TRICO launches wiper blade awareness campaign

OE wiper blade manufacturer, TRICO, claims that now is the time to push wiper blade awareness and suggest that workshops offer a free wiper blade check. This could spell good news for wiper blade sales.

With winter now here, TRICO believes it is more important than ever for technicians to appraise and potentially replace the wiper blades, as they’re a safety critical component on a vehicle.

Wiper blades are an excellent consumable to focus on when upselling, especially following the long, bright summer, because the UV rays from the sun could have damaged the rubber of the blade, so these will need checking to ensure they’re in optimum condition.

TRICO suggested that workshops offer a free winter wiper blade check and has compiled a helpful checklist that they can use to assess the blade’s condition and identify if it needs replacing, or should you welcome the public into your branch to buy blades direct from you:

Clean the screen

Ensure the windscreen is thoroughly cleaned using warm water or specialist glass cleaning fluid. In particular, pay attention to the areas at the top and bottom of the wipe area, as dirt and debris collect there. Also check the glass for any cracks or chips, as these are a safety hazard in their own right but can also damage the wiper blade rubber.

Blade edge check

Gently clean the rubber blade edge with a damp cloth or sponge to remove any dirt or residue. Check along its length for any imperfections in the rubber, in particular check at either end that it has not split. Ensure that the rubber element returns to a central position and is not flipped over and set in one direction. If the blade fails any of these checks, it should be replaced.

As blades are not only affected by rain and snow, but also the UV rays from the sun.

Safe and secure fitment

Check the blade is securely fixed to the arm. The blade should rotate freely, parallel with the wiper arm, to allow it to flex over the screen, but there should be no wobbling or movement perpendicular to the arm. This movement can be a sign of wear from the blades flipping over and could eventually cause the blades to come apart during use. Naturally, if the blade shows excessive movement, replace it immediately.

Wipe check

Using the washer spray or a mister bottle to spray the glass, operate the wipers and check that there are no missed areas, water smears or multiple streaks that impair vision. Any light misting remaining after the wipe should disappear quickly. Naturally, blades that leave streaks or smears should be replaced immediately.

The complete TRICO range features conventional, beam, hybrid and specialty blades in all lengths, for both front and rear applications, under lines such as TRICO Force, Exact Fit, Flex, NeoForm and TX.