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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Massachusetts, USA
    Posts
    3

    Default Windshield wiper icing is severe

    I have an 2007 XC70 with the frameless windshield wipers. I recently had the dubious pleasure of driving through a serious snow storm. The car's behavior on unplowed or poorly plowed rural roads was fantastic ... except for one serious issue. The windshield wipers ice up mercilessly.

    The icing was so bad that I could not drive for more than 5 minutes without stopping to clear the wipers manually. In my opinion this makes the car virtually useless in winter weather. What good is all-wheel drive, dynamic stability and traction control, high ground clearance, etc. when you can't see through the windshield? I fear that an interstate trip with this car in winter is doomed to be an exercise in frustration and danger.

    I've not been able to find aftermarket rubber coated winter wiper blades for this car. The Volvo dealer can only offer the original equipment wiper blades.

    Has anyone found a solution for this problem?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Houghton Michigan
    Posts
    45

    Default

    Were you using your spray? I also don't know what you mean by "frameless" wipers.

    The wipers with rubber surround just keep snow and ice from clogging the spring arms that keep pressure even across the shield, they do nothing to keep ice from collecting on the blade itself.

    I've recently switched to the newer single blade wipers- the kind that are just a bowed blade on a spine. They're nice and low profile, I had no idea how bulky old wipers were before. They keep the shield pretty clear, and no metal to rust or get jammed and give an inconsistent wipe. The passenger side is just as good, even without the Volvo OEM curved blade (which I never understood).

    I also use -35 Fahrenheit rated wiper fluid. It will freeze onto the glass while on the highway, but I doubt anything but straight methanol (the de-icing agent) wouldn't. A bit more fluid and the wipers going full speed keep it clear.

    I've never had a problem during a storm, the glass is usually warm enough to melt everything and let the wipers do the work, with a few squirts when things get icy.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Massachusetts, USA
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Wipers icing

    Nope, not using the spray. I see what you mean about the rubber that encases the old style blades.

    I think what I mean by "frameless" blades is the same as what you described as a "bowed blade on a spine". I'm probably using the wrong terminology.

    I found that the ice quickly built up around the clip that attaches the wiper blade to the arm and it spread from there, sticking to the "spine" and the rubber blade as well. I can see that ice sticking to the rubber is going to be a problem even with "winter blades" but this was ridiculous. I've used the rubber encased blades on my two previous Volvos (and several other cars) for many years and have found them to be excellent. I've never had as much trouble as this with icing on any car I've ever owned, regardless of the kind of blades I've used.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Devon PA
    Posts
    11,409

    Default

    If you have an 05 or newer, you can replace the wiper ARMS with the earlier (04 and older) arms.
    There are many replacement blades that will fit those arms.

    Otherwise buy a Buick with the heated windshield

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Massachusetts, USA
    Posts
    3

    Default Has anybody replaced wiper arms on '07 XC70?

    "If you have an 05 or newer, you can replace the wiper ARMS with the earlier (04 and older) arms.
    There are many replacement blades that will fit those arms."

    That's what I thought too. I took it to the dealer today and asked the to do exactly that. They returned it to me with the original arms and said that the old model arms did not fit. They said that the geometry is wrong and it would require using blades about 6" shorter to prevent the blades from banging into the frame of the windshield.

    Has anybody done this with an '07 XC70?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Devon PA
    Posts
    11,409

    Default

    I'm pretty sure this has been done

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Oregon,USA,North America,Earth, MilkyWay
    Posts
    187

    Default

    Um, doesn't the use of a proper de-icing fluid also prevent ice buildup on the wipers? Is your defroster on as well?
    "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."
    HST-RIP

  8. #8

    Default

    Most wiper blade icing problems can be reduced by keeping the windshield cool. Avoid using the front defrost setting unless absolutely necessary (if you must use it, do so with cooler air). This way you won't melt the snow at the base of the windshield, which will later freeze on the blades.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Calgary Alberta
    Posts
    1,344

    Default

    bionta - the Volvo has a fairly STRONG defrost - perhaps one of the most robust and trouble free defrost systems I have ever encountered in a car. The Buick's heated windshields are nice, but they break down more often than a Lada.

    You are using the 'blades' I assume - nice wipers, but no so sure how nice they are for winter. Like some people mentioned, regular blades or even winter wiper blades. Winter blades have a loose rubber sheath that allow easy de-icing just be turning them on.

    We you using the 'defrost' option for your vehicle? I rarely use it.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    602

    Default

    When I picked up my 2004 during the summer it had the blade wipers fitted - the after market type (sold, for example, as Reflex here in Canada). They were fine for light rain showers but got extremely noisy and unpleasant in heavy rain. As I use Rain-X, they were OK through the rest of the summer and Fall. When the Winter weather arrived, I was very disappointed that they seemed to ice up very easily and I replaced them with winter wipers which have performed flawlessly since.

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