least my dealer did it for me... it cant hurt to ask and while you are saving money with free blades you can do more research here on which blades to buy when they are no longer free... BTW I'm now at 67 days and 8800 miles.

... BTW I'm now at 67 days and 8800 miles.
Glad you stopped long enough to send this..:)

The Icons are amazing and have a bit of a solid winter blade profile.
They have done well in the limited snow we've gotten lately.
I know nothing about the others.

PIAA and Valeo owners: Can anyone verify these part numbers?

PIAA
Super Silicone (black) 95050/93050
Curved (black) 93250
Super Sporza (black) 93350
Super Sporza (carbon fiber) 93450
Graphite (black) 93550
Refill (silicone) 94050
Refill (graphite) 94550

Numbers above assume a 20" blade.


Valeo
900-20?

The Valeo Web site (http://www.valeowipersusa.com/index.asp?pgid=17&make=HONDA&model=Element) lists only a 600 Series blade for the Element.


Icon owners: Bosch lists different numbers for left (420A) and right (420B). Are they different lengths or what?

FYI - double post since there are 2 current blade posts -

Just found this Buy 1, Get 1 deal on Valeo Ultimate's @ Tirerack thru 5/31/07
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/valeo/ultimate.jsp

Is this Hook-Lock the correct blade? I was going to replace just the cart., but will go this route if the blade is correct/worth the $$.

I put the PIAA's on mine and I DID replace the holder and the blade both because the PIAA blade holder is better (and better looking). You can buy just the refill PIAA's if you prefer. The rear window wiper you HAVE to use just the refill because the holder mount is custom.

Tango thanks for the review now that I know the PIAA takes refills I think I’ll give them a try. I’ll post a full review after I get them and test them out.

Thanks everyone for all the replies and all your great ideas!!! That’s why I love this site!

FYI - double post since there are 2 current blade posts -

Just found this Buy 1, Get 1 deal on Valeo Ultimate's @ Tirerack thru 5/31/07
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/valeo/ultimate.jsp

Is this Hook-Lock the correct blade? I was going to replace just the cart., but will go this route if the blade is correct/worth the $$.


Oh I might have to go with the Valeo. What girl can pass up a buy 1 get 1 deal? Not me!

My blades are still in good shape, but I'm looking forward to trying some SilBlade wipers. Their pretty pricey, Has anyone here had any experience with these? http://https://secure.nsvirtualflow.com/silblade/product.cfm?year=37&make=5&model=6527

OK lets try this again! http://www.silblade.com/

...I've used them on 2 other cars, plus now on my E. They rock. Won't lift at speed, clean and total wipe, no noise, available at many retailers.

I'd go for the regular Bosch items - I've had regular and Icons and the Icons didn't seem worth the extra. We go from 105F in the summer down to 0F in the winter here and the Icons seem to go brittle much sooner than the regular ones. I've got regular Bosch items on my 'E' and Icons on my wife's car. Both cars get used about the same, in the same weather and garaged at night. Both got their replacements on the same day in June last year. I'm changing the Icons out cos' they've gone brittle.

You guys have me interested in the PIAA's. So i'm going to check them out. That is if I can find them here in Anchorage. Alaska is awesome, but sometimes we have a hard time finding things

How are you? Haven't had to replace mine yet, but winter is doing it's thing
so it won't be long. Let me know what type you go for and the result...
By the way, got the grille guard in and it went great.

How are you? Haven't had to replace mine yet, but winter is doing it's thing
so it won't be long. Let me know what type you go for and the result...
By the way, got the grille guard in and it went great.

Hi Boondocks! Mine were streaking really bad and I went with the Bosch Icons. They are awesome! They work great and look good too. I'll have to give them a full review after a couple months of use to see how they stand up.

We should try for a meet in MI sometime in the Spring/Summer. It's too bad that I don't see many other posts from MI especially when Ann Arbor is loaded with Elements but no one with and EOC sticker. What's the deal?

Have been using SilBlades FlexBlade for about a month and so far, so good. $18 each (MSRP is $25), but the five-year warranty makes it worth the gamble. They're not winter blades per se, but the one-piece holders/blades don't have moving parts that get clogged with ice and snow the way regular blade holders do.

yeah ilike the ones that bend..they work awesome

I put Bosch Icons on the E last month and they seem OK. The left blade isn't wiping about an inch or so on the inside end for the lower 1/4 of the sweep. No biggie.

But I really like the low-profile one-piece design relative to the nasty (icy/snowy) weather here. I have in many instances had to pull off the road to clear ice clogs from conventional wipers. Not fun at all.

I might just try the Silblades next season.

The blades that come with the E new most definitely suck!!
I thought it was my windshield, but it is the blades.
They are getting replaced ASAP.:wink:

I put Bosch Icons on the E last month and they seem OK. The left blade isn't wiping about an inch or so on the inside end for the lower 1/4 of the sweep. No biggie.

But I really like the low-profile one-piece design relative to the nasty (icy/snowy) weather here. I have in many instances had to pull off the road to clear ice clogs from conventional wipers. Not fun at all.

I might just try the Silblades next season.

I got the last Bosch icon in the store for the driver's side but really needed them both so I figured it was time for a test and put the regular Bosch on the passenger side. I find the same problem as mentioned in the above quote. The icon just seems a bit sloppy at the edges and at the limit of its stroke. I keep wondering if maybe its the passenger side installed on the driver's side. ("helpful" sales dude at the auto supply store installed it and tossed the packaging for me.)

But the regular Bosch is working GREAT and I really can't see paying the extra for the icon the next time around.

YMMV

PIAA all the way. I've tried many a wiper over the years and the PIAA Super Silicones stand WAY out in terms of quality. One thing though, be SURE you clean your windshield according to the instructions, in fact go over it a second or third time with rubbing alcohol to be sure you have any residue off. Then run the wet wipes that come with the wipers, THEN run the wipers dry for 15 minutes or so. It's worth it! Not only do they clean the windows WAY better than any other wipers I've seen, it also coats the window with silicone and makes just about any type of rain or drizzle just fall right off. I routinely drive around without my wipers on because the water just seems to float off the windshield in light to medium rain.

Just installed my PIAA super-silicone wipers.WOW.:D I was very hesitant about these because of the astronomical price but after installing and wiping down the windshield with the silicone solution i was totally shocked at how great these are.The water just beads away and no streaks,chattering or noise at all.These are totally worth it.I sliced my thumb trying to get the old winter blades off,but it was worth it though.:cool:

these things are awesome and there buy one get one free
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/valeo/ultimate.jsp

PIAA and Valeo owners: Can anyone verify these part numbers?


Icon owners: Bosch lists different numbers for left (420A) and right (420B). Are they different lengths or what?

I have them and they when I put them side to side they were the same length. I think the attachment point is in slightly different position on them.

It is very hard to tell.

Bob

I went with the bosch icons on our element. They are fantastic.



Wiper blades are another area where I believe in getting the best I can find. Being able to see is pretty important.

I just put Rain-X latitude wipers on our Element and my mom's Civic. They are the best wipers I have run across! They work fantastic and they leave no streaks, no smudges, nothing! They move the water and whatever other nature droppings and leave my window squeeky clean and clear.

I just installed my set of Ultra Silblades. So far they are awsome. The best deal I found was at Amazon.com. $17 each with free shipping. Arrived in two days.

Does anyone know who makes a replacement for the rear wiper? I'd rather avoid Honda when it comes to wiper blades.

a 4 page discussion on wiper blades........wow :confused:

I've my original OEM wipers in working conditions around 32K.
What elsle do you want to know?
Buy OEM only

The problem with OEM style blades is that they clog with snow and ice if you live or drive in an area where such things fall out of the sky occasionally.

On previous cars -- especially when I lived in New Hampshire -- I'd switch to winter blades that had a "boot" over the wiper springs during the winter. But they didn't look so good, had a tendency to "float" at highway speeds, and were generally not of very good quality.

I'd seen the Valeo blades around, but figured they were just a gimmick. But last year we bought a new Volvo XC-70 for my wife and it came with OEM Valeo blades. Volvo is pretty picky when it comes to safety, and after living through a winter with the Valeo blades I was impressed.

They have the advantages of a winter type blade without an exposed "spring" to clog with snow, and they have a shape that holds them against the windshield at speed. And they work very well in the rain, too.

So now all our cars have 'em, including my Element -- you can get 'em at Tirerack.

-Mike

Bought new Bosch wiper blades about 3 months ago, and now since it's been raining alot more I notice they are terrible! Luckily I had saved the originals on the E when I bought it, so I put those back on.....no problems.
The Bosch were "chattering" across the windsheild every time I used them.....useless!!!!!! And I paid almost $20/blade!!!
Just wanted to replace the blades when I bought the car, but for now guess I'll stick with what was on there. I think they are the original blades. Bought a certified used E. Guess I'll have to figure out what to buy that will work ok.
Any thoughts on what you have experienced with wiper blades?????

Here is what other have said to say.........


http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29124

I have some PIAA super-silicone wipers that i love.A wee bit pricey but they do a heck of a job,no chatter,no streak.Wipers are consumables so logically it would probably be best to just stick with the OEM blades and replace them for cheap when you need to.But if you want some overpriced wipers try PIAA.;-)

Bought new Bosch wiper blades about 3 months ago, and now since it's been raining alot more I notice they are terrible! Luckily I had saved the originals on the E when I bought it, so I put those back on.....no problems.
The Bosch were "chattering" across the windsheild every time I used them.....useless!!!!!! And I paid almost $20/blade!!!
Just wanted to replace the blades when I bought the car, but for now guess I'll stick with what was on there. I think they are the original blades. Bought a certified used E. Guess I'll have to figure out what to buy that will work ok.
Any thoughts on what you have experienced with wiper blades?????

Did you first try cleaning the blades with some alcohol?
If not try it and I would also recommend cleaning your windsheild with some Bar Keepers Friend.:cool:

I have some PIAA super-silicone wipers that i love.A wee bit pricey but they do a heck of a job,no chatter,no streak.Wipers are consumables so logically it would probably be best to just stick with the OEM blades and replace them for cheap when you need to.But if you want some overpriced wipers try PIAA.;-)

I hear ya there. I bought Bosch wipers once, after hearing they were ranked somewhere between the arrival of the Christ Child and the polio vaccination on the list of Cool New Stuff!

Count me as unimpressed. If you Rain-X your windshield, you don't need much in the way of wipers anyway. When my wipers start to get old, I'll usually use alcohol to clean my blades, then some light armor-all on the wipers will help them make better contact with the windshield.

That'll buy me a few months before they REALLY have to be replaced.


I do wonder... what happened to just wiper blades in a package. It seems that all I can usually find is the two full metal frame and rubber wiper combo. It seems a waste to replace the whole piece when really just the rubber that comes in contact with the windshield is too weathered.

Anco works. I changed to Bosch and then to whatever crap Pep Boys is stocking. They are were chattering after weeks. Sought out Anco and my problem stopped for at least two months!

I tried the trico teflon blades. they were horrible. streaky, and chattered like hell. I bought a car that had rain-x brand wipers and was VERY impressed with those.

my 0.02

Bought new Bosch wiper blades about 3 months ago, and now since it's been raining alot more I notice they are terrible! Luckily I had saved the originals on the E when I bought it, so I put those back on.....no problems.


Which model Bosch Blades did you install?

I replaced the OEM blades on my E with Bosch Icons in March 2007. I have no complaints. Even the far right edge edge is now swept clear. T

My Bosch Icon Thread (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32895&highlight=bosch+icons).

Bob

I found the overall effectiveness of ANY wiper blades is dependent on how clean eveything stays including the winshield and the wiper blades themselves. When cleaned with alcohol, any blade will work better. ANCO and NAPA blades are each a long time relaible favorite of mine. The BOSCH brand seems to be more of a spark plug contender.

BobEment

I too tried the Bosch and it's almost like they were Too good. Worked fine in heavy rain but 'chattered' in light rain. I went to some cheapo Wally World brand (sorry..can't remember the name...they were the cheapest). The cheapies had about 1/2 the rubber on them but they flexed well and did a great job. More is not always better. Just my experience.

I Installed some Michelin blades on my whip about 2 months ago, they were on the pricey side about $25 bucks a blade, but they are amazing, Ive never had a better blade in my life. They are a single blade that makes perfect contact. I'll try and dig up the box to find out what model and such...

I went to buy new blades today.. was going to get the Icons or the new Rain-X fancy ones... Went to three places and none had them in size 20, which is what the Element takes.

There were two 20B's in the icons, but the conversion manual said you need 20A for the left side and 20B's for the right. The store was out of 20As. Can I just use 20B's on both sides? Why would they differ?

B

I Use The Anco Winter Blades, The Ones With The Rubber Around All The Moveable Parts. Ice Cant Clog Them Up. I Use Them For One Season Then Buy New Regular Blades In The Spring. Got The Last Ones From Bernardi The Were Cheap.

I'm with you on the Bosch Icons blades. They lasted 6 weeks on my E. I put on Anco's. they have been on for about 9 months and still work fine. They were a bunch cheaper than the Bosch blades as well. The best part is several service stations in the area sell refills. Just the rubber blade part. It's less than half the price of the entire blade.

Dom

Rain X blades all the way. Wal Mart has them.

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone has had trouble with the Rain-X frameless blades.






2006 ex. fake fog lites

Well, now that we've had everything from rain/ice to snow I'm really happy with putting my Honda blades back on. Won't ever buy the Bosch blades again....at least for this car.

I have the rain-x blades installed on the front (couldn't find the size for the rear). They work well, with a few notable exceptions.

The drivers side blade draws water from the left edge of the windshield toward the center as they sweep downward from vertical. This seems to be caused by their shape drawing air in with them.

It is a little annoying because when it's raining hard and you're going faster than 40mph that edge (approximately 4-5 inches from the left) of the windshield isn't clear. On the passengers side they leave an unwiped portion at the bottom right corner where it doesn't contact the windshield.

I've had them on for about a year now. I like the way they look though and will probably try a different brand of frameless blades when these wear out.

I have some PIAA super-silicone wipers that i love.A wee bit pricey but they do a heck of a job,no chatter,no streak.Wipers are consumables so logically it would probably be best to just stick with the OEM blades and replace them for cheap when you need to.But if you want some overpriced wipers try PIAA.;-)

I have these PIAA blades also, worth every penny, used them for years. I used to use Bosch but I knew there had to be something better out there, I found them.

I've had them on for about a year and a half now - on the second set...
Aside from what colin said, which is more a windshield problem, I think, I think think the wipers are great. Definitely better than the OEM, and I like that they have the rain x coating, so water just beads right off, making for a cleaner sweep.
I also like the low profile design - there is next to no 'lift' from the wind, and the wiper stays tight to the window.

they cost $26 each up here - what are you paying for them in the states?

I think they were about 17 bucks each.

I love these blades.
I am on the ski patrol and have used them in all weather. I tell you that the built-in wind spoiler really works. I will be installing on my other cars.

BTW, like all blades, be careful of ice on the windshield. One swipe and it will cut the rubber.

I think they were about 17 bucks each.
I think I'll wait until I go south in 2 weeks before I pick up another set...
That's like a $20 savings for the pair!

Got my pair at WalMart... Paid them around $18 CDN for the reflex frameless type ones... Got my dad a pair for his econoline too!
Enjoy!

I like them OK, but like most other blades, they ice up in heavy snow, and just end up smearing the ice chunks around. Some folks rave about the Bosch blades (of similar design), but I challenge anyone to design the perfect winter blade. Old fashioned Trico or Anco winter blades (rubber covered) work just as well and cost somewhat less, but are less aerodynamic. On an Element? Someone fretting over aerodynamics? :lol: ;-)

Got my pair at WalMart... Paid them around $18 CDN for the reflex frameless type ones... Got my dad a pair for his econoline too!
Enjoy!
The ones at Wally world aren't the RainX blades...They are just, like you said, reflex frameless ones... (at least all the walmarts I've looked here...)

The only place I've been able to find the RainX blades is at Canadian Tire...

Ok...

I am in Minneapolis - Land of 10,000 Slushies.. and they all get splashed on my E's windshield!

I am very frustrated with the results i have had so far with wiper blades...

The factory blades were worthless in the MN snow...

Replaced with Anco winter blades, in my opinion these were too tall, making the spring tension not enough as they did only a marginal job - especially at highway speeds - left lots of streaks (yes i prepared them witht he alchahol wipes b4 install)... and they only wiped 80% of the passenger side window - laid accross the windshield like a carpenters level... one step from worthless

So i spend a fair amount of time in the forum to see what wiper success stories others have...

i found a thread ballyhooing the marvels of the Valeo '900 series' "ultimate" all season blade...

i think WOW -- the holy grail for wiper blades...

i order a pair on line as fast as i can, cant type in my ccard details fast enough as the brand is not available in my local market at my neighborhood parts store...

i get the blades install them on my precious E and they are a huge improvement over the other 2 ...

BUT....

still missing the lower right to the tune of 3 to 4 inches wide to 4 to 7 inches tall...

now call me persnickety, but all i want is a wiper blade that will work, in ALL FLIPPIN SEASONS

has anybody found a wiper blade that will work in SNOW, SLEET, and genreally HORRIBLE weather that will actually clear the windshield without having problems?

my Valeo part number is 900-20-1B

many thnaks!

the horrible truth...

this is what these Valeo 900 series blades actaully do...

lackluster performance at best

even the inside area is missed on both sides...

a real disapointment, and for me this is unacceptable

I've been using the RainX blades for about a year and a half now, and I think they are great for all seasons...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/rainx_latitude.htm

I think it's more a windshield/wiper placement design flaw than a wiper issue - the glass seems to give a bit more of a 'turn' in that area, and the way the wipers are placed seem to accentuate it.

I've tried almost every different blade out there, before I settled for the RainX, with pretty much the same results - they all seem to 'miss' this area.
I've learned to just ignore that dirty little corner....

I agree with Tim on this one,it's very hard to get complete coverage on the E windshield you will always have that little spot that misses.I have had good luck with my PIAA Super-Silicone wipers and although they are pricey i like how they handle all the seasons and they are my recommendation for replacements.I have had them on for about a year now with no complaints and no chatter,squeak or streaks.A good blade for sure but expensive.

I also had the same problems with the winter blades. More so on the passenger side. What I do now is ge a shorter blade for the passenger side than what is called for. This has helped quite a bit.

I usually use whatever blades are one sale or the cheapest. I have good luck with rain-x blades, which go on sale often around my area.

Blades are blades I've had them all. The stock setup is as good as any. You just replace the rubber when needed. When a blade starts streaking it is because there is some dirt between the blade and the glass, you can wipe the blade with a rag and then flood the glass with water. This usually fixes the problem.

I put the Anco on mine-my daughter put the Rain-X on hers. Both are fine.:)

a Dirty Windshield Vexes me also... i have found the rainX blades to work fairly well... and to compliment the blades i also treat the Windshield with RainX as well, almost monthly as i MUST have a clean windshield... its almost an obsession(ugh spelling).

I will not drive a car without rainx on the windshield... I even apply rainX to some of my friends cars that i might Drive

I've been using the PIAA's for over a year and they worked really well but now it's time to replace them. I'll be getting them once again.

I also use the PIAA Super Silicones on the wonderful roads and slushes we have here, but only in the summer. I find the winter driving with the PIAA's beats up the wipers too much. Come slush time, I store the PIAA's and pick up a pair of ANCO Winter blades. I've been very happy with them every year I've used them and they do a wonderful job of both wiping and standing up to the abuse of our salty gritty roads.

Either way, both sets wipe the window perfectly well all the way over. It sounds to me like you don't have a wiper problem so much as a wiper arm spring tension problem. I'd see if you can adjust/get adjusted the spring that holds the wiper arms down. My guess is it's too loose and not holding the wiper down to the window hard enough.

I just bought the Trico blades (Trico 37209 Winter Teflon Blades) and got a chance to test them out in Tahoe (had 3' of snow last week). They seem to work well, but same issue; passenger side window is not fully cleaned.
As was suggested, I think using a shorter blade would be the way to go. But maybe I'll try "re-tensioning" the blade arm.

I'm using the standard 20" blades and they wipe across just fine. I've had similar problems on other vehicles and usually it ends up being the spring on the wiper arm isn't holding the blade down properly. Try turning the wipers on, get out, and hold down the arm on the passenger side. Just a little more pressure and you should get a consistent wipe all the way across.

At least that's my $.02 :D

I have a different suggestion - clean the windshield back to the glass. Now, before you cuss me out and think I'm trying to challenge your intelligence (NOT the case), try this:

Use Bon Ami (gold can with red label) scouring powder on the entire glass area, making sure your scrub everywhere. I have used this product for many years and have YET to scratch a winshield!! It does wonders to help get rid of the grime and let the blades wipe the actual window. And, if you anre going to go with a product like Rain-X, it adheres better. I'm sure you've already cleaned the winshield with more than just Windex, but most products don't touch waterspots and/or winter road grime. Plus, it costs less than $1 a can!! :???::-D

Hope this helps (have similar problems in AK - LOTS of crap thown on the windshield)!!

Merry Christmas and a clear New Year!!

Has anyone changed the rear wiper blades?
After reading this thread I went to replaced my wiper blades with a winter ones but, when I went to removed the rear one, the end of the arm looks totally different. Let me see if I make sense, the wiper will not snop on the arm like the ones on the front. The end on the arm looks totally different.
I will post some pics later.

Has anyone changed the rear wiper blades?
After reading this thread I went to replaced my wiper blades with a winter ones but, when I went to removed the rear one, the end of the arm looks totally different. Let me see if I make sense, the wiper will not snop on the arm like the ones on the front. The end on the arm looks totally different.
I will post some pics later.

I attempted to once. You have to get the OEM replacement from the dealer/H&A to do it. It has a proprietary arm on the rear wiper. Sat down for over an hour one day with a couple guys from my local AutoZone (who are actually fairly knowledgeable, as crap shop guys go) trying every single wiper adapter they had in their box of tricks. No luck.

Alternately, you can just buy a wiper refill, stuff it on the holder, and cut it off custom. As far as I know, the clips that hold the actual blade on are standard...

Ok...

I am in Minneapolis - Land of 10,000 Slushies.. and they all get splashed on my E's windshield!

I am very frustrated with the results i have had so far with wiper blades...

The factory blades were worthless in the MN snow...

Replaced with Anco winter blades, in my opinion these were too tall, making the spring tension not enough as they did only a marginal job - especially at highway speeds - left lots of streaks (yes i prepared them witht he alchahol wipes b4 install)... and they only wiped 80% of the passenger side window - laid accross the windshield like a carpenters level... one step from worthless

So i spend a fair amount of time in the forum to see what wiper success stories others have...

i found a thread ballyhooing the marvels of the Valeo '900 series' "ultimate" all season blade...

i think WOW -- the holy grail for wiper blades...

i order a pair on line as fast as i can, cant type in my ccard details fast enough as the brand is not available in my local market at my neighborhood parts store...

i get the blades install them on my precious E and they are a huge improvement over the other 2 ...

BUT....

still missing the lower right to the tune of 3 to 4 inches wide to 4 to 7 inches tall...

now call me persnickety, but all i want is a wiper blade that will work, in ALL FLIPPIN SEASONS

has anybody found a wiper blade that will work in SNOW, SLEET, and genreally HORRIBLE weather that will actually clear the windshield without having problems?

my Valeo part number is 900-20-1B

many thnaks!

I live in South Dakota and we roughly have the same weather. This will be my 3rd winter with the "E" and all I ever used is the Anco Winter Blades. They seem to work well for me. I have never used Rain-X, But when I wax my car I wax all the glass as well. It has always worked for me, Good Luck. Dave

I live in Omaha, NE and deal with both ice and snow on a regular basis. Both can eat wiper blades pretty quickly. A few years ago I was introduced to a PPG product called Aquapel. It is similar to RainX but seems to last much longer. I do suggest cleaning the windshield with BonAmi or Zud scouring powder first. Both these products should be used with caution so as not to let drip on the paint. Zud contains Oxalic Acid but is excellent at removing just about anything that may be on your windshield.

Once the windshield is cleaned and thoroughly rinsed, the Aquapel is easy to apply. I believe Tire Rack sells it too. My wiper blades always work much better right after I've cleaned and made an Aquapel application.

Good luck.

I just bought the Trico blades (Trico 37209 Winter Teflon Blades) and got a chance to test them out in Tahoe (had 3' of snow last week). They seem to work well, but same issue; passenger side window is not fully cleaned.
As was suggested, I think using a shorter blade would be the way to go. But maybe I'll try "re-tensioning" the blade arm.


I'm with you on this one. After giving the Higher priced PIAA's a shot. ( they worked well for one year ) Then the Boche junk blades ( did not last for long on the car I hated them. They were out when I went to replace the PIAA's. The clirk at the ADAP discount auto parts place told me to give the Trico teflon's a shot. He told me if I did not like them after 6 months, he would replace them with the PIAA's at no extra charge. They are at least as good if not better than the PIAA's. Needless to say, WE now have 2 sets. One on my E and one set on Her E.

Dom

I attempted to once. You have to get the OEM replacement from the dealer/H&A to do it. It has a proprietary arm on the rear wiper. Sat down for over an hour one day with a couple guys from my local AutoZone (who are actually fairly knowledgeable, as crap shop guys go) trying every single wiper adapter they had in their box of tricks. No luck.

Alternately, you can just buy a wiper refill, stuff it on the holder, and cut it off custom. As far as I know, the clips that hold the actual blade on are standard...

Thanks for the info. I think I will leave it alone for now (rear wiper).

BTW, there is a good deal($10 mail in rebate) on Michelin all-season wipers, here is the thread for it, the deal expires on 12/31/07
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41198

I've had the Bosch Icons for a while and they are great! Clean windshields are a pet peeve of mine and these do the job quite well.

So roughly two years later.... is there any buyers remorse over the PIAA blades? I'm thinking about getting them also.

I have used the stock blades, cheapy cheapy blades, and RainX blades. I figured it might be fun to try the PIAA blades to see if I can tell a difference from the previous blades I've had.

hey. i just bought piaas online at clubrsx.com. i got the sporza with the spoiler with the carbon fiber finish. i will let u all know how they work out. anyhow, clubrsx.com had my grand total with shipping at $49.00. it is a deal compared to the other sellers. just thought i would share that for now.

Also use this. I swear by it. We get plenty of rain here.

Agree with the Rain-X. It does make a HUGE difference in keeping a clean windshield, and improves wet visibility by at least 50%. I actually like it best during bug season. Makes the removal of greasy bugs on the windshield a breeze.

Here is where I bought my PIAA blades.
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts....IAA/brandid/86
I have bought several things from them and they have been great.


search gave model 93050 for piaa . not on piaa website, but only 10 bucks at amazon.

anyone else use this # model 93050

I've had a set of Valeo Ultimate blades on my Element for the past two years, and they have just now expired. They worked very well right until the end. Frameless, good-looking, install easily. $20 dollars for two at the Tire Rack plus shipping, or $14 a piece on Amazon with no shipping charge. - Jonathan

While on the subject of poor design, or "designed to make Honda richer" whats with the rubber wiper blades we are sold from Honda, I had to replace mine, not because of wear on the blade, the part in contact with the window was just fine. If you look closely at a rubber blade, you will notice that the back half and front half are connected by a hair thin strip of rubber, its just unbelievable, both my blades came apart in the middle and were useless against rain.

I have done a search here and seems like i needed to read for two days to see if this has been discussed, sorry if I'm repeating threads

I like the element, I also like good value for my dollar.
Thanks for reading
cheers

The problem you are having with your wiper blades sounds like incorrect installation. The blades should not be coming off the wiper arm as youy described. Are the thin metal strips installed in the wiper blade correctly?
Hope this helped.

I change my wiper refills twice a year. Once in the spring and once in the fall. Have you ever changed the refills or were you on the original set? A year is about what i would expect them to last.

As for wiper blades, I go to the parts store and buy the inserts there. They come with the metal spine. I'm working on some instructions on how to use one of the parts store inserts on the rear wiper blade. Hopefully, I'll have it done this weekend.

Pavalova, you didn't say how old the wiper blades were when they failed. Don't expect standard rubber blades to last more than a year. I used to replace mine twice a year as Lizzurd does, but the new silicone blades seem to last much longer. Either way you don't have to buy the blade inserts from Honda. There are many aftermarket choices for the front (see (http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/parts.htm#wipers)), and the rears only need to be trimmed to fit, no biggie.

I hope I can better explain the wiper blade thing. I am talking about the rubber replacement blades from Honda, if you were to cut them in the middle say, you would see that there are two sections, the front is the blade that cleans the window, and the back section is held by the wiper assemble. In between these sections, is a mm of rubber holding both parts together, why this is so is a complete mystery, except that it helps shorten the life of a blade.

What is really annoying is that when this thin part rips, the blade becomes not just weak, but useless. There by making it necessary to carry a spare replacement at all time. I live in a rain forest zone.

Like I have mentioned previously, the actual blade part that wipes the window is just fine, close inspection no problems. Next time you replace a blade check whether it is coming apart or just wearing down.

At $5 Canadian for a rubber blade, its a bit of a ripoff.

Will look elsewhere for replacement.

Thanks for what I have learned from you guys
cheers
Pav

As for the wiper blades, Im convinced these things are getting more cheaply made every year. They all fall apart too quickly. I think I get 6 months out of them, 1 year if Im really lucky. And you could consider going aftermarket. Im not sure honda brand is any better than others.

Rears only need to be trimmed to fit, no biggie.


For some reason I thought there was some big procedure to it all but, it's the same as any other wiper blade. Remove assembly from the vehicle, remove old rubber, save the metal strips, cut replacement rubber if it needs it, install metal strips, install into blade, replace blade on the arm. Took all of 5 minutes. Just take it easy on the plastic. It'll get brittle over time.

The first place I look for aftermarket replacement part numbers is Ramblerdan's webpage :grin::

http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/parts.htm#wipers

Try Valeo they are the OE supplier for the BEAM blade they make it for everybody else.
Valeo 600 Series Premium wiper blade with TEC 3 ADVANCED rubber technology. Valeo is famous for there clutches, now there entering the aftermarket with wiper blades. ANCO is good, so is Trico, Bosch, now try Valeo.

I had to replace both mone and my wifes blades this past fall and the stores were out of the traditional winter "booty" blades. I ended up getting the newest RainEx (I forget the name) all season blades. They are probably the most expensive blades I've ever bought so far. I got them home then looked up reviews online for them and got mixed reviews.
Well, let me say my wife and I were BOTH very pleased with their performance over the course of the winter. Yes, there were a few times the ice started to build up, but I just ran hand down blades and it came right off. They form to the windows extremely well w/ little if any streaking. When the time comes to replace- I'l probably buy them again.

If Honda wiper blades aren't working for you put on something else! I've personally never even CONSIDERED using anything but aftermarket blades on any car I've ever owned. I usually use Anco which are inexpensive and will last quite a while- right now I'm running some Bosch blades because all the local stores were out of cheaper ones due to a spate of bad weather. I've never had any go kablooey like your Honda blades. Usually they just get kind of hard and start scraping rather than wiping, usually after a year or so.

I'm using the Rain X blades on the front and just yesterday got a Trico 12-B wiper blade for the rear. Thanks RamblerDan for the info on your webpage!

I didn't relish the thought of going to the dealer for a new one based on the costs, so I was glad to get the rear one complete for under $9.00 at Advance Auto.

Last week I replaced my nearly two year old OEM blades with the BOSCH Icons. The highly recommended PIAA's were not available at any of my local autoparts store. After being caught out in a couple heavy rainstorms I'm giving the new blades two big thumbs up. The blades were about $18 each.

I had the same problem with the stock blades seperating. It was right at a year so I'm not complaining. I did think it was odd how they failed. They were awesome right up until they failed. There was no warning, they were just useless. I will change them every 6-9 months from here on out with aftermarket blades. I just love that new wiper blade feeling:grin:

I didn't relish the thought of going to the dealer for a new one based on the costs, so I was glad to get the rear one complete for under $9.00 at Advance Auto.

i have been getting replacement rear blades from my local dealer the past few times for about $6.50. seems like a no-brainer to me.

Even though my car is only 6 months old, I really don't like the wiper blades. Was thinking of getting Rain-X Latitudes but have since found out quite a few people don't really like them very much.
Do some of you have experience with some other wipers???? With the rain/snow season really starting, I would like something better than the OEM blades. I know when I had my '05 E I also changed the blades out, but I don't remember what I bought at that time. But I do know whatever I bought was much better than the OEM ones.
Thanks for your ideas ;-) ;-)

I just put Michelins (Walmart) on mine and my wife's car. I haven't had them long enough to rate them yet though. I just wanted the refills that you used to could buy for a couple of bucks a set, but it seems like they aren't available any more. You have to buy the whole wiper blade now.

I don't mind having to buy a whole wiper blade assembly....just want some good wipers!!!!! Thanks for the reply :-)

Why are OEM wiper blades replacements under maintenance and service instead of eccessories????? Doesn't sound like the right category ;-)

Why are OEM wiper blades replacements under maintenance and service instead of accessories? Doesn't sound like the right category......sorry.....

Wiper blades are routine maintenance items, not accessories like brush guards or fog lights.

If you buy the kind with no open springworks you'll get a "pull-back" of water from the left side of the windshield up to about 45 mph. After that the wind takes care of it. The pull-back is sort of annoying as it cuts down on your forward clear vision but truth be told its up a the top of the windshield wiper and I find I just can't ignore it. I should do better.
I had to pick up a new pair during a snow storm last winter as the old one on the driver's side broke off. The new ones were Bosch and $19 each so I'm not about to change them out. They were all I could find. They do clean the rest of the windshield very well.
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LakesideZ:

1) I am past the 12,000 mile mark.

2) The dealer simply wants me to come in and spend the money there. Sorry, but I'm not spending that kind of money on wiper blades. There is nothing wrong with the blades, I just needed new insert refills. $6.00 at Salvo. Why would I pay $35 at the dealer when they now work as good as new?

3) as for the streaking, I cleaned the windshield and the problem didn't improve much. Changed the inserts. Problem solved.

4) Rain-X sucks. Just my personal opinion. Used it on one car and will never do it again.

I agree Rain X sucks, the thing that I found that works is cerium oxide you can get it from Amazon or JC Whitney. You mix a little with water and apply it then rub it in with a orbital polisher. The result is slick clean glass.

Do some of you have experience with some other wipers???? With the rain/snow season really starting, I would like something better than the OEM blades.
Thanks for your ideas ;-) ;-)
I have Valeo Ultimate wiper blades on my E and I'm extremely pleased with their performance. I bought mine from Tire Rack and at the moment they have a buy one get one free deal.

I would have probably thought the OEM wipers worked just fine for my Element except for the fact that my car I sold before I bought my E had Bosch windshield wipers. I can really tell a difference, the dealer put new OEM ones on when I bought the car so I'll wait a year before I get some more Bosch.
Don't want to waste a perfectly decent set of wiper blades

Had to dig up the reciept, but here's the story.

Purchase date: 12-28-07
Item: Jamak Triple Edge Premium Silicone Blade
Size: 20" (500mm)
Store/Price: Walmart (auburn wa) $7.27 ea or pair I cant remember.
Other: Lifetime warrenty
Area: Pacific Northwest (think rain)

The plan was to get these, keep the reciept and replace them (under warrenty) when they wore out in 6 months. Its now Nov 30 2010 and they
are still going strong. I do kind of wipe down the blades when washing the
car. Dont know if Walmart still has these...didnt have the need to look.

Had to dig up the reciept, but here's the story.

Purchase date: 12-28-07
Item: Jamak Triple Edge Premium Silicone Blade
Size: 20" (500mm)
Store/Price: Walmart (auburn wa) $7.27 ea or pair I cant remember.
Other: Lifetime warrenty
Area: Pacific Northwest (think rain)

The plan was to get these, keep the reciept and replace them (under warrenty) when they wore out in 6 months. Its now Nov 30 2010 and they
are still going strong. I do kind of wipe down the blades when washing the
car. Dont know if Walmart still has these...didnt have the need to look.

You have my interest. I need to find these very badly.

EDIT: nvm, found: http://www.thewiperstore.com/tripledge-wiper-blades/tripledge-wiper-20.html I'll probably be ordering a set when I get paid. I love the PIAA super silicones but dear god they're expensive!

I had a pair of 18" blades in the garage that fit fine and work great. If you cant find the factory sized 20", 18" will work with no issues or visibility problems. In fact, I honestly cant tell the difference from the drivers seat.