A great tip I got from a technician!!!

[SHYNE]

I was experiencing a slow moving monoblade on my car.

Talked to a technician about it when I was in buying snow rims and tires at the dealership. (I now get cost as an employee)

He told me to take off the plastic cover at the base of the arm, it just clips off by pulling outwards at the bottom of it.

I was then instructed to use Synthetic ATF on the shaft mechnism.

Next, I turned on the key and put the wiper stalk on the I position.

I poured a small amount of Synthetic ATF on the shaft and did this for 4 cycles. I wiped off the shaft several times since the ATF literally brought out salty flaky deposits from inside the assembly hub.

I re-applied more synthetic ATF and it is like a brand new monoblade assembly!!!

ATF works the best, especially in cold climates like Canada.

Give it a try next time your car is in the garage.

Mike McKinney

[400E]

Good tip!

[John Plut]

Thanks for the tip. I feel fortunate that I have never had a problem with the mono wiper and wondered if there was any maintenance that could be done.

[haasman]

SHYNE

Thanks for the tip- a couple of questions:

- Specifically, you just lift the rectangular section up from the "round" section and it will expose the wiper arm mechanism?

-You stated: "Next, I turned on the key and put the wiper stalk on the I position" sorry but I am not getting the I position, is that straight up and down?

Thanks,

Haasman

[Zeus]

A great tip, thanks! I think my monoarm is ready for a lube/cleaning. It's been getting that mid-swing slow-down recently. My tech suggested using a high-quality grease to lube it. The synthetic ATF fluid suggestion is interesting though...anyone else care to back this up? Any caveats to using ATF there?

[SHYNE]

haasman;

I did not lift up the clam shell shaped cover. I lifted up the cover from the base of the wiper arm, not the hub which is shaped sort of like a clam shell .

It is made of plastic and the outline can be felt just by tapping it and comparing it with the metal arm of the blade underneith it.

Also note that you can move the arm back and forth manually with the ignition off, with the arm out of the park position and not harm it. I started working the fluid in this way and wiping off the dirt that came out with a rag at first and finnished using some q-tips. Keep working that synthetic ATF in there and leave a generous amount on the shaft.

Good luck lubing up those monoblades folks!!!

Give it a try!

Mike McKinnney

[SHYNE]

haasman;

The I position is the first position on the stalk. You turn it to turn on the wiper on the intermittent speed. I turn it on "I" and then turn the ignition off quickly and the wiper arm will be the upright position which is a good place to start pouring on the fluid.

Just pull the bottom out the cover out towards you, it will just clip off just above the clam shell shaped hub which houses the transmission gears of the blade.

Good luck with it, hope it works well for you.


Mike McKinney

[haasman]

Thanks for the clarification Mike! I will give it a try.

Haasman

[400E]

Now we know that ATF is good for at least 3 things (other than transmissions):

1. Lubing throttle linkage

2. Quieting noisy climate control fan bearings

3. Lubing your (windshield wiper) shaft

I talked with a rig owner at a fuel stop after he saw me adding Power Service to my fuel. He said 2 oz. of ATF in 20 gallons of fuel beats all injection cleaners hands down. I have not tried this yet but his 300K mile rig purred and didn't smoke a lick.

[haasman]

MBwerker

You are suggesting adding to diesel, not gas, correct?

I have heard this also. Years ago with one of the 123 diesels I owned, I might have done it. Overall for diesels I swore by Redline additives. Ocassionally I would run a bottle of Techron through with about a half a tank fuel and then change the oil.

I should try the Redline additives for the gas cars. I have only been using Techron, and then changing the oil.

Haasman