2 Issues; Headlights And Windscreen Wiper!

[heartsnotinit]

Hi All,

 

Not sure if anyone can help, but now the winter nights are setting in (bringing with it the usual rain), I am finding that my headlights do not seem to be very bright and my windscreen wiper is pretty useless!

 

The headlights seem to be OK on close inspection (if a tad dim) with no damage to the reflectors whatsoever.

 

The windscreen wiper blade was replaced only 5 months ago, but as the blade sweeps across the screen, it momentarily smears the screen in patches (mostly where I need to have good vision). You might appreciate that the constant smearing, although only lasting a second or so, is actually quite dangerous, as the blade travels across the screen every 1.5 seconds, so I only get clear(ish) vision for about 0.5 seconds!

I have cleaned the windscreen thoroughly, I have also applied that antismear stuff, but the vision remains the same before and after!

 

3 thoughts I had were that the windscreen is causing this issue (doubtful), the blade needs replacing (only did that 5 months ago) or the spring in the wiper mechanism has lost its tension.

 

I'm loathe to take it to a repair agent as I'm worried that they'll tell me that the windscreen, the wiper motor, the wiper mechanism and the blade all needs replacing!

[daffy4895]

I also thought the head lights are quite dim to what i've been used to, I think its a citroen thing. I changed mine to some 6000k HID bulbs. as for your wipers try cleaning the wiper blades with white vinegar, should help. i've found however that bosch wiper blades with a metal strip running along the length of the rubber give the best contact althought about £15 each!!

[Guest Colin Hunter]

First of all, regarding your lights, Are you switching them all the way on? ZXs are fitted with "Dim Dip" headlights. A remnant from some long forgotten, and now discontinued, piece of legislation from the last Tory Government. The minister of transport at that time was called "Linda" (Chalker?) if my memory serves me correctly. Nuff said! Actually quite a good idea as it prevented some of the Numpty's that drove on sidelights only from doing so. (And do again!) Getting back to the subject, The headlights (Dip Beam) illuminate at a lower intensity when the engine is running and the switch is in the first position. Turning it to the 2nd position brings them to full life. There may be a fault in your switch or circuit that is not allowing the full voltage to be fed to the lamps, so they remain dim. It may be that, because ZXs normally have excellent headlights, having Twin H1 lamps each side for dip and main. The Xsara which came later has twin filament H4 lamps and led to complaints from people who had "traded up" at the time.

 

For the wiper you say you have cleaned the screen thouroughly, but did you clean the blade? Use "Neat" screenwash additive for both, or if it's badly fouled try a solvent on the glass first (Cellulose thinners or equivalent). It is possible that the "Anti smear stuff" (Rain X?) is reacting with your screenwash additive. There are so many different things on the market now it's impossible to know what's compatible with what.

 

You didn't say where you got your blade from. It's always best to buy good quality from a reputable manufacturer. I bought some once from a market stall which were advertised as "The last wipers you'll ever need to buy" Certainly were the last I bought there! They went binwards after about 2 weeks due to constant smearing.

 

It may be the spring in the wiper arm but if it's holding the blade on the screen at speed then it's probably OK. It won't be the wiper motor. If the thing is working, it's working! Simple. These things are very annoying and sometimes quite tricky to get to the bottom of. Cheers. Hope this helps.

[heartsnotinit]

Thanks Guys, good info, and I'll check out your suggestions, probably over Xmas!

 

I'm over here in the Czech Republic, where you have to drive with mainbeam on all the time (winter and summer). Don't think that is connected as I made sure that the stalk switch was rotated as far as it could be, but I'll certainly fiddle with the column stalk. I'll also check the fuses, just in case. If nothing works, I'll try a new set of HD bulbs, they don't cost much from fleabay.

 

I fitted a brand new wiper to the front today, and it seemed to work better when I flicked the screenwash stalk, but the test will come when the rain comes. Not sure of the manufacturer of the wiper, as it came as a pair from a local store ('sister' wiper of the one that was fitted), and I can't remember what the packaging said.

 

I was looking at those 'flat' blades available on Ebay (see link below). Any idea if these are any good?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=011

[daffy4895]

I tried some flat blades off ebay too, they look good but don't offer as much contact and, any speed above about 55mph and they started to judder, went back to bosch ones. As for the HID bulbs, I got the full conversion kit off ebay. never tried the HID look bulbs but they might be better than the standard ones for the price its worth a try.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Odd you should say that! I got one for the lad's ZX from one Ebay shop and 2 for the Xanta (1x 24" and 1x20") from another. The one for the zx was excellent, but the pair for the Xantia were much more lightly built and lifted off the screen at over 50 mph. the bottom end of the drivers side actually twisted through 90 degrees! I drove as far as the first garage and replaced them both with Bosch blades. They were only £4 more than the pair off Ebay including P&P. I won't be bothering with that ebay shop again. The bosch blades are probably even better than those which Citroen provide. Cheers

[Stevie]

The headlights on my ZX were diabolical from the day i got the car (8 years ago!),but recently i bought some Exenon bulbs from Ebay which have made a difference.The one problem which makes it worse though is where i work.The roads are terrible and covered in crap so they get dirty very quickly-so a dim light gets even dimmer! After 3 days-it looks like i have 2 candles on front of car... :D

 

With regards to wiperblades-stick with Bosch cos they're the best. :P

[Penguin]

Crap dash layout in the ZX. When sitting normally the main beam indicating light is hidden behind the steering column :rolleyes:

[heartsnotinit]

Well, update time!

 

Both problems solved. The replacement windscreen wiper vastly improved the screen cleaning. The replacement xenon headlight bulbs did improve the problem, but it was only when I removed the bulbs that I realised one of the 3 connectors was a loose fit on one side, so I had normal dipped/full beam on the r/h side, and sidelights only on the l/h side!

[Guest Colin Hunter]

OOPS! Well we all make mistakes!

 

By the way Penguin, you do realise that the ZX has an adjustable (Up/Down only) steering wheel? Feel under the left hand side of the column shroud and you'll find a lever. This lever locks and unlocks the column so it can be moved up & down. Move the column down a bit so you can see the indicator lamps. End of problem! Bye! :lol: