Wiper Care
Keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape. Proper wiper maintenances is one of our Kia service tips that often gets overlooked. You never know when the conditions on the road will hamper your vision. You’ll need them to see the road when driving through hazardous conditions.
Exposure to extreme outdoor temperatures can wear down your Kia’s wiper blades. Intense heat in the summer can damage the rubber, and in the winter your wipers can take even more of a beating with ice, road salt, and snow. Plus a host of chemicals and acid rain can further damage your wiper blades.
Contamination of either the windshield or the wiper blades with foreign matter can reduce the effectiveness of the windshield wipers. Common sources of contamination are insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments used by some commercial car washes. If the blades are not wiping properly, clean both the window and the blades with a good cleaner or mild detergent, and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Blade replacement
When the wipers no longer clean adequately, the blades may be worn or cracked, and require replacement. To prevent damage to the wiper arms or other components, do not attempt to move the wipers manually. The use of a non-specified wiper blade could result in wiper malfunction and failure. Kia recommends replacing your windshield wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield. You can purchase new Kia wiper blades at our Kia Parts Department.
Kia recommends checking the following
at least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
- Check the radiator, heater and air conditioning hoses for leaks or damage.
- Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean the wiper blades with clean cloth dampened with washer fluid.
- Check the headlight alignment.
- Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
- Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
- Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
To prevent further wiper equipment damage Kia recommends:
- To prevent possible damage to the washer pump, do not operate the washer when the fluid reservoir is empty.
- To prevent possible damage to the wipers or windshield, do not operate the wipers when the windshield is dry.
- To prevent damage to the wiper blades, do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents on or near them.
- To prevent damage to the wiper arms and other components, do not attempt to move the wipers manually.
- To prevent damage to the wiper blades, do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents on or near them.
Washing Your Kia
When washing the vehicle, set the wiper switch in the OFF position to stop the auto wiper operation. The wiper may operate and be damaged if the switch is set in the AUTO mode while washing the vehicle. Do not remove the sensor cover located on the upper end of the passenger side windshield glass. Damage to system parts could occur and may not be covered by your vehicle warranty.
Auto Control (if equipped)
If your Kia is equipped with auto wiper control, the more it rains, the faster the wiper operates. When the rain stops, the wiper stops. The rain sensor located on the upper end of the windshield glass senses the amount of rainfall and controls the wiping cycle for the proper interval.
To vary the speed setting, turn the speed control knob. If the wiper switch is set in AUTO mode when the ignition switch is ON, the wiper will operate once to perform a self-check of the system. Set the wiper to OFF position when the wiper is not in use.
Wiper Care in Winter
Winter months bring wet, salty and dirty conditions – all of which can be hard to see through. Make sure to not only fill up your washer fluid, but also ensure that the fluid won’t freeze. Most windshield wiper fluids come with anti-freeze ingredients to make sure that it won’t freeze in cold temperatures. You can buy windshield wiper fluid just about anywhere, just be sure to check the label to see if it’s rated for cold weather.
Windshield wiper blades are another very important part of the equation. Check your blades for wear and tear, and if there is any damage, it’s time for a windshield wiper replacement. The damage will only get worse when the wipers are pushing ice and snow out of the way. Bring your car into Ferguson Kia’s service department in Broken Arrow, and we’ll show you how to replace windshield wipers.
When starting the vehicle in winter, set the wiper switch in the OFF position. Otherwise, wipers may operate and ice may damage the windshield wiper blades. Always remove all snow and ice and defrost the windshield properly prior to operating the windshield wipers. If there is heavy accumulation of snow or ice on the windshield, defrost the windshield for about 10 minutes, or until the snow and/or ice is removed before using the windshield wipers to ensure proper operation.
To see more Winter Car Care tips click here.
