headlamp wipers

Post by **brad360** » 04 Jan 2006 12:35 am

Thanks to foggyjames I have some headlamp wipers for my 1986 360GLT.

They seem a silly accessory to have. Maybe I can have the only 360 in australia with headlamp wipers.

Should the motors get any attention before installing?

What do people do about wiper blades?

I see the Haynes manual has installation instructions.

Post by **petefarrell360** » 04 Jan 2006 12:58 am

It's a bit like us in the UK with snowcaps, but then these different accessories or items are nice to have, and there is some interesting international trading going on!

As for wiper blades, if you're careful and don't snap the plastic head that clips the actual wipers on, as they are prone to breaking, it's best to flip the plastic cap up and remove the nut, then take the whole arm off. Then if you study the actual blade, it is held in by a couple of pieces of metal either side of the rubber blade, these are pinched in two places, from memory, gently open them and the blades will be removable. I reused the metal strips as they have a cut out to go in the clamping parts. The just cut the correct length of rubber wiper blade from a worn standard windscreen wiper or buy some cheapo wiper blades to butcher. Works a treat, a cheap alternative, and a simple solution for you, as I doubt your stealership would stock them!

See this thread http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... iper+blade for a full explanation. This reminds me that I have another two cars to replace headlamp wiper blades on now! One of those things you don't get time to do. Having headlamp wipers certainly makes a difference here in the UK in the winter, with road salt, mud and rubbish covering the headlamps.

Pete

Post by **arnagath** » 04 Jan 2006 07:43 am

Heh..here in Finland headlamp wipers are in every 340/360s.
I always remove those things just dump them in to the trashcan

Post by **SteveP** » 04 Jan 2006 11:59 am

I actually like them, and I really did think they were a bit of a gimmick. But after a drive on the motorway in winter with salt on the road, you can sear a clear area of glass on the headlights where the wipers have been sweeping!

Post by **petefarrell360** » 04 Jan 2006 06:38 pm

I too thought they were just a gimmick aimed at such markets as the UK that want a huge list of accessories and extra items. But as Steve says, they do appear to make a huge difference in muddy, wintery conditions. Follow a vehicle much here in winter and your screen is covered in muck, as are the lights.

I've noticed not many new cars have headlamp washers and wipers, possibly down to the fact that their ghetto spec, the manufacturers are saving money and also, so many light lenses are so rounded and are funny shapes, where it would be hard to implement. So while they take the mickey out of my old Volvo, I have the last laugh as they have to get out and get dirty hands wiping the lenses so they can see where they are going!

Pete

Post by **340GLT** » 04 Jan 2006 07:15 pm

Yeh i agree and they do work as i found out after removing mine!!!!

Anyways most of the modern stuff uses just washer jets on the lenses which are not that gud TBH but hey.
Cheers Adam

Post by **foggyjames** » 05 Jan 2006 02:35 am

Twas a pleasure Brad

IIRC there are a couple of guys here who'd like the blanking pieces, if you don't want them any more.

cheers

James

Post by **arnagath** » 05 Jan 2006 07:31 am

I can send you guys a truckload of headlamp wipers from Finland

No..just kidding

Finnish winter is also muddy,freezing,snowy and pure hell but still I think these are just useless to me.We have many gasstations here where we can wash our cars windshield and headlamps so i´m not bothered that i dont have headlamp wipers.

but i´ve found foglamps more usefull here in finland

Post by **brad360** » 05 Jan 2006 10:14 am

i only have one blanking piece on the bumper. i doubt it's worth postage to UK.

Does anyone know if the blades or motors are the same as on other volvos? I've seen a few 7 or 8 series with headlamp wipers here.

I like them if they are a gimmick, but it seems plausible that they do something.

Post by **brad360** » 05 Jan 2006 10:33 am

I think they'll be good for removing squashed insect debris.

How often do europeans drive through locast swarms?

Post by **340GLT** » 05 Jan 2006 04:12 pm

Blades are th same as 7 and 9 series!!! If yiou call Volvo though they can tell you for sure!!!
The best thing to do is when you replace the blades on your car the middle bit of them is usually long enough to make a blade up for the wipers.
Cheers Adam

Post by **ebdl** » 05 Jan 2006 07:45 pm

I think Volvo have changed all of the headlight wipers to the same design. The originals I took off my 850 had a fancy 2-spring arm but this part has been superceded by a simpler one spring design. I got some new ones for my 340 from GSF and these are identical to the new ones I got from Volvo for my 850.

Post by **Cornholio** » 08 Jun 2007 03:11 pm

bumpity

Just searching the forum as the rubbers are splitting on my headlamp wipers. Good to see that it's not a specialised part.

I'd never really given the wipers much thought. During the winter we were driving up the M1 through some really mucky fog. Mrs C commented on how sensible some people were to be cleaning their headlights at the services (and may I add, these were people with expensive new cars). It was only then that I noticed how nice and clean my headlights were. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.