Replacing Wiper Blades Regularly Saves Lives & Windshields

Are you as conscientious about your windshield wipers as you are about your car's engine? Car safety is a critical concern for everyone.

Worn wiper blades are dangerous. Because 90% of your driving decisions are based on a clear, unobstructed view of the road, it's a critical safety concern that your car's wipers provide you with the cleanest windshield possible.

Ozone, airborne contaminants, oil, sunlight and dirt all act to weaken and reduce your wiper blades' ability to keep your view unobstructed. And exposure to sunlight and ozone cause the wiper blades to age, even if they're not used much.

Weather also plays a critical role in your windshield wiper blades' deterioration. Freezing temperatures make the rubber in your wiper blades hard and brittle, which increases their tendency to crack or tear. Hot weather warps the rubber and prevents the blade from wiping your windshield cleanly.

Heavy use is hard on the wipers because dust, abrasives, road grime and bug juice wear away the cutting edge the blade needs to wipe cleanly. Even road dirt acts like an abrasive to wear away the flat surface necessary for a good squeegee effect.

Rubber also deteriorates over time. As blades age, they lose their flexibility and are less able to wipe cleanly. They may develop a permanent set or curvature, which prevents full contact with your windshield.

Your blades' ability to clean the glass depends on:

The slope and area of the windshield: Today's windshields are more sloped than ever before for improved aerodynamics. But a sleek "cab-forward" windshield with a lot of glass area directs more wind against the wipers, which can force the blades away from the glass at high speeds unless the wiper system is designed to resist lift.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades have an aerodynamic, low-profile superstructure and a heavy gauge steel frame, which provide improved stability and virtually eliminate blade lift-off at high speeds and in stiff winds.

The amount of spring tension on the wiper arm: This is important to keep the wiper refill in tight contact with the windshield and provide a superior squeegee effect.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades incorporate a balance-beam design with a multipoint suspension system to eliminate smearing and streaking in both directions.

The number of pressure points or claws holding the blade: The more claws a blade has, the broader the area over which the pressure of the wiper arm is spread. More claws also provide increased flexibility so the blade can more easily follow the curvature of a large, sloping windshield for full side-to-side contact.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades feature added contact points to increase blade contact pressure at all driving speeds. This pinned-joint design also provides superior flexibility to maintain proper blade contact with the windshield.

The material used in the blade itself: Most wiper blades are made of natural rubber, but some of the newer performance blades have a composite structure that combines a soft, pliable rubber on the squeegee surface for good wiping characteristics with a firm rubber in the blade body for improved support and durability.

Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel wiper blades are manufactured using a unique synthetic compound that provides superior blade flip-over flexibility in hot and cold weather extremes.

The unique blend of halogen-hardened natural rubber compound also reduces windshield "chatter" and lengthens blade life by reducing fatigue attributed to abrasion, temperature extremes, UV, ozone, acid rain and road salt.

Plus, the wiping edge is precision-cut to 0.010mm (10/1000mm) to remove even the smallest micro-droplets of airborne moisture.
Important Things to Remember

Heed the following maintenance tips for optimum wiper blade performance and driving visibility:

Tip #1: Replace your wiper blades every 6 months or 6,000 miles - even if you live in a "dry" place like Arizona.

Tip #2: Consider your options when replacing your windshield wipers:

Option 1


You can replace just the refills (squeegees), which are the rubber wiping components installed into the vertebrae. This is your most economical option.

Option 2


You can replace the blades, which is the complete assembly composed of the metal frame and the refill. Although slightly more expensive, this option is faster to install and provides you with the benefit of improved windshield contact and, hence, wiping efficiency.

OBD, or on board diagnostics, was first introduced by General Motors in 1981. The purpose of "OBD" was to monitor the emission control system in the car. When the computer system of the car sees a fault in the emission control system, three things are supposed to happen. First, it would set a warning light on the dashboard, to inform the driver that a problem existed. Second, to set a code in the computer. Third to record that code in the computer's memory, that can be later retrieved by a technician for diagnosis and repair.

This system worked so well, in 1986 California mandated that all cars sold in the state be equipped with "OBD". This then became an industry standard throughout the nation, and all cars sold in the nation had some form of "OBD"

This first version of"OBD" had a lot of shortcomings. First, it only covered the engine emission system. The fuel tank vapors were not monitored. The exhaust emissions were not measured. And only devices specifically installed for emission control were monitored. Second, there was no standardization throughout the industry. Each manufacturer had a different term for the warning light that was illuminated when a fault was determined. GM called it a "check engine" or "service engine" light. Chrysler called it a "power loss"light. Ford called it an "engine" light. Most foreign cars called it a "check engine"light. This was not only confusing to the technician, but also to the motorist. Many motorists upon seeing the "service engine" light illuminated, brought their car to a repair facility and either asked for an oil change or tune-up, expecting the light to go out. Needless to say, this did not happen, and after spending unnecessary money on service work, the system then had to be diagnosed and repaired. The coding system for each manufacturer was also different making diagnosis much tougher.

The clean air act of 1990 mandated that beginning with the 1996 model year, all cars sold in the U.S. be equipped with a new version of on board diagnostics This system became known as OBD II. The manufacturers beat the deadline and almost all cars were equipped with OBD II in the 1995 model year. If your car is a 1995 model or newer, chances are it is equipped with OBD II.

Among the many differences between OBD and OBD II, was the standardization of the system. All dashboard warning lights now say "check engine", usually with a picture of an engine with the word "check" across it. The coding system is now standard. There are now over 400 possible trouble codes that can be stored in the system. All causes of excessive are now monitored. If the gas cap is left loose and vapors are escaping from the gas tank, the "check engine" light will be illuminated and a code will be set. It is extremely important now that the engine be shut off when refueling the vehicle. Another big difference between the systems is that with OBD when a fault is seen the warning light is illuminated and a code set. The warning light will then go out when the fault is no longer seen, but the code will be set and retained in the computer's memory. In OBD II systems the light does not go out until the fault is repaired and reset by the technician.

Why GM Service is so important!

Correct Oil Viscosity and Good Maintenance


It is imperative that only the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended oil viscosity be installed in a vehicle equipped with variable valve timing. The GM applications reflect 5W30 and. We have encountered a situation whereby 20W50 oil was installed by a lube tech who was unfamiliar with this system. Days later, the vehicle was towed to us and the repairs were not covered under warranty. The diagnosis was a lengthy process, as the Check Engine Light was illuminated and multiple codes were stored in memory. Once the technician determined the performance condition occurred following a routine lube service, he went straight to the problem. Draining the crankcase and installing the correct viscosity oil returned the system to normal operation.The lube shop was responsible for the dealer’s diagnostic charges, plus a new oil change. So please let Giant Chevrolet Service all your vehicles and save you the headache of an unneeded repair

Christmas is comming!!

Christmas is getting close but unfortunately some may not have one. This year Giant Chevrolet decided to give back to our community by helping the Salvation Army and the kid they sponsor. We have 200 tags for kids on a tree from a one year old little girl that needs diapers to a thirteen year old little boy who would like some new pants. Please stop by and help theses kids it may be all they get this year!