Changing the washer fluid
In autumn, before the first frosts, use up the summer fluid and fill up with winter screenwash. Do the opposite in spring: winter fluid is less effective against insects and pollen.
Care
Care: looking after visibility all year round
Visibility hardly needs any complicated maintenance, just regular, careful attention. Most visibility problems are caused not by breakdowns but by small things: a worn rubber edge, an empty reservoir, a forgotten cabin filter or a greasy film on the inside of the glass.
New wiper blades and a full washer reservoir before the first snow save more stress than any trick on the road.
This section covers only general care that needs no tools and no dismantling. We do not describe repairs to glass, wiring or heating: that work is for a specialist.
Seasonal care
Six jobs worth keeping in your calendar, some of them tied to changes in the weather.
Inspecting the wiper blades
Check the edge by touch and on wet glass. Cracks, nicks and streaks are a reason to replace them. Many drivers fit new blades before winter, when the demands on them are highest.
Cabin filter
A clogged filter lets less air through and holds moisture, so the windows take longer to demist. The replacement interval is in the manual; if you drive on dusty roads, it is worth shortening it.
Misting up (in Russian)
The inside of the glass
Over time a thin film builds up on the inside, and moisture readily settles on it. Wipe the glass with a clean soft cloth and a non-abrasive glass cleaner, especially before the darker months.
Car glass (in Russian)
Headlights and rear lights
In winter the lenses quickly get a film of road salt. Wipe them every time you fill up, and if the light seems noticeably weaker, have the headlights checked: the aim can also drift.
Mirrors and window seals
Check that the mirrors are not loose and that their heating works, if fitted. Wipe sand off the rubber window seals, because it scratches the glass every time the window goes down.
How to replace wiper blades as the manual describes
Find the right specifications
Open the owner's manual and note the blade lengths for the driver's and passenger's side, along with the fitting type. The rear blade, if there is one, often differs from the front ones.
Put the arms in service position
Many cars have a mode in which the wiper arms stop higher than usual so they can be lifted off the glass. The manual explains how to activate it.
Protect the glass
Lay a folded towel on the windscreen. If the arm springs back without a blade and hits the glass, it can leave a chip.
Remove the old blade
Lift the arm, press the fitting's release catch as shown in the car's manual or the new blade's instructions, and remove the blade carefully without yanking.
Fit the new blade
Push the new blade on until it clicks and give it a gentle tug to make sure it is secure. Lower the arm onto the glass slowly, guiding it with your hand.
Check that it works
Return the arms to their normal position, wet the windscreen with the washers and switch on the wipers. The blades should move smoothly, without knocking, and leave a clean surface.
Related sections
- Problems
Common visibility problems: squeaking wipers, frozen washers, misting, a dead rear demister, a spreading crack, dim headlights.
- Choosing
How to choose wiper blades, washer fluid, winter kit and a glass specialist by the specifications, not the advertising.
- Misting up (in Russian)
Archived address: why windows mist up on the inside, how to clear them quickly and how to stop it happening.
Sources
- Car owner's manuals (general provisions)
- Russian Basic Provisions on vehicle roadworthiness: list of faults that prohibit vehicle use
Regulatory requirements are described as they stood on the date each page was prepared. The cited rules are Russian and EAEU rules; other countries set their own tint limits and roadworthiness rules, and rules change from time to time. Glass, wiper and demisting set-ups also differ from car to car, so check the current local regulations and your own car's owner's manual.