D Car — November 2003
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About this issue
250 available scans from D Car — November 2003, in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 210 — English draft translation
A product called a washer-nozzle cleaner is sold with two thin wires, for adjusting the spray angle and clearing clogged nozzles. But any thin wire will do—a sewing needle or a straightened paper clip should work. To adjust the spray, insert the wire into the nozzle opening and change its direction while watching where the fluid lands. Adjust, spray, and repeat until it hits the right spot. Even a small change in nozzle angle can move the spray a lot, so adjust it gradually and carefully.
Captions and page details
…is usually enough, right?
…about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per car. Replacing only the rubber costs roughly ¥500–¥600 per blade, so a full set can save nearly ¥2,000–¥4,000.
Pull the rubber insert out of the frame: hold its stopper end and pull it straight outward.
Replacing only the blade rubber
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Next, let’s replace only the wiper-blade rubber. The blade frame itself doesn’t wear out easily, so replacing the rubber…
That’s right. Replacing a whole blade costs about ¥1,500–¥2,500 each…
Wow, that’s a lot. Then I definitely want to replace just the rubber!
Replacing only the blade rubber costs considerably less than replacing the whole blade.
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Once the stopper at the end of the rubber is released, the rest is easy—just slide it out.
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…right?
C
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Choose between the two methods case by case. Another advantage of replacing only the rubber is that many modern windshields have a pronounced curve, which a universal wiper blade may not follow; the ends may not wipe cleanly. With a rubber-only replacement, you keep the factory frame, so it continues to follow the glass and avoids streaks.
…but…
Right. But if the blade frame is damaged…
The rubber insert is now out of the frame. All that remains is to fit the new rubber.
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You can replace the blade while it is still attached to the arm, but it’s easier to remove it first. ‘Taking it off is really easy now!’
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To install the new rubber, align the metal strips with the grooves in the rubber and slide them into place…
Some blade frames have their ends crimped shut, so the rubber alone cannot be replaced. Replacement is possible on designs where the frame hooks into a notch or stopper on one end of the rubber.
There should be a stopper at one end of the blade. In the photo above, it is on the left. Pull the rubber out in the direction of the arrow.
‘Can you replace just the rubber on every kind of wiper?’ Unfortunately, some types do not allow rubber-only replacement. The blade frame…
‘Is replacing only the rubber harder than replacing the whole blade?’ Once you know the trick, it’s very easy. Give it a try—you should learn how to do it properly and save money.
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Leave the clip attached to the rubber. Once you’ve slid the rubber all the way to the end as shown, remove the clip.
On this type, the end of the blade frame is crimped shut, so you cannot replace only the rubber.
On this design, the end of the blade frame is crimped shut, so the rubber insert cannot be replaced on its own.
Adjusting the windshield-washer nozzle spray
The windshield washer is also important for visibility in the rain. It is essential for washing away mud, bird droppings and other dirt. If the nozzle angle shifts, washer fluid can spray in the wrong direction…
…or at the far edge, outside the wipers’ sweep. In that case the washer can’t do its job. Adjust the nozzle direction to aim the spray correctly. There are now also washer-nozzle cleaners…
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The washer fluid shoots off in a completely wrong direction… The nozzle was deliberately misaligned for this photo.
…spraying only onto the lower part of the windshield…
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OCR reads ‘OOGA’; not reliably legible.
Isolated ‘福’ character; context unclear.
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To clear a clogged nozzle, insert the thinner wire into the nozzle opening.
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Insert a wire into the nozzle outlet and adjust the angle…
Washer-nozzle cleaner: a simple tool with two thin wires and small handles. Purchase price…
…change it little by little.
¥240
‘I got it adjusted properly. Changing the nozzle angle was easier than I thought!’ Yōko says proudly.
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