What wiper blades should I get for my Honda Fit?
November 5, 2022 2:08 PM Subscribe
After several replacements over the last two years, I'm underwhelmed with the performance of my wiper blades on my 2008 Honda Fit. Can anyone recommend a better product?
I've been using these Rain-X (front large, front small) and Trico (rear) blades. They're not horrible, but they tend to leave a brief ghostly streak even after broken in for awhile and the most recent replacement has started to stutter and make an annoying noise after on a few months.
I've been using these Rain-X (front large, front small) and Trico (rear) blades. They're not horrible, but they tend to leave a brief ghostly streak even after broken in for awhile and the most recent replacement has started to stutter and make an annoying noise after on a few months.
Trico Silicone Ceramic (a different model from the one you have on your back window) are the best wiper blades I've ever used (if you can't find these, Rain-X silicone blades are a close second), and I've tried the top-of-the-line models from Rain-X, Bosch, PIAA, Michelin, and probably some others I've forgotten about.
They don't come in 14", though (and generally speaking there aren't as many options for rear wipers as there are for front ones), so, for the rear wiper, maybe try Bosch?
Things that are true about all wiper blades: they wear out, with diminishing performance over time (people who are trying to sell you wiper blades say to change them every six months, but I usually change mine once a year), weather extremes make them wear out faster, they work better with a clean wiper on clean glass, they work much better with Rain-X, AquaPel, or other water-repelling glass treatments, and, within individual manufacturers' lines, price scales pretty closely to performance.
posted by box at 3:39 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
They don't come in 14", though (and generally speaking there aren't as many options for rear wipers as there are for front ones), so, for the rear wiper, maybe try Bosch?
Things that are true about all wiper blades: they wear out, with diminishing performance over time (people who are trying to sell you wiper blades say to change them every six months, but I usually change mine once a year), weather extremes make them wear out faster, they work better with a clean wiper on clean glass, they work much better with Rain-X, AquaPel, or other water-repelling glass treatments, and, within individual manufacturers' lines, price scales pretty closely to performance.
posted by box at 3:39 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Hmm. Those Rain-X blades are exactly the ones I prefer, and one of the reasons is that they don't leave streaks for me.
Out of curiosity, have you cleaned your windows with a good window cleaner?
My pattern is this (when it's either dry or I have a covered area)
1) Clean the windows REALLY good. I can't find the (better) glass cleaner I used to get, so I've resorted to Invisible Glass, and vinegar or alternatives for pitch if I screwed up and parked under it. I learned a long time ago my most-likely failure point was not cleaning the windows good enough, and it rains enough here I need windows I can really see through. I use shop towels to dry at the end, but cheap paper towels or newspaper actually work better.
2) I make sure they're really as dry as I can get them - and then I give them a few to fifteen minutes, because they're never as dry as I think they are.
3) I apply Rain-X. And then do it again. And generally a third time. (I REALLY like Rain-X, because where I am, there's a lot of "moisture that isn't quite raining enough to justify enough step up on the wipers", so I like that the on-brand wipers help keep the Rain-X layer fresh so I don't have to reapply it as often.) I'm impatient, so let me assure you, this is a torturous process for me. But I like the results when I do it "right" instead of cheat.
4. And THEN I install the new wipers.
5. And oh, also important - I use the Rain-X fluid, and try to make sure that I don't let anywhere fill my wiper fluid up with whatever crappy stuff they have. I've been known to deliberately run that stuff out so I can refill it with my fluid at home, when I was dumb and forget to tell them not to top it off.
6. If the Rain-X seems like it's wearing off during the rainy season, I fix it ASAP.
7. As a result, I generally only need new wipers once a year, in the fall, though I may have to fix the Rain-X a time or maybe two between October-ish and April-ish.
8. Pitch, ash, and occasionally other random things mess it up. (My son managed to get motor OIL on his windshield while out of town on the interstate late on a rainy night and the best suggestion I had for him at the time was Dawn dish soap and a non-stick safe scrubby sponge, both easily found at a nearby 24 hour store. Worked REALLY well, he said, though he had to start over later with his Rain-X. But he used it on his wipers, too, GENTLY, and was able to rescue them.)
So... consider cleaning extra throughly, especially if it's happening with more than one brand of wiper over time. And if where you park / what might be getting on your window could be an issue, well, you wouldn't be the first person to cover the windows with something (plastic, a tarp, a blanket, plywood, paper bags, etc) to keep pitch or whatever from getting on them.
*and I'm sorry if I sound like an ad, but I really adore the Rain-X stuff and have for many years. I just learned the hard way that it takes EFFORT on my part to get it to work right for me.
posted by stormyteal at 3:58 PM on November 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
Out of curiosity, have you cleaned your windows with a good window cleaner?
My pattern is this (when it's either dry or I have a covered area)
1) Clean the windows REALLY good. I can't find the (better) glass cleaner I used to get, so I've resorted to Invisible Glass, and vinegar or alternatives for pitch if I screwed up and parked under it. I learned a long time ago my most-likely failure point was not cleaning the windows good enough, and it rains enough here I need windows I can really see through. I use shop towels to dry at the end, but cheap paper towels or newspaper actually work better.
2) I make sure they're really as dry as I can get them - and then I give them a few to fifteen minutes, because they're never as dry as I think they are.
3) I apply Rain-X. And then do it again. And generally a third time. (I REALLY like Rain-X, because where I am, there's a lot of "moisture that isn't quite raining enough to justify enough step up on the wipers", so I like that the on-brand wipers help keep the Rain-X layer fresh so I don't have to reapply it as often.) I'm impatient, so let me assure you, this is a torturous process for me. But I like the results when I do it "right" instead of cheat.
4. And THEN I install the new wipers.
5. And oh, also important - I use the Rain-X fluid, and try to make sure that I don't let anywhere fill my wiper fluid up with whatever crappy stuff they have. I've been known to deliberately run that stuff out so I can refill it with my fluid at home, when I was dumb and forget to tell them not to top it off.
6. If the Rain-X seems like it's wearing off during the rainy season, I fix it ASAP.
7. As a result, I generally only need new wipers once a year, in the fall, though I may have to fix the Rain-X a time or maybe two between October-ish and April-ish.
8. Pitch, ash, and occasionally other random things mess it up. (My son managed to get motor OIL on his windshield while out of town on the interstate late on a rainy night and the best suggestion I had for him at the time was Dawn dish soap and a non-stick safe scrubby sponge, both easily found at a nearby 24 hour store. Worked REALLY well, he said, though he had to start over later with his Rain-X. But he used it on his wipers, too, GENTLY, and was able to rescue them.)
So... consider cleaning extra throughly, especially if it's happening with more than one brand of wiper over time. And if where you park / what might be getting on your window could be an issue, well, you wouldn't be the first person to cover the windows with something (plastic, a tarp, a blanket, plywood, paper bags, etc) to keep pitch or whatever from getting on them.
*and I'm sorry if I sound like an ad, but I really adore the Rain-X stuff and have for many years. I just learned the hard way that it takes EFFORT on my part to get it to work right for me.
posted by stormyteal at 3:58 PM on November 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
I had a 2007 Honda Fit and I imagine its wiper blades are mostly the same as your 2008 Fit. Honestly, the absolute best wiper blades I ever used were the OEM ones from Honda. Note that you can either just buy the inserts or the actual blades, so if you happen to have your actual original blades you can get the cheap refills. Otherwise you'll have to spring for the actual blades. I'd buy the refills every year or so from a Honda dealer with an online presence and was always happy with them.
posted by zsazsa at 5:34 PM on November 5, 2022
posted by zsazsa at 5:34 PM on November 5, 2022
I’m impressed you can find 3rd-party wiper blades the size of the big honkn’ driver’s side blade on a Fit. We’ve always had to get refills at the Honda dealer because no store in the area had blades the right size.
Anyway, the OEM blades have always performed really well.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:04 PM on November 5, 2022
Anyway, the OEM blades have always performed really well.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:04 PM on November 5, 2022
We've been really happy with Bosch Icon blades on our Subaru. We've had this set on our car since 2019- it hasn't rained a lot in the last few years, but they haven't dried out either and still are as good as when we bought them (our car lives out in the open and is not garaged). Not streaky on our windshield.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:21 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by oneirodynia at 11:21 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
(One other thing about wiper blades: if you go to a brick-and-mortar auto-parts chain like Advance, AutoZone, NAPA, O'Reilly, etc., it seems like one brand or another is almost always on sale. And you can pick up some Rain-X liquid, either the windshield treatment or the wiper fluid or both, while you're there.
I tend to see wiper-related stuff as a safety item, and don't worry about spending a few extra bucks.
If you stick with the top-tier wiper from known good brands (my list is Rain-X, Trico, PIAA, Bosch, with provisional status for Goodyear and Michelin), you'll probably get something in a range from pretty good to great.)
posted by box at 6:14 AM on November 6, 2022
I tend to see wiper-related stuff as a safety item, and don't worry about spending a few extra bucks.
If you stick with the top-tier wiper from known good brands (my list is Rain-X, Trico, PIAA, Bosch, with provisional status for Goodyear and Michelin), you'll probably get something in a range from pretty good to great.)
posted by box at 6:14 AM on November 6, 2022
Wiper blades don't last very long, especially if the car is driven every day and isn't parked in a garage. If you drive daily and don't park in a garage, all windshield wiper blades last only 3-6 months. There are some things to improve your wiper blade performance:
minimum steps
1) periodically clean your windshield with a dedicated window cleaning product -- windex, Invisible Glass, or a dedicated car windshield product. The car wash doesn't do a good job. If your side and back windows are tinted, don't use windex original inside. The ammonia will damage the tint.
2) clean your wiper blades occasionally. When you stop for gas, 1/week to 1/month, dip a paper towel in the windshield washer squeegee bucket and clean the windshield wiper blades
extra credit
3) apply Rain-X or other similar product. Rain-X doesn't last but a month depending on how often you drive the car, how you store it, and how often you use your windshield wiper blades. There are other products available that last >month but they require more prep or they're applied only by a pro car detailer. A benefit to applying Rain-X or competitive product is that snowy climate folks have an easy time removing frost and other wintery accumulations from the windshield and back window. Applying Rain-X or something helps on the side windows and sideview mirrors with that too. Be gentle when applying and buffing off Rain-X from the sideview mirrors.
4) polish the glass. Grit/dirt gets embedded in the glass and it needs to be removed. Use a clay bar or a glass polish product. After polishing, apply Rain-X or something similar. Considering the age of your car, the glass is probably etched/has a lot of embedded dirt and polishing it would help a lot. If you're handy around the house/decent with home repairs/comfortable and competent DIY-er, polishing the glass or using a clay bar is within reach. A clay bar kit is about $25 (should include clay bar, a spray lubricant and a microfiber towel). There are dozens of Youtube videos demonstrating clay bar on a window. You'd use clay bar only 1/year or less frequently.
Order of preference:
1
1 and 2
1, 2 and 3
1, 2, 3, and 4 but you'd perform them as 1, 2, 4, and 3
posted by dlwr300 at 8:29 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
minimum steps
1) periodically clean your windshield with a dedicated window cleaning product -- windex, Invisible Glass, or a dedicated car windshield product. The car wash doesn't do a good job. If your side and back windows are tinted, don't use windex original inside. The ammonia will damage the tint.
2) clean your wiper blades occasionally. When you stop for gas, 1/week to 1/month, dip a paper towel in the windshield washer squeegee bucket and clean the windshield wiper blades
extra credit
3) apply Rain-X or other similar product. Rain-X doesn't last but a month depending on how often you drive the car, how you store it, and how often you use your windshield wiper blades. There are other products available that last >month but they require more prep or they're applied only by a pro car detailer. A benefit to applying Rain-X or competitive product is that snowy climate folks have an easy time removing frost and other wintery accumulations from the windshield and back window. Applying Rain-X or something helps on the side windows and sideview mirrors with that too. Be gentle when applying and buffing off Rain-X from the sideview mirrors.
4) polish the glass. Grit/dirt gets embedded in the glass and it needs to be removed. Use a clay bar or a glass polish product. After polishing, apply Rain-X or something similar. Considering the age of your car, the glass is probably etched/has a lot of embedded dirt and polishing it would help a lot. If you're handy around the house/decent with home repairs/comfortable and competent DIY-er, polishing the glass or using a clay bar is within reach. A clay bar kit is about $25 (should include clay bar, a spray lubricant and a microfiber towel). There are dozens of Youtube videos demonstrating clay bar on a window. You'd use clay bar only 1/year or less frequently.
Order of preference:
1
1 and 2
1, 2 and 3
1, 2, 3, and 4 but you'd perform them as 1, 2, 4, and 3
posted by dlwr300 at 8:29 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:35 PM on November 5, 2022